All 4-H members are limited to one (1) exhibit per entry number and four (4) exhibits per project.

GENERAL RULES

  1. 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. Photos are a suitable substitution for actual items.
  2. Show What You Did & Learned: - All 4-H members must show evidence of their personal field experiences, study or observations that relate to their exhibit. This helps judges understand what the 4-H member did and learned in the process that led to the exhibit.
  3. Proper Credit: - Show proper credit by listing the sources of plans or other supporting information used in exhibits. 
  4. Exhibitor Information: - The 4-H member's name, county, age must be on the back or bottom of all displays. 
  5. Wildlife & Wildlife Laws: - "Animal" or "wildlife" in the following classes includes wild fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, or mammals. Domestic animals (i.e. domestic livestock or house pets) and insect exhibits are not appropriate for this area. 4-H members must comply with current state and federal laws. It is illegal to possess threatened, endangered, or protected wildlife, or the feathers, nests, or eggs of non-game birds. These items cannot be part of any exhibit. Game birds and game animals taken legally during an open season may be used.
  6. Project Materials: - Related project booklets include Exploring Your Environment Series, 4-H Shooting Sports, Amphibians, Bird Behavior (EC59381), Fishing for Adventure Project Manuals, Wildlife Conservation (4H125), Geology, and Outdoor Adventure. Other resources include: Outdoor Skills: Learning Science in the Outdoors series (Science Signature Outcome Program) outdoornebraska.gov/afterschool and www.whep.org
  7. Exhibit Size Guidelines
    1. Board and Poster Exhibits: Mount all board exhibits on ¼ inch plywood, Masonite, or similar panel no larger 24 inches high x 24 inches wide. Poster exhibits should be on regular poster sheets, no larger than standard size (22 inches x 28 inches) but half size, 22 inches x 14 inches, is recommended. 
    2. All Other Exhibits: Exhibits other than poster/display board should not exceed 48 inches x 48 inches and be able to be moved by two people. Large exhibits (larger than listed above) must be suited and prepared for outdoor exhibition at the Nebraska State Fair. If large exhibits are not suited for outdoor exhibition, youth have the option to create a poster or another suitable substitute for the exhibit, instead of exhibiting the project itself.

Follow Nebraska Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

All static exhibits must have received a purple ribbon at the county fair to advance to the State Fair.

Score sheets and additional resources can be found at https://go.unl.edu/ne4hconservation-wildlife-shooting. An explanation of projects and curriculum resources can be found at https://4h.unl.edu/resources/projects/

HARVESTING EQUIPMENT, CLASSES

PREMIUMS: Purple, $4.00; Blue, $3.00; Red, $2.00; White, $1.00

D343001           Fish Harvesting Equipment - Board exhibit (Scoresheet SF168A) - Display of equipment used in fish harvesting. Examples: fishing knots, hooks (with corks over ends for safety), lures. Label all items displayed. Include in your exhibit the following information: 

1) the purpose of each item; 

2) when or where each item is used; and 

3) any personal experiences you’ve had with the item(s).

D343002           Build A Fishing Rod (Scoresheet SF169A) - Rod building kits with instructions are available for this purpose.  A fishing rod educational exhibit may not exceed 96 inches in length.  Exhibit must be mounted on a board. 

▪ Include with the exhibit: 

Explanation of cost of materials/components; where materials/components were purchased; and how many numbers of hours required for construction. 

▪ Label all parts. 

Necessary components which must be included are grip, line guides (based on manufacturers specifications), guide wraps, and hook keeper. Reel seat needs to be aligned with guides, and guides aligned accurately down rod. Guide wraps of size A to D, nylon or silk thread. 

▪ Exhibit will be judged on workmanship, labeling of parts, information, and neatness. 

D343003           Casting Target (Scoresheet SF170A) - Make a casting target for exhibit and use. Target must be under 48 inches x 48 inches. The bullseyes must be 2 feet, outer band must be 1 foot in diameter and can have up to 3 rings. The exhibit must be easy to store, durable, and weather resistant. Include the purpose and rules of using your casting target.

D343004           Wildlife Harvesting Equipment - Board Exhibit (Scoresheet SF168A) - Display of equipment used in harvesting wildlife. Examples: expended ammunition casings (no live ammunition permitted), steel traps, hide stretchers, fleshers, etc. For displays of shotguns, rifles, or bows, use drawings or pictures. Label all items displayed:

                        1) the purpose of each item;

                        2) when or where it is used; and 

                        3) any personal experiences you’ve had with the item(s).

D343005           Inventing Wildlife/Fish Harvesting Equipment, Aid, or Accessory (Scoresheet SF168A) 

                        Use engineering principles to invent or adapt equipment that helps you harvest fish or wildlife. This could include wildlife calls, adapted fishing pole for shallow water, a blind, decoys, etc. Share your drawing (or adapted plans), how the equipment works, how you tested it, and the results of testing your prototype and any adjustments you made.