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