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 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 from the exhibit.
B. Rockets must be supported substantially in order to protect the rocket from breakage. Rockets are to be mounted on a base that has dimensions equal to or less than 12 inches x 12 inches and the base should be 3/4 inch thick. No metal bases. If the rocket fins extend beyond the edges of the required base (12 inches x 12 inches), then construct a base that is large enough to protect the fins. The base size is dictated by the size of the rocket fins.
C. The rockets must be mounted vertically. Please do not attach sideboards or backdrops to the displays. In addition, a used engine or length of dowel pin is to be glued and/or screwed into the board and extended up into the rocket’s engine mount to give added stability.
D. Rockets must be equipped as prepared for launching, with wadding and parachute or other recovery system. Rockets entered with live engines, wrong base size or sideboards will be disqualified.
E. A report, protected in a clear plastic cover, must include: 1) rocket specification (include original or photo of manufacture packaging stating rocket skill level), 2) a flight record for each launching (weather, distance, flight height), 3) number of launchings, 4) flight pictures, 5) Safety (How did you choose your launch site? Document safe launch, preparations, and precautions), 6) objectives learned, and 7) conclusions.
F. The flight record should describe the engine used, what the rocket did in flight and recovery success. Points will not be deducted for launching, flight or recovery failures described. This includes any damage that may be shown on the rocket. Complete factory assembled rockets will not be accepted at the State Fair.
G. Judging is based upon display appearance, rocket appearance, workmanship, design or capabilities for flight, number of times launched, and report. Three launches are required to earn the maximum launch points given on the score sheets. For scoring for the State Fair, only actual launches count, misfires will not count towards one of the required three launches.
H. For self-designed rockets only, please include a digital recorded copy of one flight. In the documentation, please include a description of stability testing before the rocket was flown.
I. 4-H Rocket project levels are not intended to correspond to the National Association of Rocketry model rocket difficulty ratings or levels.
J. The skill level of a project is not determined by number of years in the project. The skill level is determined by the level listed on the manufacturing packaging.
K. High Power Rockets (HPR) are similar to model rocketry with differences that include the propulsion power and weight increase of the model. They use motors in ranges over “G” power and/or weigh more than laws and regulations allow for unrestricted model rockets. These rockets are NOT appropriate for 4-H projects and will be disqualified.
L. 3D Printed Rockets are deemed unsafe in fabrication and design for launch. These rockets are NOT appropriate for 4-H Rocket projects and will be disqualified if entered into Rocket Classes. 3D Printed Rockets are ACCEPTABLE if entered into 3D Printing Classes.
M. Posters can be any size up to 28 inches x 22 inches when ready for display. Example: tri fold poster boards are not 28 inches x 22 inches when fully open for display.
N. Premier Science Award is available in this area.
O. Entry level rockets, made with PLASTIC FINS and PLASTIC TUBES are not eligible for State Fair.
P. Scoresheets, forms, contest study materials, and additional resources can be found at https://go.unl.edu/ne4hstem.
Q. Entries: Each 4-H member is limited to one item per class.
Rocket Classes:
+H-850-001 Rocket (SF92) - Any Skill Level Rocket with wooden fins and cardboard body tubes painted by hand or air brush.
+H-850-003 Rocket (SF92) - Any Skill Level Rocket with wooden fins and cardboard body tubes painted using commercial application (for example: spray paint).
+H-850-004 Self-designed Rocket (SF92) - Any self-designed rocket with wooden fins and cardboard body tubes.
H-850-901 Flopped Rocket Exhibit - Rocket that did not launch successfully or was irretrievable. Complete your report to the point where your rocket was lost. Please explain in your own words what happened and why your exhibit is not complete. Will be awarded a participation ribbon. Not State Fair Eligible.
Display Class:
+H-850-002 Aerospace Display (SF277) - Poster of display board that displays or exemplifies one of the principles learned in the Lift Off project. Examples include: display of rocket parts and purpose, explaining the parts of a NASA rocket or shuttle, interview of someone in the aerospace field, or kite terminology. Include notebook containing terminology (definition), and what was learned. Display can be any size up to 28 inches x 22 inches.
Drone Classes:
+H-850-005 Drone Poster (SF277) - Exhibit must be designed to educate yourself and others on one or more of the following topics: drone technologies, uses of drones, the different types of drones, types of training needed to operate drones, and the laws and regulations users must follow. Posters can be any size up to 28 inches x 22 inches.
+H-850-006 Drone Video (SF277) - Exhibit must demonstrate how the drone interacts with the outside world. Examples include: field scouting, surveying damage from natural disasters, drones used in commercial applications and settings, drones used for structural engineering. Video should not exceed five minutes.