General Instructions: STEM
Labeling: The name and county of each 4-H member should appear separately on the back of each board, poster or article and on the front cover of the notebooks so the owner of the exhibit may be identified if the entry tag is separated from the exhibit.
Demonstration Boards: Demonstration boards should include an overall title for the display, plus other necessary labeling.
Posters: Posters in this department can be any size up to 28 inches by 22 inches when ready for display. Example: trifold poster boards are not 28 inches by 22 inches when fully open for display.
Display Boards: Several classes require a display board which should be a height of 24: inches and not to exceed 1/4-inch thickness. A height of 24 7/8 inches is acceptable to allow for the saw kerf (width) if two 24-inch boards are cut from one end of a four-foot by eight-foot sheet of plywood. Nothing should be mounted within 3/4 inch of the top or bottom of the board. (Example: Woodworking & Electricity.)
- Fabricated boards such as plywood, composition board, or particle-type lumber may be used for demonstrations displays.
- Demonstration boards should be sanded and finished to improve their appearance. The finish on a demonstration board will be judged as a woodworking exhibit.
- Demonstration boards should include an overall title for the display, plus other necessary labeling.
Reports: Reports should be written using the scientific method whenever possible:
- Hypothesis
- Research
- Experiment
- Measure
- Report or Redefine
All reports should be computer generated and enclosed in a clear plastic cover. The reports should be attached securely to the display.
General Rules: Please refer to the General Rules for the policy regarding firearms, items with a blade, and other related items. Please refer to the General Rules for the policy regarding use of copywritten images.
Team Entries: To qualify for entry at the Nebraska State Fair for any team exhibit, the exhibit and all supporting information must clearly be the work of a team instead of an individual, and must have at least 50% of all team members enrolled in 4-H. Additionally, all enrolled 4-H members on the team should complete and attach an entry tag to the materials. A supplemental page documenting the individual contributions to the project should be included. The entry will be judged as a team, with all team members receiving the same ribbon placing.
State Fair: State Fair qualified videos, presentations and other electronic exhibits should be submitted to https://go.unl.edu/2025nesfset by August 15th, 2025. Videos can be uploaded to a video streaming application and exhibitors MUST provide a hard copy QR code for viewing. 4-H members are encouraged to test their codes or links on several devices to check for appropriate permissions for public viewing.
Outside Projects: If the project (i.e. picnic tables, wishing wells, swings, chairs, bridges, doghouses, etc.) is designed to be used outside, it will be displayed outside at State Fair. All outside projects MUST have entry tag and supporting information placed in a protective bag to prevent damage from weather events such as rain and be ATTACHED to projects with string, zip ties, etc.
Division 870
—Electric Excitement 1—
Classes 900-903 in this division are ineligible for State Fair
Class H870900 Bright Lights Create your own flashlight using items found around your house. Flashlights should be made out of items that could be recycled or reused. No kits please.
Class H870901 Control the Flow Make a switch. Use the following items: D cell battery, battery holder, insulated wire, 2 or 2.5 volt light bulb, bulb holder, paper clip, cardboard, and two brass paper fasteners to create a circuit that you can open and close.
Class H870902 Conducting Things Make a circuit with a switch and a light bulb that can be used to test different household items for their ability to act as an insulator or conductor. You must find five items that are conductors and five items that are insulators. Create a table that illustrates your results.
Class H870903 There is a Fork in the Road Use the following items to construct one parallel and one series circuit. Items: D Cell battery, battery holder, insulated wire, bulb holder and a 2 or 2.5 volt light bulb.
—Electric Excitement 2—
Classes 904-906 in this division are ineligible for State Fair
Class H870904 Case of the Switching Circuit Use the Following Items: Two D cell batteries, two battery holders, light bulb, bulb holder, a 3 inch x 6 inch piece of cardboard, six brass paper fasteners and approximately 2 feet of 24 gauge insulated wire to build a three way switch. Write a short essay or create a poster that illustrates how three-way switches function.
Class H870905 Rocket Launcher Construct a rocket launcher out of the following materials: A plastic pencil box that is at least 4 inches x 8 inches, single pole switch, single throw switch, normally open push button switch, 40 feet of 18 or 22 gauge stranded wire, 4 alligator clips, 2 inch x 6 inch board 6 inches long, 1/8 inch diameter metal rod, rosin core solder, soldering iron or gun, wire stripper, small crescent wrench, pliers, small Phillips and straight blade screwdrivers, drill, 1/8 inch and 1/4 inch drill bits, rocket engine igniters, additional drill bits matched to holes for two switches. You must successfully build a rocket launcher and light two rocket igniters with your launcher. You do not have to actually fire a rocket off of the launcher. Create a poster using photographs to show the “step by step” process you used to build your launcher.
Class H870906 Stop the Crime Build an alarm using the following materials: On-off push button switch, mercury switch, buzzer (vibrating or piezoelectric), 9-volt battery, 9-volt battery holder, 4 inch x 4 inch x 1/8 inch Plexiglass board to mount circuit on, rosin core solder, soldering gun/iron, two feet of 22 gauge wire, wire strippers, hot glue sticks, hot glue gun and a plastic box with a lid to mount your alarm circuit on. Create a poster using photographs to show the “step by step” process you used to build your alarm.
—Electric Excitement 3—
*Class H870001 Electrical Tool/Safety Kit Create an electrical supply kit to be used for basic electrical repair around the house. Include a brief description of each item and its use. Container should be appropriate to hold items.
*Class H870002 Lighting Comparison Display studying the efficiency of various lighting (incandescent, fluorescent, halogen, Light Emitting Diodes, etc). Exhibit could be a poster display, or an actual item.
*Class H870003 Electrical Display/Item Show an application of one of the concepts learned in the Wired for Power project. Examples include: Re-wiring or building a lamp, re-wiring or making a heavy duty extension cord or developing an electrical diagram of a house. Exhibit could be a poster display or an actual item.
*Class H870004 Poster Poster should exemplify one of the lessons learned in the Wired for Power project.
—Electric Excitement 4—
*Class H870005 Electrical/Electronic Part Identification Display different parts used for electrical/electronic work. The exhibit should show the part (either picture or actual item) and give a brief description, including symbol of each part and its function. Display should include a minimum of 10 different parts.
*Class H870006 Electronic Display Show an application of one of the concepts learned in the Entering Electronics project. Examples include: Components of an electronic device (refer to p. 45 of the Entering Electronics manual).
*Class H870007 Electronic Project Exhibit an electronic item designed by the 4-H member or from a manufactured kit that shows the electronic expertise of the 4-H member. Examples include: A radio, a computer, or a volt meter.
*Class H870008 Poster Should exemplify one of the lessons learned in the Entering Electronics project.