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 from the exhibit.
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 Hypotheses. All reports should be computer generated and enclosed in a clear plastic cover. The reports should be attached securely to the display. 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 use of copywritten images.
F. Team Entries: To qualify for entry at the Nebraska State Fair team for any team exhibit, the exhibit 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.
G. 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.
H. 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.
I. Premier Science Award available in this area.
J. Scoresheets, forms, contest study materials, and additional resources can be found at https://go.unl.edu/ne4hstem.
K. Entries: Each 4-H member is limited to one item per class.
L. Recommended QR Code Generator: https://www.qr-code-generator.com/
Computer Mysteries (Unit 2) Classes:
+H-860-001 Computer Application Notebook (SF277) - 4-H exhibitor should use computer application to create a graphic notebook utilizing computer technology. This exhibit consists of an 8.5 inches x 11 inches notebook which should include two parts:
- A detailed report describing:
(a) the task to be completed
(b) the computer application software required to complete the task
|(c) specific features of the computer application software necessary for completing the task
- Print out of your project. Project may be in color or black and white. 4-H member may create any of the following:
- greeting card (five different cards such as a birthday, wedding, anniversary, sympathy get well or other)
- business card (three cards for three different individuals and businesses)
- menu (minimum of two pages including short description of foods and pricing); book layout (I-book)
- promotional flyer (three flyers promoting three different events)
- newsletter (minimum two pages)
- other: examples such as precision farming or family business logo etc.
+H-860-002 Produce a Computer Slideshow Presentation (SF276) - Using presentation software a 4-H Exhibitor designs a multimedia computer presentation on one topic related to youth. An 8.5 inches x 11 inches three-ring notebook with a printout of all the slides should be submitted. The slideshow should include a minimum of 10 slides and not more than 25. Incorporate appropriate slide layouts, graphics, animations, and audio (music or voice and transition sounds do not count). Each slide should include notes for a presentation. All digital exhibits must be uploaded according to the guidelines and by the deadline listed in the department rules.
Computer Mysteries (Unit 3) Classes:
+H-860-003 Produce an Audio/Video Computer Presentation (SF276) - Using presentation software a 4-H exhibitor designs a multimedia computer presentation on one topic related to youth, including audio and/or video elements. A notebook with a printout of all the slides should be submitted. The presentation should be at least two minutes in length and no more than five minutes in length, appropriate graphics, sound and either a video clip, animation, or voice over and/or original video clip. All digital exhibits must be uploaded according to the guidelines and by the deadline listed in the department rules.
+H-860-004 How to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Presentation (SF276) - Youth design a fully automated two to five minute 4-H “how to” video. Submissions should incorporate a picture or video of the 4-H member, as well as their name (first name only), age (as of January 1 of the current year), years in 4-H, and their personal interests or hobbies. All digital exhibits must be uploaded according to the guidelines and by the deadline listed in the department rules.
+H-860-005 Virtual Platform Presentation (SF276) - Youth design a fully automated educational presentation using any multimedia platform such as Tik Tok, YouTube, Canva, Canvas, etc. Submissions may include a notebook, poster, etc., explaining the process, experience, and/or presentation. All digital exhibits must be uploaded according to the guidelines and by the deadline listed in the department rules.
+H-860-006 Create a Web Site/Blog or App (SF275) - Design a simple website, blog, or app for providing information about a topic related to youth. Include an explanation of why the entry was created. Any current website, blog, or app development platform is accepted such as Google Sites, iBuildApp, Wix, etc. All digital exhibits must be uploaded according to the guidelines and by the deadline listed in the department rules.
+H-860-007 3D Printing (SF1050) - 3D printing uses plastic or other materials to build a 3-dimensional (3D) object from a digital design (including 3D Pen Creation). 4-H members may use original designs or someone else’s they have re-designed in a unique way. Exhibits will be judged based on the motivation and/or problem identified. For example, 3D objects printed as part of the design process for robot or other engineering project. Must include design notebook that addresses the following questions:
1. What was the motivation for your design or the problem you were solving with your design? i.e. Is your item a functional or decorative piece?
2. Please include a picture of original design, citation of designer/website OR if design is completely original (you created it using CAD software), then state that it’s original. If item was not completely original, indicate what you did to the original design to modify it to better meet the design problem stated in #1 above. Its design was modified multiple times, please indicate what change was made with each modification, and what prompted the need for the change. i.e. I printed it and the design was too fragile, so I resliced the print to make thinker external walls, or to have a denser infill.
3. Define your process for designing/printing. What software and/or hardware was used (indicate type of 3D printer or if item was created with 3D pen)?
4. What materials were selected for your project?
5. If your final design has any moving parts, define how you determined appropriate allowance in your design.
6. Identify any changes that you would make to improve your design.
+H-860-008 Maker Space/Digital Fabrication (SF1050) - This project is a computer-generated project created using a laser cutter, vinyl cutter, heat press or CNC router. Vector or 3D based software such as Corel Draw or Fusion 360 would be an example of an appropriate software used to create your finished project. Project should include an 8.5 inches x 11 inches three-ring notebook with the following:
a. What motivated you to create this project?
b. Software and equipment used
c. Directions on how to create the project
d. Prototype of plans
e. Cost of creating project
f. Iterations or modifications made to original plans
g. Changes you would make if you remade the project
Team Entry Option: To qualify for entry at the Nebraska State Fair team materials entered in +H-860-008 – Maker Space/Digital Fabrication must clearly be the work of a team instead of an individual and must have at least 50 percent 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.