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 the owner of the exhibit may be identified if the entry tag is separated from the exhibit.
B. Entries: Each 4-H member is limited to one entry per class.
C. Requirements: All articles exhibited must include a plan (with drawing or sketch or blueprint) stating dimensions and other critical instructions a builder would need to know how to build the project and 4-H member’s 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.
- All projects must have the appropriate finish. 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 the State Fair. All outside projects exhibited at State Fair 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.
D. 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 4 foot by 8-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 demonstration 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 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.
E. Demonstration boards should include an overall title for the display, plus other necessary labeling.
F. 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.
G. Please refer to the General Rules (Letter L) for the policy regarding firearms, items with a blade, and other related items.
H. Please refer to the General Rules (Letter M) for the policy regarding the use of copywritten images.
I. Premier 4-H Science Award is available in this area.
J. Scoresheets, forms, contest study materials, and additional resources can be found at https://go.unl.edu/ne4hstem.
Measuring Up (Unit 1) Classes: Not State Fair Eligible
H-911-901 Woodworking Article (SF91) - Item made using skills learned in the Measuring Up manual. Must be made with hand tools. Examples include letter holder, storage box, airplane, or picture frame.
H-911-902 Woodworking Display (SF91) - Display exemplifying one of the principles learned in the Measuring Up project. Examples include using a square or identifying tools.
Making the Cut (Unit 2) Classes: Not State Fair Eligible
H-911-903 Woodworking Article (SF91)- Item made using the skills learned in the Making the Cut manual. Examples include whistle, sawhorse, birdhouse, toolbox, or stool.
H-911-904 Woodworking Display (SF91)- Display exemplifies one of the principles learned in the Making the Cut project. Examples include making a miter cut or making a curved cut with a jigsaw.
Nailing It Together (Unit 3) Classes:
+H-911-001 Woodworking Article (SF91) - 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.
+H-911-003 Recycled Woodworking Display (SF91) - 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 one-page report of how the engineering design process was used to develop the woodworking plan.
Engineering Design Process:
1) State the problem (Why did you need this item?)
2) Generate possible solutions (How have others solved the problem? What other alternatives or designs were considered?)
3) Select a solution (How does your solution compare on the basis of cost, availability, and functionality?)
4) Build the item (What was your woodworking plan, and what processes did you use to build your item?)
5) Reason for article finish (What type of finish, how did you finish, or why did you choose this finish?)
6) Evaluate (How does your item solve the original need?)
7) Present results (How would you do this better next time?)
+H-911-004 Composite Wood Project (SF91) - 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 because project may be displayed outside.
+H-911-005 Outdoor Wood Project made with Treated Wood (SF91) - 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.
+H-911-007 Wood Projects created on a Turning Lathe (SF98) - 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.
Finishing Up (Unit 4) Classes:
+H-911-006 Woodworking Article (SF91) - Item made using skills learned in the Finishing Up manual. Examples include dovetailing, making a pen using lathe, overlays, using a router, etc. Item is required to be appropriately finished.
+H-911-008 Recycled Woodworking Display (SF91) - 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 2 of the Unit 4 manual. Exhibit must include the woodworking plan and a minimum one-page report of how the design and engineering process was used to develop the woodworking plan.
1) State the problem (Why did you need this item?)
2) Generate possible solutions (How have others solved the problem? What other alternatives or designs were considered?)
3) Select a solution (How does your solution compare on the basis of cost, availability, and functionality?)
4) Reason for article finish (What type of finish, how did you finish, or why did you choose this finish?)
5) Build the item (What was your woodworking plan, and what processes did you use to build your item?)
6) Evaluate (How does your item solve the original need?)
7) Present results (How would you do this better next time?)