Wayne County 4-H/FFA Fairbook - Agronomy

Score Sheet SF264

+G-750-001 Corn (includes yellow, white, pop, waxy or any other type)
+G-750-002 Soybeans
+G-750-003 Oats
+G-750-004 Wheat 
+G-750-005 Any other crop (includes grain sorghum, alfalfa, millets, barley, rye, triticale, amaranth, dry beans, sugar beet, mung bean, canola, forage sorghum, safflower, etc.).

Displays classes 6-10

A. 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 inches wide by 28 inches tall on plywood or poster board. The display should be neatly titled. Make sure to label display with 4-H member’s  name, address, and county on back side. Explain pictures and graphs clearly and concisely. Consider creativity and neatness. Refer to Scoresheet SF 259

B. Each display must have a one-page essay (minimum) explaining why the 4-H member 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 4-H members name outside. If a display does not have an essay, it will automatically be lowered one ribbon placing.

 Display Classes (SF 259):

+G-750-006 Crop Production Display - The purpose of this class is to allow original and creative exhibits that contain educational information about crop production aspects, such as crop scouting, alternative crops, pest management, etc.
+G-750-007 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-750-008 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 biodiesel, pet bedding, crayons, oil, etc.) This should not be about the process of crop production but focus on an end product(s).
+G-750-009 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-750-010 Career Interview Display - The purpose of this class is to allow 4-H members to investigate a career in agronomy. 4-H member should interview one 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.

Special Agronomy Project classes 11-13

4-H member experience a crop that is grown, was grown, or has the potential to be grown in Nebraska by growing it, researching traits of that crop and determine viability of that crop in the part of the state they live. Each year seeds will be mailed to extension offices or ag ed classrooms across the state, as ordered by that location. Offices will distribute to 4-H member on a first come – first serve basis. A different seed will be selected every year. 4-H members will grow seeds in their garden or pots. Written resource materials will be available for youth, in addition to virtual, live, or recorded videos/field trips. 4-H members will be eligible to enter an exhibit ab both the county and/or state fair in the agronomy project area. The 2025 Special Agronomy Project is Sunflowers. 

+G-750-011 Special Agronomy Project-Educational Exhibit (SF259) -Educational exhibit based on what was learned from the project. Present information on no larger than 28 inches wide by 28 inches tall on plywood or poster board. The 4-H member’s name, age, and county must be on the back of the poster or report cover. Each display must have a 1/2-page essay (minimum) explaining why the 4-H member chose the area of display and what they learned from their project. Include any references used. 

+G-750-012 Special Agronomy Project-Video Presentation - 4-H member designs a multimedia presentation related to the crop. This could include narration of the growing process, presenting facts about the crop or any other innovative multimedia practices. The presentation should be at least 2 minutes in length and no more than 5 minutes in length, appropriate graphics, sound, and either a video clip, animation, or voice over, and/or original video clip. Any of the following file formats will be accepted: mp4, .mov, .ppt, or.avi. Email a link of the video to the superintendents to anygren2@unl.edu or brandy.vandewalle@unl.edu by August 10^th. 

+G-750-013 Special Agronomy Project-Freshly Harvested Crop - Plant exhibits must be the result of the current year’s project. Depending on the type of crop selected for the current year: 

• 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 inches long. 
• Other crops (alfalfa, sunflowers, millet, etc.) - sheaf of stems 3 inches in diameter at top tied with stems cut at ground level or half size small square bale.

Supporting documentation (1/2 to 1 page in length) should include the following:

• Economic Analysis and /or research that supports feasibility of this crop in Nebraska or how the crop has evolved over time. 
• Other topics to discuss are past/current commercial production of this crop. This includes: 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 about this crop and what you learned from your crops project. This ½ to 1 page summary counts as 50% of the total when judged. 
• In addition to the summary, 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. 

General Information: 

At least 15 of the specimens must represent this year’s work (after the previous county fair to present day). For assistance identifying plants, 4-H members can use the Nebraska Department of Agriculture’s Weeds of Nebraska and the Great Plains Book. 

Books: 

A. Plants must be mounted on sheets that are no larger than 14 inches wide by 14 inches high. Proper plant mount should include root as well as stem and leaf tissue. Plants should be glued rather than taped and the mounts should be protected with a clear cover. 
B. Exhibits will be judged based on completeness of plant mount, accuracy of identification, label, neatness, and conformity to exhibit requirements. Refer to Scoresheet SF261.
C. Each completed mount must have the following information (see example below) in the lower right corner of the mounting sheet: 1. Scientific name (in italic or underlined), with authority, 2. Common name, 3. County of collection, 4. Collection date, 5. Collector’s name, 6. Personal collection number, indicating the order that plants were collected in your personal collection, 7. Other information depending on class selected, i.e., noxious, life form. This information should be typed or printed neatly.

Example:
Scientific name: Abutilon theophrasti Medik.
Common name: Velvetleaf
County of collection: Hall County
Collection date: 6 July 2023
Collector’s name: Dan D. Lion
Personal collection number: 3
Life cycle: Annual 

Classes (SF 261):

+G-751-001 Weed Identification Book - A collection of a minimum of 15 plant mounts including at least two of the following prohibited noxious weeds (Canada thistle, musk thistle, plumeless thistle, salt cedar, leafy spurge, purple loosestrife, diffuse knapweed, spotted knapweed, Japanese knotweed, bohemian knotweed, giant knotweed, sericea lespedeza or phragmites), and at least three weeds that are a problem primarily in lawns.

+G-751-002 Lifespan Book - A collection of 7 perennials, 1 biennial, and 7 annual weeds. 

Displays: 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 inches by 28 inches on plywood or poster board. The display should be neatly titled. Make sure to label display with 4-H member’s name, address, and county on back side. Explain pictures and graphs clearly and concisely. Refer to Scoresheet SF 259. Each display must have a one-page essay explaining why the 4-H member chose the area of display and what they learned from their project. Include references used. The essay should be in a clear plastic cover with the 4-H member’s name outside.

+G-751-003 Weeds Display (SF 259) - The purpose of this class is to allow original and creative exhibits that contain educational information about weeds, such as interesting information about a weed species, the effects of weed control, herbicide resistant weeds, what makes a weed a weed, or uses for weeds.

The purpose of this category is to help 4-H members identify and collect range plants. In addition, 4-H members will learn the basics of range management, and Nebraska's range. Through the creation of range boards, 4-H members will become more proficient in knowledge of Nebraska's range.

General Information:

A. Each exhibit must be properly identified with Unit and Class. 

B. All plant displays, and display covers must be the result of the current year’s work.

C. Plant identification and lists of appropriate plants in each category (grasses, forbs, shrubs, and grass like plants) can be found in the Range Judging Handbook and Contest Guide (EC 150 Revised July 2024), Common Grasses of Nebraska (EC 170), and Common Forbs and Shrubs of Nebraska (EC 118).

D. 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.

E. Scoresheets, forms, contest study materials, and additional resources can be found at https://go.unl.edu/ne4hrange

F. An explanation of projects and curriculum resources can be found at https://4h.unl.edu/resources/projects/.

G. Entries: Each 4-H member is limited to one item per class.

Books: 

A. For books (classes 1-6): plants must be mounted on sheets that are no larger than 14 inches wide by 14 inches high. Plants should be glued rather than taped and the mounts should be protected with a clear cover. Proper plant mount should include root as well as stem and leaf tissue. 
B. Exhibits will be judged based on completeness of plant mount, accuracy of identification, labeling, neatness, and conformation to project requirements. Refer to Scoresheet SF 260.
C. Each completed mount must have the following information (see example below) in the lower right corner of the mounting sheet: 1. Scientific name (in italic or underlined), with authority. 2. Common name. 3. County of collection. 4. Collection date. 5. Collector's name. 6. Personal collection number, indicating order that plants were collected in your personal collection. 7. Other information, depending on class selected, i.e., value and importance, life span, growth season, origin, major types of range plants. This information should be typed or printed neatly.

Example:
Scientific name: Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.) Nash
Common name: Little bluestem
unty of collection: Hall County
Collection date: 6 August 2023
Collector’s name: Joe Smith|
Personal collection number: 37
Value and Importance: Livestock Forage: High, Wildlife Habitat: High, Wildlife Food: Medium or Life Span: Perennial OR Season of Growth: Warm Season OR Origin: Native

Classes:

+D-330-001 Value and Importance for Livestock Forage and Wildlife Habitat and Food Book (SF 260) - A collection of 12 different plant mounts, with four classified as high value, four as medium value, and four as low value for livestock forage, wildlife habitat, or wildlife food. Value and importance classifications can be found in the Range Judging Handbook and Contest Guide, Appendix Table 1 (EC150, Revised July 2024) starting on page 42. Plants can consist of any combination of grasses, grass-like plants, forbs, or shrubs. Assemble plant mounts in order of high, medium, and low value and importance. Label each plant mount with its value and importance classifications for each of the three areas: Livestock Forage, Wildlife Habitat, Wildlife Food.

+D-330-002 Life Span Book (SF 260) - A collection of six perennial plant mounts and six annual plant mounts selected from grasses or forbs.

+D-330-003 Growth Season Book (SF 260) - A collection of six cool season grass mounts and six warm season grass mounts.

+D-330-004 Origin Book (SF 260) - A collection of plant mounts of six native range grasses and six introduced grasses. Introduced grasses are not from North America and often used to seed pastures.

+D-330-005 Major Types of Range Plants Book (SF 260) - A collection of plant mounts of three grasses, three forbs, three grass like and three shrubs.

+D-33-006 Range Plant Collection Book (SF 260) - A collection of 12 range plant mounts with something in common (i.e. poisonous to cattle, or historically used as food by Native Americans, or dye plants, or favorite antelope forage, etc.). Include a short paragraph at the front of the book which describes what the plants have in common and why you have chosen to collect them.

Displays: 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 inches x 28 inches on plywood or poster board. The display should be neatly titled. Make sure to label display with 4-H members name, address, and county on back side. Refer to Scoresheet SF 259.

+D-330-007 Parts of a Range Plant Poster (SF 259) - Mount a range plant on a poster board. Label the key plant parts useful for ID & correct for that plant species such as root, branch, cotyledon, petiole, midrib, stem, node, leaf, leaflet, spikelet, collar, ligule, sheath, internode, culm, crown, flower, etc. Include the plant label in the lower right corner. Include the plant label in the lower right corner including the scientific and common name of the plant. 4-H member name and 4-H county should be on the back of the poster.

Boards: Boards should be no larger than 30 inches wide by 36 inches tall. Boards should be adequately labeled. Refer to scoresheet SF 260.

+D-330-008 Special Study Board (SF 260) - A display of the results of a clipping study, a degree of use study, range site study, etc. A short essay must accompany the display to explain the reason for the study, what was learned, and study results. This should be placed in a sheet cover attached to the board.

+D-330-009 Junior Rancher Board (SF 260) - This exhibit should include a ranch map with a record book or an appropriate educational display on some phase of rangeland or livestock management. A short essay must accompany the display to explain the purpose of the rancher board, what was learned, etc. This should be placed in a sheet cover attached to the board.