PRE-FAIR CONTESTS

Public Speaking

               A 4-H member can enter any of the three contests but no more than one entry per contest. All Speeches and Presentations must be 4-H related with the exception of Novice and Clover Kid divisions.

 

Speech Contest

Pay Code 170

                    Speeches vary in time length by age and experience of the contestant.

· Clover Kid (5-7 year old): Time limit is under 2 minutes. Can be a speech, poem or story.  Does not have to be about 4-H.

· Novice Division (8-10 year old): who have not competed in the contest before). Participants can read or recite a poem or story, talk about a place, item or event, and under 3 minutes long.  Notecards are allowed.

· Junior Division (8-10 year old): speeches are original speeches relating to some aspect of 4-H, and 1-3 minutes long.  Use of notecards is allowed, but shouldn’t be a crutch. Youth 8 years and older are eligible for state contest rules https://4h.unl.edu/public-speaking

· Intermediate Division (11-13 year old):  speeches are original speeches relating to some aspect of 4-H, and 3-5 minutes long.  Use of notecards is allowed, but not encouraged. Eligible for state contest.

· Senior Division (14-18 years old): speeches are original speeches relating to some aspect of 4-H, written by the member and 5-8 minutes long. Use of notecards is allowed, but not encouraged. Eligible for state contest.

 

B100901 - Clover Kid Division 5-7 years 

B100902 - Novice Division (first-time in contest)

B100903 - Junior Division 8-10 years

B100904 - Intermediate Division 11-13 years

B100905 - Senior Division 14-18 years

PSA Contest

Pay Code 170

                    Radio PSA’s will be submitted electronically along with the PSA text prior to the County Contest.

Radio PSA’s must promote 4-H

· All PSA’s are 60 seconds in length.

· The state theme for the 2025 Public Service Announcement is “Ready Today, Leading Tomorrow” and should be incorporated in the PSA.

· All radio PSA’s must promote 4-H and be general enough to be used anywhere in Nebraska at any time of the year.

· All 4-H PSA’s must include the following tag line within the last ten seconds of the PSA: “Learn more about Nebraska Extension 4-H Youth Development Program at 4h.unl.edu.” The tag line is included in the 60 second time limit.

· Sound effects and public domain music may be used. Copyrighted material may not be used.

· All PSA’s must be the original work of the presenter. Contestants may not use PSA’s written and provided by the state or national staff.

· No team PSA’s are allowed.

B101901 - Junior Division 8-10 years

B101902 - Intermediate Division 11-13 years

B101903 - Senior Division 14-18 years

 

Presentation Contest

4-H Illustrated Presentations Contest

Scoresheet SF65

Pay Code 170

Entries must receive a Purple ribbon at county fair and be selected to advance to State Fair.

                    An Illustrated Presentation, given by one (1) individual or a team of two (2) individuals, is a live presentation with a formal talk where youth will use visual aids (such as props, posters, computer-based visuals, handouts, video, etc.) to show and tell others how to do something. Presentations are given on a stage. Judge views the entire presentation and engages in a question-and-answer session following presentation.

Participant Requirements:

· All participants must have received a purple rating at a County 4-H Presentations contest to be eligible for State Contest.

· Time limit is 3-5 minutes for a presentation given by an junior individual, and 6-8 minutes for presentation given by intermediate individual, and 5-7 minutes for a presentation given by a junior team, and 8-10 minutes for a presentation given by a intermediate team. Participants will be penalized if their presentation exceeds the time limits.

Presentation Topic:

· All 4-H Presentations topics should be related to what the 4-H youth is learning through 4-H educational experience focused on the priorities of career and college readiness, community development, entrepreneurship, food supply confidence, healthy living, leadership development, and STEM (science, technology, engineering, math). 

· 4-H Presentations should include an introduction (the “why” portion of the topic), a body (the “show and tell” portion of the topic), and a conclusion/summary (the “what” portion of the topic).

Contest Information:

· The check-in area will contain a refrigerator and a temporary storage space for presentation supplies. Only presenters and contest officials will be permitted in the designated preparation areas, no relatives or friends, please. Presenters are expected to clean up the areas in which they work.

  • Equipment provided at County Contest includes two (2) tables, one (1) easel, Computer, Projector and Wi-Fi internet. Any power points for presentations need to be submitted to amanda.hackenkamp@unl.edu by April 13th. 

· Equipment provided at State Contest includes two (2) tables, one (1) easel, PC Compatible Computer (including the following software: Apple QuickTime Player, Microsoft Windows Media Player, and Microsoft PowerPoint 2019) with Wi-Fi internet connectivity, projector or television screen, and hands-free microphone.

·  Participants may also provide their own computer or other equipment as needed; however, participants must be able to connect their computer to an HDMI plug on the television.

· Live animals will not be able to be used in the presentation. Alternative ways of showing information about live animals (models, videos, photos) are encouraged.

 

B151113 - Illustrated Presentation

 

 

Clover Kid Show & Tell

Pay Code 240

                    The purpose of this contest is to give Clover Kids an opportunity to show and tell about an item they have made during the current year. The participant will bring the item and give a 1 – 3 minute talk.

 

B151901 - Clover Kid Show & Tell

 

Culinary Challenge Contest

Pay Code 170

                    All entries must be pre-entered on the General Entry Form by the first Friday of July at the Extension Office.

                    The 4-H Culinary Challenge Contest will require youth to demonstrate healthy decision making through nutrition, food preparation, menu planning, and food safety; utilizing a foods and nutrition curriculum. They will apply healthy living knowledge and skills by planning a nutritious menu, demonstrating their understanding of time management skills in the kitchen, and expressing their originality and creativity through an appropriate themed and properly set table. To showcase these skills, youth will create a menu, prepare one food item, and choose an appropriate theme for their occasion while expressing their food, nutrition, and food safety knowledge during a live interview with a judge at the contest. In order to highlight knowledge and skills acquired during pre-contest preparation, youth will utilize technology as part of their interview.

 

Rules

Challenge Ingredient/Item

1.     A challenge ingredient will be selected each year, highlighting a Nebraska commodity food product. The 2026 challenge ingredient is potatoes. Please keep food safety in mind when selecting the recipe used for the Challenge. Foods must be able to be kept chilled during transport to the contest, then be able to be re-heated in a microwave (or oven at County level only) if needed. Each team must incorporate the challenge ingredient into their food item they will be presenting during the contest. This may require altering a recipe or creatively incorporating an item into their overall table theme. The challenge ingredient must also be included in the interview presentation, demonstrating youth knowledge of the ingredient, such as nutritional value, a farm-to-fork concept, or how to adapt a recipe to include the ingredient.

Judges Interview

1.   The individual or team should view themselves as the hosts, welcoming the judge, cooperatively presenting the table to the judge, incorporating multi-media resources, and answering any questions from the judge. Individuals or teams must be prepared to present to the judge utilizing technology, such as PowerPoint, picture story, or other multi-media resource. Presentations may include photos, clip art, animation, video or audio sound. The 4-H members should cooperatively present a verbal presentation to the judge that is highlighted by their multi-media presentation via computer or tablet. Participants must provide their own computer or other equipment needed for their 4-H Foods Event judging interview. Presentations will occur at participants’ tables. Please do not bring projectors or other equipment which will require extra space.

Considerations should be given to creatively include the following items through the multi-media presentation:

· Nutritional facts of their menu 

· Food safety 

· Time management 

· Choice of menu 

· Food preparation 

· Cost of item/per serving 

· Food handling techniques

· Recipe of the food item shared with the judge.

· Challenge ingredient (nutritional value, farm-to-fork, recipe revision, etc.)

General Rules / Guidelines

1. For State Fair, teams will consist of two (2) members to be eligible to compete. 4-H members must be 8 years of age as of Jan 1 of current year.

2. Judging interviews will be approximately 12 to 15 minutes This time includes a short presentation by the teams, as well as questions from the judge.

3. Participants must provide their own card table for the display.

4. Check-in area will contain a microwave and *limited* temporary storage for table settings.

5. Only contestants will be allowed to set up or arrange table settings.

6. Participants must have their table setting ready by the assigned time. Once tables are set, contestants should stay with their tables, as they are responsible for items placed on tables. Chairs will be available for contestants.

7. During judging, 4-H members may choose to dress in appropriate clothing, costume, or accessories relevant to the theme.

 

County Only Classes

F500995 - Clover Kid Division 5-7 years

 

F500010- Junior Division 8 - 10 years 

F500011- Intermediate Division 11 -13 years

F500012- Senior Division 14-18 years

 

 

 

Identification Contest

Pay Code 170

  

Rules

1. 4-H members may enter as an individual and as members of a team. A team consists of 3 to 4 individuals with the total scores of the three high individuals making the team score. Membership of the team must be designated if team competition is intended. This will need to be designated prior to initiation of the contest. While most teams consist of 4-H members from the same county, teams may consist of members of contiguous counties.

2. A team will compete at the level of the oldest team member, e.g., if a member of a team is in the Senior division, the team and its individuals will compete in the Senior division, even if some members of the team are of Intermediate division age. In this situation, the intermediate division youth would need to complete both the intermediate and senior sections of the contest.

3. 4-H members compete according to their age.

4. 4-H members will not be allowed to touch the samples during the contest.

5. Ages 8 years and older are able to compete at the State Contest.

 

Weed And Grass Identification

4-H members will be required to identify the plant specimens by accepted common name as defined by the “Weed and Grass ID List” by matching the contest specimen with a number from the alphabetical specimen listing for the contest. 

· One point is possible for each specimen

· Specimens will consist of a minimum of leaves and stem, but may also include flowers, seed, or roots structures 

  • Juniors will identify the first 30 specimens, with samples coming from the junior and intermediate list. Intermediates will identify the first 45 specimens, with samples coming from the junior and intermediate list. Seniors will identify 80 specimens, with samples coming from the senior list. Ties will be broken using a two-step process. 1) Five additional plants on the ID list and 2) Five additional plants either deemed harder to ID or that are not on the list. Step two will be used if ties still exist after Step one has been completed. A third step, that includes matching knowledge of specific plants, will be used if a tie still exists after Step two has been completed.

 

County Only Classes

F500917 - Clover Kid 5-7 years

 

F500031- Junior Division 8-10 years

F500033- Intermediate Division 11-13 years

F500035- Senior Division 14-18 years

 

Tree Identification

 4-H members will be required to identify the plant specimens by accepted common name, but knowledge of scientific names is encouraged. 

· Contestants will identify 40 tree specimens described in the Tree Identification Manual (4H332)

· Specimens will always be whole leaves, but twigs, flowers, seeds, or other structures may also be included 

· Ties will be broken with supplemental "tie breaker" questions 

· 4-H members will be allowed to touch specimens during the contest 

 

County Only Classes

F500947 - Clover Kid Division 5-7 years

 

F500025- Junior Division 8-10 years

F500027- Intermediate Division 11-13 years

F500029- Senior Division 14-18 years

 

 

Horticulture Identification

4-H members will be required to participate in all of the following portions.

· Identification - 4-H members will identify the plant specimens by accepted common name as defined by the “Identification Answer Sheet.” Participants will be given a plant list to use at the contest. 

  • Two points will be possible for each specimen. Junior division will identify 25 samples from the Fruits, Nuts & Berries section. Intermediate division will identify 50 samples (25 from each of the following sections: Fruits, Nuts & Berries, and Vegetables); Senior division will identify 100 samples ( 25 from each of the four sections: Vegetables, Flowers & Indoor Plants, Fruits, Nuts & Berries, and Landscape Ornamentals). 

Judging/Placing – 4-H members will be asked to rank class(es) of items from best to worst based upon a set of criteria. Junior and Intermediate divisions will judge one class, and Senior division will judge two classes, each class is worth 50 points. Classes of (4) plates each, will be judged on the basis of condition, quality, uniformity, true-to-type, and size. Classes can be taken from the list of four groups to be judged (fruits and nuts, vegetables and herbs, flowering and indoor plants, and woody ornamentals). Scores will be determined by a Hormel calculator. Oral reasons are not part of this contest.  

· Specimens may be alive or preserved plant parts such as, but not limited to: stems, twigs, leaves, flowers, seeds, fruits, roots, bulbs, tubers, or plant products.

 

County Only Classes

F500922 - Clover Kid 5-7 years

 

F500013- Junior Division 8-10 years

F500015- Intermediate Division 11-13 years

F500017- Senior Division 14-18 years

 

 

Insect Identification

Rules

1. 4-H members may enter only as an individual

2. 4-H members will identify 50-60 insect specimens. Identifications will be scored strictly by the names given on the Specimen Study List, as common names may vary according to resources studied.

3. Contest components include:

  • 4-H members will identify specimens by common name only, utilizing a key.
  • The key will consist of eligible orders and insects from which to write the corresponding letter (for order) and number (for insects) on an answer sheet.

Every 5th specimen will have a multiple-choice insect knowledge question about the insect. The question may require the meaning of the order name, type of antennae, legs or mouthparts, kind of metamorphosis, a fact about biology, or the scientific name of the specimen.

  • Scoring: Each correct order answer is worth 1 point, and each correct insect answer is worth 1 point. Each multiple-choice question is worth 2 points. 

4. 4-H members should not touch specimens during the contest. Magnifying lenses and printed images will accompany tiny specimens.

5. Ties will be broken with a supplemental tie-breaker section at the end of the contest answer sheet consisting of 10 specimens to identify to order along with 2 insect knowledge questions. These specimens will be much more difficult to identify.   

County Only Classes

F500932 - Clover Kid Division 5-7 years

 

F500019- Junior Division 8-10 years

F500021- Intermediate Division 11-13 years

F500023- Senior Division 14-18 years

 

 

 

 

 


 

York County Fair Book 2026