Boyd County Fair 4-H Section Regulations

The following rules apply to all departments. Rules that apply specifically to a specific department will be listed under rules for that department. This Fair Book is meant to provide guidelines with the best interest of youth in mind. On occasion, interpretations must be made. Sportsmanlike conduct is expected by all exhibitors, parents, and other guests on the Boyd County Fairgrounds.

Be sure to review State Fair Rules and Regulations if you are attending state fair activities/events as sometimes they are different than the county rules and regulations. If any exhibitor is planning to go to another livestock show or to the State Fair Livestock Show, it is the exhibitor’s responsibility to see that they meet all of that shows requirements.

4-H - This We Believe

• 4-H Youth are more important than 4-H projects.
• Learning how to do a project is more important than the project itself.
• 4-H’ers should be their own best exhibit.
• To “Learn by Doing” through a useful work project is fundamental in any sound educational program and characteristic of the 4-H program.
• Generally speaking, there is more than one good way of doing most things.
• Our job is to teach 4-H members how to think, not what to think.
• A blue ribbon 4-H’er with a red ribbon entry is more desirable than the red ribbon 4-H’er with a blue-ribbon entry.

4-H Section Fair Objectives

• To provide recognition for achievements.
• To provide new experiences for youth, leaders and staff who participate.
• To provide leadership opportunities for 4-H youth and adults.
• To provide learning awareness opportunities for 4-H youth and adults.
• To provide learning awareness opportunities for the public who visit the 4-H exhibits.
• To add to the public understanding about the scope of 4-H.
• To inspire the adoption of approved practices and new ideas.
• To help build a better Boyd County Fair.

Nebraska 4-H Code of Conduct

All 4-H staff, volunteers, members, and parents/guardians should adhere to the code of conduct during participation at the Boyd County Fair.

4-H/FFA/Clover Kid Member Eligibility

4-H/FFA Age: The age of the youth before January 1 of the current year.

• If your birthday is on January 1, your 4-H age is the age you were on December 31st.
  • If you turn eight (8) on January 1, your 4-H age is seven (7).
  • If you turn nine (9) on January 1, your 4-H age is eight (8).
• 4-H/FFA eligibility is determined based on the 4-H/FFA age. (The age of the member on December 31st of the previous year)
  • The first year of eligibility for participation in the 4-H Clover Kids program is the 4-H age of five (5).
  • The last year of eligibility for participation in the 4-H Clover Kids program is the 4-H age of seven (7).
  • The first year of eligibility for the regular 4-H program is the 4-H age of eight (8).
  • The last year of eligibility is 4-H age of eighteen (18).
• Boyd County FFA Members are eligible to show at the Boyd County Fair one year following graduation from High School as long as they have paid dues for the current year.

Clover Kid: Children 5-7 years old are Clover Kid members. Clover Kid members can only show under Clover Kid exhibits (not under 4-H exhibits) and 4-H members can only show under 4-H exhibits (not under Clover Kid exhibits). However, both Clover Kid and 4-H members can show under the Open Class Division. See the Open Class Division Regulations for information on their rules, regulations, and classes.

The University of Nebraska does not discriminate based upon any protected status. Please see go.unl.edu/nondiscrimination.

AGE DIVISIONS: Ages are as of January 1 of the current year. Age Divisions for certain projects may be different. See specific project area for more information.

4-H and FFA Exhibiting Together (Static and Livestock) - The exhibitor can show in both 4-H and FFA but the total number of entries per class does not double. All exhibits could be

4-H exhibits; OR all could be FFA exhibits; OR any combination in both 4-H and FFA. 4-H and FFA will show in the same ring at the same time and compete against each other. There will NOT be a 4-H Champion or an FFA Champion, rather a Boyd County Fair Champion. The only difference will be the emblem on the T-shirt or other approved shirt the exhibitor is wearing. Premiums will be the same, no matter what organization the exhibitor is exhibiting for.

County Dress Code

Boyd County Dress Code - An official 4-H Chevron or Armband is required at all activities while you are participating - whether you are being judged or are judging - See exceptions below.

4-H’ers are required to wear the official dress of a long sleeve button up shirt or blouse (white or grey) that is long enough to be tucked in with the official 4-H chevron or 4-H armband attached, OR a 4-H t-shirt (white or grey) with the official 4-H chevron or 4-H armband attached and dark blue jeans. FFA exhibitors can wear their Chapter T-Shirts. Hard soled shoes or boots must be worn for all livestock shows and livestock judging contest. No hats or other headgear except western hats or helmets during the horse show. Exhibitors shall not display local, county, commercial, or other identification except official 4-H and such identification that the show ring may require.

Interview Judging and Judging Contests on Pre Fair Day - Exhibitors may wear a long sleeve button-up shirt or blouse (white or grey) that is long enough to be tucked in OR a t-shirt (white or grey) with either a 4-H chevron or 4-H armband, OR a t-shirt (white or grey) with the 4-H clover printed on the front of the shirt OR their 4-H Club shirt. FFA exhibitors can wear their Chapter T-Shirts. Jeans and hard soled shoes or boots are not required. 4-H’ers who are modeling and are dressed for their next modeling class are not required to be in official 4-H dress.

Fair Entry Day - Exhibitors may wear a long sleeve button-up shirt or blouse (white or grey) that is long enough to be tucked in with either a 4-H chevron or 4-H armband OR a t-shirt (white or grey) with either a 4-H chevron or 4-H armband OR a t-shirt (white or grey) with the 4-H clover printed on the front of the shirt OR their 4-H Club shirt. FFA exhibitors can wear their Chapter T-Shirts. Jeans and hard soled shoes or boots are not required.

Presentations, Speeches, Table Setting Contest, Talent Contest - The dress code will be the official 4-H dress code OR nice street clothes (no shorts) OR clothes that are appropriate according to your theme or presentation. Participants will wear either the chevron or other prominent 4-H identification.

Parade - The dress code will be the official 4-H dress code OR nice street clothes (shorts allowed OR clothes that are appropriate according to your theme or presentation. Participants will wear either the chevron or other prominent 4-H identification.

Award Winner Photos at Fair - 4-H’ers are required to wear the official dress of a white or grey shirt or blouse (long sleeve button up shirt) that is long enough to be tucked in with either the official 4-H chevron or 4-H armband OR a t-shirt (white or grey) with either the official 4-H chevron or 4-H armband, OR a t-shirt (white or grey) with the 4-H clover printed on the front of the shirt OR the official Boyd County 4-H Shooting Sports t-shirt and dark blue jeans. Hard soled shoes or boots are not required.

If you are not in the correct dress code, you will be dropped one ribbon placing. Failure to comply with this policy will result in loss of premium money and awards. Superintendents and Fair Board members will enforce this policy.

Deadline Dates

• April 1 - Boyd County 4-H‘ers are strongly encouraged to be enrolled in 4-H Online and projects added.
• June 15 - All animals must have been properly identified at the Boyd County Extension Office. Boyd County 4-H Insurance Due to 4-H Council.
• July 6 - All Pre-Fair Day entries. 
• July 6 - Fair Entries due

*All Livestock/Animals MUST comply with the current Boyd County 4-H/FFA Livestock Identification Policy and be properly identified by the above deadlines or that animal will not be allowed to be shown.

Exhibit Information

Exhibitors must exhibit in the project area he or she is enrolled in. Exhibits must represent the exhibitors OWN WORK accomplished SINCE THE LAST COUNTY FAIR (unless otherwise noted) and specifically done as a 4-H/FFA project. A 4-H OR FFA member who exhibits at other county fairs cannot exhibit the same article or animal at both county fairs.

4-H is “Learning by Doing” - With this in mind, the Holt/Boyd UNL Extension Office urges ALL 4-H members to learn by doing their own work throughout the year. They also recognize that 4-H is a family affair and that at times 4-H’ers need mom’s and dad’s ASSISTANCE. They hope that each family will recognize the times that assistance is needed and the times that the member needs to learn on his or her own.

Premium Amounts

All premiums will be paid by check from the fair board. Exhibits will be judged according to research-based standards that indicate level of performance or quality of work. (If the total premiums exceed the budgeted amount, the Board of Directors may at their discretion, prorate any, or all of the premiums.) Only exhibits in the premium list will be eligible to receive premiums. In case where one person is competing, the judges will award premium, as they deem best.

4-H uses the Danish system of ribbon awards.

• Purple ribbons designate an exhibit of superior quality that has met and exceeded all of the standards - Outstanding.
• Blue ribbons denote an above average exhibit that has met almost all of the standards in a way that surpasses the norm - Good.
• Red ribbons indicate average quality and indicate that the exhibit has met the majority of standards in such a way that the benchmark was reached but not exceeded - Average.
• White ribbons signifies below average in quality, and the exhibit has not met the majority of the standards - Below Average.

CHAMPION/RESERVE CHAMPION AWARDS: Exhibit MUST receive a BLUE RIBBON or above to receive a Champion or Reserve Champion award.

No animals or articles may compete for more than one premium except specials awards.

An exhibitor or parent/guardian attempting to interfere with the judges will be promptly excluded from the competition. Any article or animal fraudulently entered or shown, that wins a premium, if satisfactory proof is shown to the Fair Board; the premium shall not be paid. The superintendent of the area and the Fair Board/Extension Office Staff have the right to excuse any exhibit from the County Fair.
 

Disclaimer of Responsibility for Exhibits

4-H/FFA animals and exhibits at the Boyd County Fair are entered and displayed at the risk of the 4-H/FFA member. University of Nebraska Holt/Boyd County Extension in cooperation with the Boyd County Fair Board accepts animals and exhibits and will exercise due care to protect them. However, the Boyd County Fair Board and the Extension Office cannot accept responsibility for injury to animals, or for loss or damage of exhibits due to the conditions imposed by large crowds, the arrangement of the buildings in which displays are housed and the great number of exhibits. Exhibitors who have exhibits of great sentimental and/or monetary value should carefully consider whether such exhibits should be exposed to the hazards of the fair. While the greatest possible care will be exercised by the management to protect patrons of the Boyd County Fair, each individual will be held personally responsible for any injury, loss, or damage.

The Boyd County Fair Board and the Extension Office will use diligence to avoid any accidents and afford protection. The above associations reserve the right to call off any or all programs on account of bad weather, or any other unavoidable cause.

The 4-H Building will be closed to the public and locked at night (refer to fair schedule for times).

Protest Committee

The respective superintendent has the authority to make appropriate decisions based on the 4-H Rules and Regulations Book.  When needed, a committee shall be appointed to serve as a protest review committee. They will meet when needed to act upon concerns.

1. All protests must be submitted to the Secretary of Fair Board during the Fair in writing and signed. Protests will be acted upon at the first meeting of the Board of Directors following the fair (date and location to be announced).
2. The written protest must be submitted to the Protest Committee and must include Names of persons involved; Nature of concerns; Situation and documentation; Recommendations for correction; Specific action, rules etc., in question; Additional persons committee may contact for further clarification; and Procedures and/or steps carried out by person involved prior to submission of the protest to the Protest Committee.
3. The committee will review the written protest. They may discuss the situation with affected persons and show officials. Recommendations will be developed, followed, and communicated both verbally and in writing to the group or individual affected.
4. In cases of protest the exhibitor may be allowed to show but results of showing will be subject to change based on the outcome of the protest process. This allows for smooth operation of the show and facilitates appropriate processing.
5. The management reserves the right to withhold premium and/or award. The exhibitor may be excluded from the show if action warrants.
6. Protest will not be accepted after the exhibit is released from the 4-H Division of the County Fair. Protests related to judges’ integrity, decision, placing, or other evaluations will not be accepted.

Safety Information

Please help us keep all fair-goers and participants safe. Please look out for children, vehicles and animals when arriving and leaving the fairgrounds.

Static (Non-Animal) Exhibits

County Only Exhibits:
IMPORTANT - There is NOT a County Only Section in the Fair book. There will either be a CF or SF in front of every Class Number. 

• CF: means that exhibit is ONLY eligible to be exhibited at the County Fair.
• SF: means that exhibit if CHOSEN at County Fair is eligible to advance to State Fair.

All exhibits eligible for entry at county and state fair are identified by numerical class numbers. Those which are eligible only for the county fair are identified by 900 numbers. Exhibit must be one that fits into the project area. Use manual for ideas. Call the Extension Office if you have questions.

Pre-Entry: All exhibits must be pre-entered online by July 13. It is the responsibility of the 4-H'er to enter his/her exhibits in the correct. The exhibit will be judged and then dropped one ribbon placing if entered in the wrong class. This is most obvious in the vegetables and flowers area.

Number of Entries per Class: There is no limit to the number of exhibits per class unless otherwise stated in this fair book. If entering more than one exhibit in a class, the entries cannot be identical. A pair or set of an exhibit will be considered one entry.

Fair Set-Up and Tear-Down: Fair Set-Up will be held the Thursday, prior to the County Fair at 7 pm. All livestock families are asked to come help set up for livestock facilities. Those families who will have exhibits in the 4-H/FFA/Open Class buildings are asked to come to set up their facilities. Bring staplers, cordless drills, scissors, etc. to help get the fair set-up.

After the livestock barns/exhibit buildings have been set up and if you helped with set up you will have the option to staple your stall card on the stall of your choice in the barns. If you have not helped at Fair Set-Up then you will not be able to choose your stall until you unload your animals. DO NOT REMOVE ANY stall cards and replace them with your own. 
 

After Fair Set-Up, Extension Staff will create a stalling diagram. 

Livestock Families are reminded help is needed to change from the “Show Ring Set-up” to the “Bonus Auction Set-up” on Friday after the conclusion of the beef show and also for tear down and clean up after the Bonus Auction.

Entry Tags: All static exhibits (except Clothing Construction) must have an entry tag attached to that exhibit at the time of entry. Tags will be printed by the Extension Office and MUST be attached before exhibit is judged.

Entry & Release of Exhibits: All Static exhibits are entered during interview judging at the fairgrounds on entry day of the fair. All exhibits MUST remain for the entire fair and can be picked up at the exhibit release time. Each 4-H’er is responsible for entering and removing exhibits. Refer to schedule for interview times and release time for static exhibits. Entries removed early will be dropped 1 ribbon placing.

Award Photos for special recognition of hall exhibits, livestock judging contest and shooting sports contests will be at 2:00 pm on Saturday in the 4-H Building. 4-H and FFA Dress is required. There will be an Award Photo Schedule posted on bulletin board. If you are not there the photo will be taken without you and will not be retaken. It is your responsibility to know when to be present so that others are not waiting for you.

All hall entries will be released at 3:00 pm on Saturday, with teardown of the 4-H and Open Class buildings immediately following. All 4-H’ers and parents should volunteer to help with teardown. Bring cordless drills, screwdrivers, and pliers (to pull out staples). If you cannot be there at 3:00 pm to remove your exhibits, please plans with someone else from your club to pick up your families exhibits.

State Fair Eligibility: All static exhibits must have received a purple ribbon at the county fair to advance to the State Fair. Certain exhibits will be selected for State Fair competition. The number of exhibits allowed by exhibitor and by class are set by State Fair regulations and may change from year to year.

Project Disaster: On entry day, exhibitor needs to get a project disaster card from the Extension  Office staff to attach to the original entry tag. These entries will consist of any exhibit or project youth were planning to bring to the fair, but "something" happened to it and it "flopped". During the interview exhibitor needs to be prepared to talk about what went wrong and what they learned (what, how and why). These exhibits are for any project area that failed. The exhibit will remain in the original class, allowing the youth to be interviewed by the appropriate judge for that project area. If the project can be exhibited bring it and if not, the youth will just do an interview. “4-H is Learn by Doing”

Resources: To find the youth and leader resources associated with the project area go to https://4hcurriculum.unl.edu/. Use the search box to search by curriculum area. Additional resources that can help you to create successful exhibits can be found at Scoresheets, Forms, and Contest Study Materials.

Large Static Exhibit Displays: Large static exhibits made for outdoors (i.e., lawn & garden furniture & trailers, animal feeding structures, picnic tables, barn quilts) may be displayed outdoors at the discretion of 4-H staff and/or area superintendents if additional display space is needed inside the exhibit hall.

The Extension office CANNOT guarantee transporting large exhibits to and from the Nebraska State Fair. Please speak with an extension staff member before the end of fair.

No Firearms, Items with a Blade: (broad heads, knives, saws, etc.) or related items of any other kind, may be exhibited. This applies to actual items, replicated items and item parts.

Shooting Sports accessories are permissible as described in the Conservation, Wildlife and Shooting Sports section of the Fair book.

Use of Copywritten Images: Copyrighted writing, artwork, videos, and images may be used in 4-H educational exhibits under Fair Use for educational purposes of Copyright Law. In order to qualify for Fair Use, 4-H’ers must: 1) only use a small amount of the copy-written work, 2) add new meaning to the work to make it original, 3) rework it and use it in a totally different way, and 4) use it for nonprofit purposes (not to make money). Giving credit to the original creator is also recommended.

State Fair Premier 4-H Science Award

Recognize 4-H youth static exhibits incorporating or demonstrating concepts from the areas of 4-H Science (science, technology, engineering, or applied math) at the Nebraska State Fair.

Exhibits in all curriculum areas will be considered for the award. Participants may select ONE exhibit from any department which was selected for state fair to complete their awards application about. For the application, scoresheet, and additional resources http://go.unl.edu/ne4hpremierscienceaward.

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