State Fair Eligible. Individuals in the Crop Production, Field Crops projects may exhibit grain or plants or prepare an educational display representing their project. 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 an appropriate project manuals.
General Rules/Supporting Information:
Grain or Plant Exhibits – Classes 1-5:
- A completed Crop Production Worksheet (available at Crop Production Project Worksheet (10-24).pdf) must accompany grain and plant exhibits or it will automatically be deducted one ribbon placing. The worksheet must include the exhibitors name, 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 exhibitor or it will be deducted 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 appropriate sized box/container for display. 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 3 stalks (cut at ground level with no roots or soil and bound together)
- Grain Sorghum - 4 stalks (cut at ground level and bound together)
- Soybeans – 6 stalks (cut at ground level and bound together)
- Small grains (oats, barley, wheat, triticale) – sheaf of heads 2 inches in diameter at top tie with stems about 24” long.
- Other crops (alfalfa, millet, etc.) – sheaf of stems 3 inches in diameter at top tied with stems cut at ground level or half size small square bale.
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” wide by 28” tall on plywood or poster board.
- The display should be neatly titled. Make sure to label display with exhibitor’s name, address and county on back side. Explain pictures and graphs clearly and concisely.
- Consider creativity and neatness. Refer to Scoresheet SF 259. Each display must have a one-page essay (minimum) explaining why the exhibitor 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 exhibitor’s name outside.
- If a display does not have an essay, it will automatically be deducted one ribbon placing.
Premium: Purple $4.00; Blue $3.50; Red $3.00; White $2.50
Class No.
G 750 1 CORN (includes yellow, white, pop, waxy or any other type)
G 750 2 SOYBEANS
G 750 3 OATS
G 750 4 WHEAT
G 750 5 ANY OTHER CROP (includes grain sorghum, alfalfa, millets, barley, rye, triticale, amaranth, dry beans, sugar beet, mung bean, canola, forage sorghum, safflower, etc.)
G 750 6 CROP PRODUCTION DISPLAY ‑ The purpose of this class is to allow original or creative exhibits that contain educational information about crop production aspects, such as crop scouting, alternative crops, etc.
G 750 7 CROP TECHNOLOGY DISPLAY - Display information about aspects of technology used in crop production, such as genetic engineering, crop breeding, GPS, yield mapping, computers, etc.
G 750 8 CROP END USE DISPLAY - 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 9 WATER OR SOIL DISPLAY - 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 10 CAREER INTERVIEW DISPLAY - The purpose of this class is to allow youth to investigate a career in agronomy. Youth should interview 1 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.