Awards:
Craig and Cindy Evans, Winside - Champion Senior Engineering
Jeff and Lisa Farran, Winside – Reserve Champion Senior Engineering
Craig and Cindy Evans, Winside - Champion Junior Engineering
Dave Quinn Family, Winside – Reserve Champion Junior Engineering
Premiums: Purple $4.50, Blue $4.00, Red $3.50, White $3.00 Participation $3.00
Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM)
This department gives 4‑H members an opportunity to display their knowledge and skills gained relating to computers, drones, electricity, energy, geospatial, robots, rockets, welding, and woodworking. Through participating in this department, 4‑H members will present their knowledge in these areas as they relate to STEM.
A. 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 owner of exhibit may be identified if the entry tag is separated.
B. Demonstration boards should include an overall title for the display, plus other necessary labeling.
C. Reports should be written using the scientific method whenever possible: 1. Hypothesis 2. Research 3. Experiment 4. Measure 5. Report or Redefine Hypothesis. All reports should be computer generated and enclosed in a clear plastic cover. The reports should be attached securely to the display.
D. Please refer to the General Rules (Letter L) for the policy regarding firearms, items with a blade, and other related items.
E. Please refer to the General Rules (Letter M) for the policy regarding the use of copywritten images.
F. Premier 4-H Science Award is available in this area.
G. 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.
H. State Fair qualified videos, presentations and other electronic exhibits should be submitted to https://go.unl.edu/2026nesfstem by August 15th, 2026. 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
I. Posters in this department can be any size up to 28 inches x 22 inches when ready for display. Example: trifold poster boards are not 28 inches x 22 inches when fully open for display.
J. Scoresheets, forms, contest study materials, and additional resources can be found at https://go.unl.edu/ne4hstem.
K. Recommended QR Code Generator:https://www.qr-code-generator.com/
L. Renewable Energy Resources:
- United States Department of Energy: https://www.energy.gov/clean-energy
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/renewable-sources/
- Natural Resources Defense Council: https://www.nrdc.org/stories/renewable-energy-clean-facts
M. Entries: Each 4-H member is limited to one item per class.
Classes:
+H-900-001 Create and Compare Energy Resources Poster (SF277) -Poster should explore two alternative/renewable energy resources. Compare and contrast the two resources including two of the following information: amount of energy created, costs of production, usability of the energy, pros/cons of environmental impacts, etc. Posters can be any size up to 28 inches x 22 inches.
+H-900-002 Experiment Notebook (SF277) - Notebook will explore the scientific method involving alternative/renewable energy sources. Information required: 1. Hypothesis, 2. Research, 3. Experiment, 4. Measure, 5. Report or Redefine Hypothesis.
+H-900-003 Solar as Energy Display/Poster (SF277) - Item should be the original design of the 4-H member. Include the item, or a picture if item is in excess of 6 feet tall or 2 feet x 2 feet. Include a notebook of why the item was designed and how it harnesses the power of the sun. Examples include solar ovens, solar panels, etc.
+H-900-004 Water as Energy Display/Poster (SF277) - Item should be the original design of the 4-H member. Include the item, or a picture if item is in excess of 6 feet tall or 2 feet x 2 feet. Include a notebook of why the item was designed and how it harnesses the power of water.
+H-900-005 Wind as Energy Display/Poster (SF277) - Item should be the original design of the 4-H member. Include the item, or a picture if item is in excess of 6 feet tall or 2 feet x 2 feet. Include a notebook of why the item was designed and how it harnesses the power of wind.
+H-900-006- Other Nebraska Alternative Energy- (SF277)–Notebook should explore a Nebraska alternative energy source besides wind, water, and solar power. Include information on type of power chosen, infrastructure for distribution, what resources are needed to create this alternative resource, cost of production, and potential uses of bio-products. Examples include geothermal, biomass, ethanol, bio-diesel, methane reactors, etc.