Agronomy

The purpose of these exhibits is to demonstrate to the public the benefits from the study and application of crop, weed, range and soil sciences to solving problems in management, conservation, sustainability and environmental protection. For guidelines on specific projects, refer to appropriate project manuals.

Department Rules

See General Rules.

Eligibility

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

State Fair Quota

The quotas, or number of exhibits allowed per department, for the Nebraska State Fair is determined by each county’s annual 4‑H enrollment. County staff will be provided with department quotas following the June 15 enrollment deadline.  

For more information refer to General Rules.

Scoresheets, Forms, and Contest Study Materials

Scoresheets, forms, contest study materials and additional resources can be found at https://go.unl.edu/ne4hagronomy. 

A list of 4‑H projects and links to 4‑H curriculum resources can be found at https://4h.unl.edu/resources/projects.

Field Crops

Rules

1. Grain or Plant Exhibits - Classes 1-5: 

• A completed Crop Production Worksheet (available at https://go.unl.edu/ne4hagronomy) must accompany grain and plant exhibits or it will automatically be lowered one ribbon placing. The worksheet must include the 4‑H member’s name and address, county, plant hybrid or variety, plant population, whether crop production was irrigated or dryland, and general information including farm cropping history, soil type and weather effects. 
• The worksheet also must include an economic analysis of the project, listing individual expenses and income, on a per acre basis. Other topics to discuss are the selection of variety or hybrid, impacts of tillage and conservation practices, inputs (fuel, fertilizer, irrigation, labor, pesticides, etc.), any observations made during the growing season and what you learned from your crops project. The worksheet counts as 50% of the total when judged. 
• Worksheet must be the original work of the individual 4‑H member or it will be lowered one ribbon placing. 
• Attach the worksheet to the entry in a clear plastic cover such that it can be read without removing it from the cover. In addition to the worksheet, grain and plant exhibits will be judged on condition, appearance (i.e. disease and insect damage, grain fill), uniformity (size, shape, color, maturity), and quality of exhibit. Refer to Scoresheet SF264. Grain exhibits must be one gallon per sample. Grain exhibits harvested in the fall (e.g., corn or soybeans) may be from the previous year's project and brought in an appropriately sized box/container for display. NEW: Place in a clear container so it can be viewed and displayed. 
• Plant exhibits, with the exception of ears of corn, must be the result of the current year's project. - Corn - 10 ears or three stalks (cut at ground level with no roots or soil and bound together) Grain Sorghum - four stalks (cut at ground level and bound together) 
• Soybeans - Six stalks (cut at ground level and bound together) 
• Small grains (oats, barley, wheat, triticale) - sheaf of heads two inches in diameter at top tie with stems about 24 inches long. 
• Other crops (alfalfa, millet, etc.) - sheaf of stems three inches in diameter at top tied with stems cut at ground level or half size small square bale. 

 2. Displays - Classes 6-10: 

• The purpose of the display is to tell an educational story to those that view the display. 
• The display is a visual representation (pictures, charts, graphs) no larger than 28 inches x28 inches on plywood or poster board. 
• The display should be neatly titled. Make sure to label display with 4‑H member’s name, address and county on back side. Explain pictures and graphs clearly and concisely. 
• Consider creativity and neatness. Refer to Scoresheet SF259. Each display must have a one-page essay (minimum) explaining why the 4‑H member chose the area of display and what they learned from their project. Include any references used. 
• The essay should be in a clear plastic cover with the 4‑H member's name outside. If a display does not have an essay, it will automatically be lowered one ribbon placing. 

 3. Special Agronomy Project – 4‑H Member experience a crop that is grown, was grown or has the potential to be grown in Nebraska by growing it, researching traits of that crop and determine viability of that crop in the part of the state they live. 

 Each year seeds will be mailed to extension offices or ag ed classrooms across the state, as ordered by that location. Offices will be distributed to 4‑H member on a first come, first serve basis. A different seed will be selected every year. 4‑H members will grow seeds in their garden or pots. Written resources materials will be available for youth, in addition to virtual, live or recorded videos/field trips. 4‑H members will be eligible to enter an exhibit at both the county and/or state fair in the agronomy project area.

Division

750 – Field Crops

Classes

• G-750-001 Corn (SF264) - (includes yellow, white, pop, waxy or any other type). 
• G-750-002 Soybeans (SF264)
• G-750-003 Oats (SF264) 
• G-750-004 Wheat (SF264)
• G-750-005 Any other crop (SF264) - (includes grain sorghum, alfalfa, millets, barley, rye, triticale, amaranth, dry beans, sugar beet, mung bean, canola, forage sorghum, safflower, etc.)
• G-750-006 Crop Production Display (SF259) - The purpose of this class is to allow original and creative exhibits that contain educational information about crop production aspects, such as crop scouting, alternative crops, pest management, etc. 
• G-750-007 Crop Technology Display (SF259) – Display information about aspects of technology used in crop production, such as genetic engineering, crop breeding, GPS, yield mapping, computers, etc.
• G-750-008 Crop End Use Display (SF259) - Display information about the final product or end uses for a crop, such as food, feed, fuel, or other products (i.e. corn can be processed into livestock feed, ethanol, plastics, etc. or soybeans can be processed into bio-diesel, pet bedding, crayons, oil, etc.) This should not be about the process of crop production, but focus on an end product(s).
• G-750-009 Water or Soil Display (SF259) - Display information about water or soils, such as how soils are being used for crop production, range, conservation, wildlife, or wetland use, or ways to protect or conserve water and soil resources.
• G-750-010 Career Interview Display (SF259) - The purpose of this class is to allow 4‑H members to investigate a career in agronomy. 4‑H member should interview one person that works with crops about such topics as, what parts of their job do they enjoy or dislike, why did they choose that career, what was their education, etc. Include a picture of the person interviewed.

Special Agronomy Project

• G-750-011 Special Agronomy Project - Educational Exhibit (SF259) - Educational exhibit based on what was learned from the project. Present information on no larger than 28 inches wide by 28 inches tall on plywood or poster board. The 4‑H member’s name, age, and county must be on the back of the poster or report cover. Refer to Scoresheet SF259. Each display must have a 1/2-page essay (minimum) explaining why the 4‑H member chose the area of display and what they learned from their project. Include references used.
• G-750-012 Special Agronomy Project - Video Presentation - 4‑H member designs a multimedia presentation related to the crop. This could include narration of the growing process, presenting facts about the crop or any other innovative multimedia practices. The presentation should be at least two minutes in length and no more than five minutes in length, appropriate graphics, sound and either a video clip, animation or voice over and/or original video clip. Presentations are to be uploaded to a video streaming application and 4‑H member must provide a hard copy QR code for viewing. 4‑H members are encouraged to test their codes or link on several devices to check for appropriate permissions for public viewing.    
• G-750-013 Special Agronomy Project (Freshly Harvested Crop) - Plant exhibits must be the result of the current year's project. Depending on the type of crop selected for the current year:
  • Corn - 10 ears or three stalks (cut at ground level with no roots or soil and bound together) 
  • Grain Sorghum - four stalks (cut at ground level and bound together) 
  • Soybeans - six stalks (cut at ground level and bound together) 
  • Small grains (oats, barley, wheat, triticale) - sheaf of heads two inches in diameter at top tie with stems about 24 inches long. 
  • Other crops (alfalfa, sunflowers, millet, etc.) - sheaf of stems three inches in diameter at top tied with stems cut at ground level. 
  • Supporting documentation (½ to 1-page in length) should include the following: 
  • Economic Analysis and/or research that supports feasibility of this crop in Nebraska or how the crop has evolved over time. 
  • Other topics to discuss are past/current commercial production of this crop. This includes: the selection of variety or hybrid, impacts of tillage and conservation practices, inputs (fuel, fertilizer, irrigation, labor, pesticides, etc.), any observations made during the growing season about this crop and what you learned from your crops project. This ½ to 1-page summary counts as 50% of the total when judged. 
  • In addition to the summary, grain and plant exhibits will be judged on condition, appearance (i.e. disease and insect damage, grain fill), uniformity (size, shape, color, maturity), and quality of exhibit. 

The crop of the year for 2026 is popcorn.