Projects: Woodworking Wonders 1, Woodworking Wonders 2, Woodworking Wonders 3, Woodworking Wonders 4
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.
General Instructions: Woodworking
Requirements:
- The name and county of each exhibitor should appear separately on the back of each board, poster or article and on the front cover of the notebooks so owner of the exhibit may be identified if the entry tag is separated from the exhibit.
- All articles exhibited must include a plan (with drawings or sketch or blueprints) stating dimensions and other critical instructions a builder would need to know to build the project and 4-H members name and county.
- Plans may include narrative instructions in addition to the dimension drawings and include any alterations to the original plan.
- Part of the score depends on how well the project matches the plans. If the plans are modified, the changes from the original need to be noted on the plans.
- All plans used for making the article must be securely attached and protected by a clear plastic cover.
- 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. (at State Fair).
Division 911
—Unit One: Measuring Up—
Classes 900-902 in this division are ineligible for State Fair
Class H911900 Unit 1 Woodworking Article Item made using hand tools and skills learned in the Measuring Up manual. Examples include: Recipe holder, stilts or other skill level appropriate item. Items should be entered with construction plans.
Class H911901 Ten Sample Blocks Blocks of different kinds of wood. Each sample must have a 2.5 inch x 6 inch surface size and from 3/8 inch to 5/8 inch thick, to be firmly mounted on the board.
Each sample must be identified with the following information: Kind of wood, where grown, and main use or uses. Mount on board 24 inches high x 22 inches wide. Not over 1/4 inch rigid material. Other articles related to woodworking can be displayed but will require a sample of at least 10 units. These might include types of wood fasteners, types or grades of sandpaper, types of wood finishes, etc.
Each sample should be clearly identified with the following information:
- The kind, type or grade
- Where or why it is used
- The importance of these units in woodworking.
Class H911902 Unit 1 Woodworking Display Exemplifying one of the principles learned in the Measuring Up project. Examples include: Butting up, gluing or sanding.
—Unit Two: Making the Cut—
Classes 903-904 in this division are ineligible for State Fair
Class H911903 Unit 2 Woodworking Article Item made using power hand tools (i.e. electric jig saw, power drill, and/or oscillating sander) and skills learned in the Making the Cut manual. Examples Include: Birdhouse, foot stool, napkin or letter holder. Items should be entered with construction plans.
Class H911904 Unit 2 Woodworking Display Display exemplifying one of the principles learned in the Making the Cut project. Examples include: Wood grain, chiseling, scroll saws or power sanders.
—Unit Three: Nailing It Together—
*Class H911001 Unit 3 Woodworking Article Item should be made using either joints, hinges, dowels, or a dado joining made using skills learned in the Nailing It Together manual. Item is required to be appropriately finished. Examples include: bookcase, coffee table or end table.
*Class H911003 Unit 3 Recycled Woodworking Display Article made from recycled, reclaimed or composite wood. Article must be appropriately finished and/or sealed and utilize one or more woodworking techniques from page two of the Unit 3 manual. Exhibit must include the woodworking plan and a minimum of one page report of how the engineering design process was used to develop the woodworking plan.
Engineering Design Process:
- State the problem (Why did you need this item?)
- Generate possible solutions (How have others solved the problem? What other alternatives or designs were considered?)
- Select a solution (How does your solution compare on the basis of cost, availability, and functionality?)
- Build the item (What was your woodworking plan, and what processes did you use to build your item?)
- Reason for article finish (What type of finish, how did you finish or why you choose this finish?)
- Evaluate (How does your item solve the original need?)
- Present results (How would you do this better next time?)
*Class H911004 Composite Wood Project 60% of the project must be wood and 40% made from other materials such as metal, rubber, resin, etc. All plans and plan alterations must be attached to the article. Protect plans with a cover. If project is designed to be outside it is required to have appropriate outdoor
finish.
*Class H911005 Outdoor Wood Project made with Treated Wood Treated wood projects DO NOT have to have a finished coating. All plans and plan alterations must be attached to the article. Protect plans with a cover. If project is designed to be outside. Examples include: picnic tables, planters, outdoor furniture, etc.
*Class H911006 Wood Project made on a Turning Lathe Article is the object created from spinning wood on a turning lathe. Article must be appropriately finished and/or sealed. Exhibit must include plans detailing design and process of completion, any changes made to the design, details of finishing techniques, and other relevant information about the article. Must include a description of tools used.
—Unit Four: Finishing Up—
*Class H911007 Unit 4 Woodworking Article Item made using skills learned in the Finishing Up project. Examples include: Dovetailing, making a pen using lathe, overlays, using a router, etc. Item is required to be appropriately finished.
*Class H911008 Unit 4 Recycled Woodworking Display Article made from recycled, reclaimed or composite wood. Article must be appropriately finished and/or sealed and utilize one or more woodworking techniques from page two of the Unit 4 manual. Exhibit must include the woodworking plan and a minimum of one-page report of how the engineering design process was used to develop the woodworking plan.
Engineering Design Process:
- State the problem (Why did you need this item?)
- Generate possible solutions (How have others solved the problem? What other alternatives or designs were considered?)
- Select a solution (How does your solution compare on the basis of cost, availability, and functionality?)
- Reason for article finish (What type of finish, how did you finish or why you choose this finish?)
- Build the item (What was your woodworking plan, and what processes did you use to build your item?)
- Evaluate (How does you item solve the original need?)
- Present results (How would you do this better next time?)