4-H General Rules &
Regulations

4-H EXHIBIT RULES
*Eligibility - All 4-H members in the Koochiching County 4-H program shall comply with the following rules as suggested by the University of Minnesota Extension. Only those complying with regulations are permitted to exhibit in the classes listed.

1. Members may exhibit, demonstrate, or take part only in projects in which they are enrolled. All work on projects entered should be done by the 4-H member and completed during the current 4-H year unless otherwise noted.
2. Poster exhibits may not exceed 22” wide x 28” high. They may be smaller.
3. Education/Science Tri-Fold Exhibits for all project areas, may not exceed
12" deep x 24" wide x 36" high. (Center back 24" wide x 36" high, right and left wings each 12" wide x 36" high.)
All exhibits will be evaluated by a conference with the judge. Project judging criteria:
Exhibit quality 25%
Educational value 25%
Knowledge and ability to explain 50%
Decision of the judge is final and may not be appealed.
4. Floor Space for any exhibit should not exceed 20 square feet. If your exhibit exceeds this space limitation, contact the Extension office.
5. All exhibits must be labeled with name, club, and county. Other appropriate information for the project (i.e., vegetable varieties) should be included. If the exhibit has multiple pieces, each part needs to be labeled and should indicate 1 of 4, 2 of 4, etc.

ANIMAL SCIENCE
1. All beef, dairy, dog, goat, horse, lama, rabbit, sheep and swine shown in 4-H livestock shows must have the required State 4-H ID system, ear tag and/or tattoo. Animals must be identified on the appropriate 4-H livestock ownership affidavit/lease agreement and the form(s) must be on file at the Regional Extension Center.
2. All animals exhibited must be owned solely by the member, member’s family or leased by agreement. The family includes the 4-Hers’s parents or guardians and siblings living together as a family unit. The definition of family includes an extended family where the animals may be owned by grandparents with the 4-Her’s parents actively involved with and working on the farm. Registered animals, not leased, must be registered in the exhibitor's name and/or the exhibitor's family name.
3. 4-Hers exhibiting livestock at the County Fair are responsible for the care and feeding of animals they exhibit.
4. All livestock exhibits, including showmanship, must be pre-registered. Members in animal projects may exhibit one animal per class, unless stated otherwise.
5. All 4-Hers exhibiting livestock at the fair are eligible to participate in showmanship. 4-H'ers must show their own animals.
6. Grooming of all livestock, including clipping, trimming, and blocking (all species) must be done by the exhibitor, members of the immediate family, or any other 4-H member. Exhibitors in violation of this rule may show for ribbon only and will not be considered for championship, State Fair trips, or auction.
7. To show in the registered breed classes, animals must meet the registration requirements for that breed and registration papers must be available. Animals without proper registration papers (crossbreeds and grades) must be shown as commercial.

STATE FAIR OR STATE SHOW ELIGIBILITY
1. Trips for State Fair, State Horse Show, and State Dog Show will be selected from blue ribbon exhibits only (see State Dog Show Rules for exceptions). Exhibit classes eligible for State Fair are marked with an asterisk *.
2. Members selected to represent the county at State Fair and State Horse Show must have completed sixth grade.
3. To be eligible for a livestock trip to the State Fair, 4-Hers must have completed Quality Assurance/Ethics Training.
State Policy: All youth participating as a State Fair 4-H livestock exhibitor in beef, dairy, sheep, swine, poultry, rabbits, meat and dairy goat and lama must have completed the a Livestock Quality Assurance and Ethics workshop. Certification is good for three fair seasons. The level of training required is determined by the grade of the youth at the time the training takes place.
4. Along with their qualifying state fair exhibit trip(s), 4-H members may participate in activities such as Share-the-Fun, demonstrations, Arts-In, or judging teams.

CLUB ACTIVITIES CLUB BANNER
T - 1 - 1* Club Banner
One banner will be selected for State Fair exhibit.
Requirement:
1. Banner must be 3' x 5' and designed to hang vertically.
2. It must be completed and equipped with a dowel (minimum size 3’ 8”) and ready to hang.
3. Banner must be of fabric (no paper) and can be one or two-sided.
4. Club name on 3 x 5 card pinned to back. (Any assembly technique can be used.)
COMMUNITY PRIDE - Club
T - 1 - 2* Community Pride
One exhibit will be selected for State Fair.
Requirements:
1. The exhibit may include a three-sided display, video, or other visual method which visually highlights the entire project or certain parts in a manner which tells the public what positive effects the project had on the community.
2. Two club youth who participated in the project may represent the club in conference judging.
CLUB Booth
T - 1 - 3 Club Booth
Requirement:
-the booth should depict an area of work or program of current emphasis
CLUB SCRAPBOOK
T - 1 - 4 Club Scrapbook
Requirement:
- Show and explain your club activities and participation in community and county events.
CLUB PROJECT
T - 1 - 5 Conservation
T - 1 - 6 Flower Box
T – 1 -7 Other (
DEMONSTRATIONS
K - 1 - 1* Grades 9+ - Individual
K - 1 - 2* Grades 9+ - Team
K - 1 - 3* Grades 6-8 - Individual
K - 1 - 4* Grades 6-8 - Team
K - 1 - 5 Grades 3-5 - Individual
K - 1 - 6 Grades 3-5 - Team
LIVESTOCK DEMONSTRATIONS
K - 2 - 1* Grades 9+ - Individual
K - 2 - 2* Grades 9+ - Team
K - 2 - 3* Grades 6-8 - Individual
K - 2 - 4* Grades 6-8 - Team
K - 2 - 5 Grades 3-5 - Individual
K - 2 - 6 Grades 3-5 - Team
ILLUSTRATED PRESENTATIONS
K - 3 - 1* Grades 9+ - Individual
K - 3 - 2* Grades 9+ - Team
K - 3 - 3* Grades 6-8 - Individual
K - 3 - 4* Grades 6-8 - Team
K - 3 - 5 Grades 3-5 - Individual
K - 3 - 6 Grades 3-5 - Team
YOUTH IN ACTION DEMONSTRATIONS
K - 4 - 1* Grades 9+ - Individual
K - 4 - 2* Grades 9+ - Team
K - 4 - 3* Grades 6-8 - Individual
K - 4 - 4* Grades 6-8 - Team
K - 4 - 5 Grades 3-5 - Individual
K - 4 - 6 Grades 3-5 - Team

Requirements:
- Demonstration / Illustrated Presentations may be related to any project that the member is enrolled in or to any area of interest or expertise the 4-Her has. Presentations may be an individual or a two-person team. Individual presentations shall not exceed 15 minutes in length and team presentations should not exceed 25 minutes in length.
-Limit of two entries
- Demonstrations are an oral presentation that includes actually demonstrating the hands-on steps required to accomplish a task or process. This most often includes the use of physical objects and actual doing or showing. For example, a demonstration could involve using bedding plants, potting soil and related items to demonstrate how to plant a flower pot. At the end of the Demonstration there should be something of a "finished product". Demonstrations may also include the use of supporting visuals like posters, charts or overhead transparencies. Supporting visuals can include technology based options like presentation software (i.e. MS PowerPoint). However, the focus of the Demonstration should be on the "doing", not the supporting visuals.
- Illustrated Presentations are an oral presentation that presents an idea, concept, viewpoint or experience in an educational or informative format. For example, an Illustrated Presentation could be a report on leadership lessons learned through a trip to Washington DC or an educational presentation that explores sustainable energy options. Illustrated Presentations most often consist of interaction with supporting visuals like posters, charts or overhead transparencies. Supporting visuals can include technology based options like presentation software (i.e. MS PowerPoint). Supporting visuals may include tangible items, but generally little or no activity takes place with the item.
- Youth in Action presentations are interactive, continuous presentations that are approximately 45 - 50 minutes in length. Topics selected for a Youth in Action demonstration may be related to a project in which the member is enrolled or to any other area of interest or expertise the member has. Involving the audience in the process is the primary focus of Youth in Action and constitutes a major portion of the evaluation results.
- Presentation Software (i.e. MS PowerPoint) may be used for both Demonstrations and Illustrated Talks. If Presentation Software is used in a Demonstration, the presentation software should supplement the Demonstration (hands on demonstrating should still be the basis of the entry). If used for an Illustrated Talk, the presentation software can be the basis for the entire talk; however the member must interact with the presentation and information - not just step to the side and let the presentation play. (Self-presenting entries created with presentation software should be burned on to a DVD and entered in the “Video” class.)
If presentation software is utilized, judging will include the effective use of the software. For information on effectively using visuals in presentations and/or presentation software please see http://www.mn4h.org/programs/software_presentation
Special NOTE: if presentation software is utilized in either a Demonstration or an Illustrated Talk, the 4-Her is responsible for securing any equipment necessary for judging. Extension staff may be able to assist in this process, but it is the responsibility of the exhibitor to contact Extension staff WELL BEFORE the scheduled judging. The ideal situation is to deliver the presentation with a computer and LCD projector, but the use of transparencies and an overhead projector is also possible.
***** For Reference Only

PRESENTATION SOFTWARE
Special NOTE: Entries formerly entered in the Presentation Software Contest should now be directed into one of the following classes:
Demonstration (If presentation software is used to support or enhance a Demonstration)
Illustrated Talk (If presentation software is used to present information or to communicate a message in a way that involves the 4-H’er interacting with the presentation content)
Video (If presentation or other software is used to create a self-presenting visual or multi-media presentation that does not include the live interaction of the 4-H’er - something that just “plays/presents” on its own)