Checklist Did you fill out and send in your Fair Registration (Form 1A) Due June 24 Did you fill in and send in your Dorm Registration for members wanting to stay in dorms? (Form 2A) Due June 24 Did you fill out and send in your Livestock Code of Ethics forms (livestock/horse members) (Form 3A) Due June 24 Did you send in your livestock ID s? Due May 15 2016 County Fair 4-H Exhibit Guide Chisago County Fair Rush City Fairgrounds Did you submit your negative Coggins test (copy),id, and dues for horse (For horse members only) Due May 15 Do you have a current Quality Assurance Certificate if you are showing an animal(excluding pets, horse, and dog)? Did you submit Dog Health Certificate (for dog and pet show)? Did you turn in a pollorum-free form for poultry? Have you met health requirements for livestock? Do you have the necessary equipment to show your exhibit at the fair and is it ready to display? Have you practiced presenting your ideas to someone? Have you picked out a bright smile to see you through the fair? Adapted from Dick Moreland, North St Louis County Page 12 At the Fair 10 Awards and Premiums 9 Be Your Own Best Exhibit 5 Check List 12 Creating Your Own Adventure 3 Exhibits 6 General Guidelines for Exhibitors 5 Table of Contents Page 1 Opportunities Available 11 Project Tips 7 State Fair Trips 9 What Shall I Do If I Can t Be at the Fair 3 Your County Fair Registration 2
4-H Member s Guide to the Chisago County Fair Now that summer is almost upon us, you may have begun to think about County Fair This is a great chance for all 4-H members and leaders to show what they have learned and experienced over the last year For many, it is the highlight of the year Whether you are new to 4-H or are very experienced, you will want to read through this guide carefully Opportunities Available Judges Assistants Needed There are many opportunities for those 12 years and older to help with the judging process at the county fair Adults are needed as well Assistants record the placings, attach ribbons and help arrange the display areas Sign up for one or more hours in the project area of your choice Call 651-277-0150 now to sign up for a time Bring a friend if you would like Trophy Donors Needed Individuals, families, and friends of 4-H are invited to sponsor a livestock trophy at the fair Donations are $20 per trophy Donations are also being taken for interview medallions Contact the 4-H office Your County Fair Registration NEW IN 2016: Registrations will be handled online at http://chisagomnfairentrycom Please sign in using your 4honline user name and password To help you make this change we have included for your support a user guide to get you started More guides and video tutorials can be found on our website If you do not have internet access at home we recommend you visit a local library or stop in at the Extension Office to complete your online registration Registration user guides can be accessed in the lobby or main desk at local libraries (North Branch, Chisago, Wyoming and Rush City libraries only) If you still are unable to complete your registration this way, contact us to complete the paper registration form and submit it to the Extension Office by the June 24 th deadline The Premium Book available online will tell you more about each project area you can enter at the County Fair The Premium Book will also tell you how many entries of a certain class you can have (in most cases, Static or non-livestock projects can have 4 different entries per class and animal entries can have one entry per class) Extra Cafeteria Help Needed The 4-H cafeteria is a major fund raiser for the Chisago County 4-H program Your help is essential to make the cafeteria a success Every 4-H member is expected to do a shift in the cafeteria Anyone attending the State Fair, State Shoot, State Dog or State Horse must work a 2 hour shift in the cafeteria Even Cloverbuds can help out The cafeteria will open on Wednesday Find out from your leader when your club works This year clubs must turn in the names of who is working when by June 24th You should have received these materials at a special cafeteria meeting or by e-mail If you are independent you are still expected to do a 2 hour shift Call the Extension office at 651-277-0151 to find out when you work If you can work an extra shift at the fair, please come and volunteer There is always more help needed, particularly at the busy times If you are not able to work when your club is assigned, please check in with the cafeteria staff at the fair to find a time that will work for you You will also notice that under each project area in the Premium Book, we have given some ideas on what you might consider exhibiting These are only suggestions and you may bring any exhibit that fits under the project area All County Fair registrations must be completed by June 24, 2016 If your registration is not submitted online or postmarked by this date you will not be eligible for champion ribbons and state trips unless you utilize your one-time exemption for a missed deadline Page 2 Page 11
At the Fair Showmanship Round-up: Winners in beef, dairy goat, horse, sheep, dairy, swine, poultry, and rabbit showmanship will be part of an extra showmanship contest on Sunday July 24th at 10 am Each participant will show an animal of each species and an overall showman will be selected Pet Show and Dress an Animal Contest: 4-H members and Cloverbuds are invited to take part in the Pet and Cat Show, Sunday, July 24th appropriate for the cat or pet you bring Make sure your pet is healthy and free of disease, fleas, and other things Animals should have proper vaccinations Also plan to take your pet or cat home following the show Please do not leave animals in your car or carry them on the grounds The pet show will be followed by the Dress an Animal contest Dress your favorite pet or other animal in a costume Be sure and keep it in good taste Rules are in the Premium Book You are welcome to dress in costume too! 4-H Action Exhibits: Project leaders are invited to put together 4-H action exhibits and work on a project while the public watches This is an excellent way to show people what 4-H is all about! Call the office if you would like to be part of one Flower Boxes: Individuals, clubs, or teams are invited to enter a window or flower box Demonstrations: Demonstrations will be at different times this year They will be given under the tent by the stage, You may give a demonstration at the fair on Wednesday, July 20th from 2-7 with the Performing Arts judge and can also sign up for a Showcase Sunday, July 24th from 2-5 A sign-up sheet will be posted at the 4-H office at the fair You may do your demonstration in the 4-H building or use an animal and do it in the show arena or by the horse barns What Shall I Do If I Can t Be at the Fair? Every year some 4-H members are not able to be at the fair Sometimes it s because of vacations, working parents, or other situations You can still enter the fair in a non-livestock project Just make arrangements to have someone else bring your project to judging day at the fair Include a written note about your project and why you are not able to attend Remember that you are judged 50% on your knowledge and 50% on your exhibit so be sure and tell how many years you ve been in the project, what your goals were, what you learned, what you would do differently next time, etc These exhibits are not eligible for Champions or State Fair Trips The only exception to this rule is if you are on a 4-H trip planned by the state or county such as Washington Focus Creating Your Own Adventure Anticipation! Excitement! Fun! These are words that 4-H kids use to describe the Chisago County Fair This is your chance to show off what you have learned Here are a few suggestions to help those youth/adults who want some guidance Basic principle: The fair exhibit should show what learning has taken place during the present program year What you have learned is just as important as what you have made Display: Think about how the project could be displayed at the fair A three dimensional project would be better if it can stand alone, for instance Or if you are concerned about preserving a poster add tabs at the top to staple into so that your poster isn t ruined No matter where we put the posters in the exhibit building there is wind so they must be attached at both the top and the bottom Page 10 Page 3
Be Creative! The fair lots have changed recently to make it easier for you to be creative The following are ideas to get you thinking about ways you can show off what you have learned Think about how the exhibit will look to the fair goer Consider using touch, sound, and/or smell, as well as visual attraction to catch people s attention Get your creative juices flowing! Exhibits may be, but are not limited to: mobile slide show photos model Paper mache diorama 3-D display portfolio banner photo story collection games window display collage consumer product analysis bill board skit historical/cultural study shadow box newspaper article flannel graph radio/tv commercial puppet show power point presentation Prizes: All exhibits will be judged and placed in Blue, Red, or White ribbon Awards groups Cloverbuds and receive Premiums a special ribbon Creative Arts receive a participation ribbon Cash prizes are awarded according to the premium allotted See your premium book for exact amounts Champions and Reserve ribbons will be given at the judges discretion The following are definitions of what the ribbons mean Remember that a 4-H member is judged 50% on the exhibit and 50% on the member Purple: Given in the non-livestock projects Shows the 4-H member has exhibited a very high level of knowledge, workmanship, and effort Trophy: Given in livestock project areas for the first place animal in the class Reserve: Given in projects for second place exhibit in the class Top Blue: In non-livestock areas, judges will select excellent exhibits to receive this special recognition Blue: Above average work Red: Average White: Needs improvement Exhibit Size: Display sizes for all project areas are to be no larger than 12 deep, 24 wide, and 36 high Any exhibit which exceeds this must be approved by the Extension Office Please call and ask for an oversized exhibit form Finishing: Finishing your fine arts, crafts, needle arts, or photo project with careful consideration to washing and pressing (needle arts), colors of matting, double matting, and framing is important to a good looking display Exhibits meant to be hung on the wall must come with mounting hooks or some way of hanging it It doesn t have to be fancy even pop tops will work Attention to detail and presentation is helpful in all project areas State Fair Trips 4-H members selected for trips to the State Fair must have completed 6th grade at the time of the Fair but not be more than one year beyond high school graduation Names of members eligible for State Fair trips will be posted in the 4-H building You have until Sunday at the close of fair to accept your trip Continue to watch the board each day as new openings are posted continually State Fair packets are available in the 4-H building Please pick them up, complete them and turn them in at the office at the fairgrounds! This year those packets are due before you leave the fairgrounds on Sunday evening! Also remember that you must work in the cafeteria or you will not be eligible for a State Trip Horse has special rules for state fair Please see your Horse Rule Book for further information Page 4 Page 9
Three Dimensional Displays 3-D displays should stand on their own Foamboard makes a good display board and can be used more than once Or make your own display using wood hinged together which could then be reused every year Again, be sure your display does not exceed 12 deep, 24 wide, and 36 high 24 36 General Guidelines for 4-H Exhibitors Conference Judging: All exhibitors meet with the judges and discuss their project learning experiences and their exhibits The judge will ask you questions such as how long have you been in the project, what were your goals, what did you learn, how did you do it, what would you do differently next time, etc Exhibits will be judged from 2 to 7 pm at the Rush City Fairgrounds on Wednesday, July 20th Please plan on arriving in time to be DONE judging by 7 pm or your exhibit may not be eligible for a champion ribbon or state fair trip Demonstrations, public presentations and performing arts will also be judged on Wednesday the 20th Public Displays: A fragile item or heirloom should be photographed and the photo displayed if the member is concerned about the risks of public display Perishable items may not hold up in warm weather and would then be discarded Skits, puppet shows, or presentations should have something that can be left for display in the 4-H building during the County Fair This may include costumes, puppets, scripts, and/or photos Safety: People of all ages will see your exhibit Some may even touch them Therefore, poisonous material will not be put on public display Protect yourself and the fair goer by protecting sharp or dangerous parts of your exhibit For example: cork or otherwise cover fish hooks; do not leave firearms and live ammo in the same display; check glass in displays for sharp edges; etc If your project is deemed unsafe you will not be allowed to enter it If you are concerned about your exhibit, please discuss it with the Extension Staff Be Your Own Best Exhibit No matter how well done your exhibit is, it is still just a thing you use to explain what you have learned You are still the most important part of your exhibit The judge will want to know how your exhibit shows what you have learned To help yourself prepare for judging, look at your project records and the goals you set at the beginning of the year What did you set out to learn? How did you go about doing it? What special help did you get? Did you go on a special field trips or participate in any workshops? What did you learn doing this exhibit? How does the exhibit show your learning? Have a parent or friend ask you questions so that you will be ready for judging Parents can be present at the judging if the 4-H er feels it is necessary, but they may not answer questions for you Remember that 4-H judging is not about things, it is about YOU BE YOUR OWN BEST EXHIBIT!!! Page 8 Page 5
Exhibits All exhibits must remain in place until Sunday, July 24 The livestock release is at 5:00 PM and non-livestock is at 5PM Entries removed prior to this time will not receive premiums More than one 4-H exhibit may be entered by a member in a project area only if they are different items In most project areas you may enter up to four exhibits Identical projects cannot be entered more than once regardless of project areas enrolled All exhibits displayed must have been completed by the 4-H members in the present program year 4-H members are expected to do their own exhibit with limited assistance from adults! Project Rules: Many projects have rules which are specific to them It is expected that you will be familiar with your project and will have followed those regulations Read your fair premium book closely and call the Extension Service if you have questions For example, foods need to comply by the USDA guidelines and pets need to have appropriate health certification Animal Science Exhibitors: Anyone signed up for an animal pr o- ject may also do an educational exhibit that will be conference judged on 4-H entry day This could include a poster, scrapbook, display, etc Simply register the exhibit under the animal science numbers Livestock Health: All animals must follow the health rules set up by the state A detailed listing of those rules can be found in the 2014 Chisago County Fair Premium Book The official vet has the final authority to send any animal home The animal must leave the grounds as soon as possible in that case These rules are strictly enforced for the protection of all exhibitors If an animal gets sick during the fair and needs to go home, you must have it approved by a fairboard member Animal Science Interviews All 4-H members enrolled in livestock projects are encouraged to do an interview with a judge Check the premium book for times Quality Assurance: Anyone showing an animal with the exception of pets, horse, and dog, must have a current Quality Assurance Certificate before County Fair to be eligible for State trips Call the Extension Office for upcoming trainings if you are not certified Remember, you must be certified before County Fair! Animal Welfare and Herdsmanship: 4-H members are expected to take appropriate care of their animals at the County Fair Acts of violence will not be tolerated even if it is done to discipline an animal as a part of training Abuse of an animal will result in both the animal and the member being removed from the fairgrounds and the withholding of all premiums All members must sign a livestock code of conduct in order to exhibit an animal Herdsmanship will be judged in the dairy/beef barn and horse barn All other barns will follow the Animal Code of Conduct You are responsible for taking care of your animals at the fair Warnings will be given and a $25 fine could be issued if you do not take care of your animal properly Project Tips Though these tips refer to photos and posters the same principles apply to creative arts and needle arts or any visual display Posters: Use white space, keep the main project large Divide the rest of the items into groups, keep smaller than the main object Keep lettering large enough to read 1 inch for 25 feet viewing distance Draw sketches of layouts to find the most pleasing design before you glue anything down Photos Take photos from several angles Make sure your background isn t cluttered Use acid-free adhesive if you must glue anything down or use acid-free photo mounts Have pictures matted and ready to hang Lettering If using stencils remember to color in letters Use guidelines for top and bottoms of letters Try using a computer for headings or cut letters out of construction paper Color Use to add interest and contrast Avoid complimentary colors they vibrate so it is difficult to focus Avoid using too many colors Page 6 Page 7