Section 14: Competitive Events

14.3.1 4-H Competitive Event Definition  

A 4-H competitive event is one in which 4-H members compete individually or as teams for special recognition. The 4-H Name and emblem are used to name and promote the event. The term “event” is used for 4-H divisions/ classes and activities that are part of a larger program, which includes non-4-H competitive events, as well as those events exclusively 4-H. 4-H competitive events include judging contests, presentations, project exhibits and other performance events open to 4-H members. When competition is a major part of an event, it must be understood that competition is secondary to the education and development of youth.

14.3.2 Criteria for 4-H Competitive Events  

• Sponsored/co-sponsored and/or conducted by University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR) staff.
• Approved by and/or conducted by Extension staff responsible for the event.
• Rules and regulations established by or approved by Extension staff responsible for the event.
• Open to participation by 4-H members from county, group of counties, state, region, or nation.
• Participants must be enrolled in 4-H during the current 4-H year.
• Approval to use the 4-H name and emblem.
• Utilize the name and emblem of 4-H in promotion and recruitment.
• Provide a safe and healthy environment with a positive educational experience for youth.

14.3.3 Operational Guidelines for Committees for Competitive State Events  

General guidelines for organization, appointment, and operation of management committees are required if the event and/or activity occurs annually. One-time events or activities are not obligated to meet these criteria. Similarly, advisory groups without voting authority are not obligated to meet these criteria.

• Representation:
  • The committee membership must include a Nebraska Extension Specialist, either in the subject matter of the event or from the State 4-H Youth Development staff, and a member from the county Extension staff. Other members of the committee may be individuals who represent 4-H volunteers, business, or industry. The committee may be composed entirely of Extension staff.
  • The State 4-H Program Administrator will appoint a person to serve as liaison between the management committee and 4-H.
  • A role definition of the committee will be established prior to committee appointment. The qualifications for the proposed committee members should accompany a proposal for appointment. Committee members should have experience with 4-H and/or University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension.
• Terms:
  • State Fair Management: Committee members are appointed for three-year terms, except where one-year appointment is appropriate; (i.e., youth membership.) When establishing new committees, one-third of the membership should be for three years, one-third for two years, and one-third for one year so continuity is established. Members may be re-appointed once for a three-year term.
  • Horse Advisory: 4-H leaders, parents, and trainers can serve up to a 3-year term on the committee before being rotated off with other prospective members to bring fresh ideas and enthusiasm for a strong youth program. A member may succeed him/herself before the maximum term but not exceed it. Extension personnel are not limited to the 3-year term due to the limited number of equine personnel in the organization (the term is unlimited until personnel would like to resign).
• Appointment:
  • Recommendations for 4-H management committees for 4-H competitive events will be made by the proposed group and appointed by the State 4-H Program Administrator.
  • No committee will be appointed without a written role definition and expectations of the committee and members.
• Dissolution:
  • Committee(s) may be dissolved by the State 4-H Program Administrator subject to approval of the Dean and Director of University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension.

14.6.1 Minimum requirements to hold a state contest  

If a contest does not have a minimum participation of 20 youth from at least five different counties. The contest will be placed on probation for a year. If, during the probationary year, participant numbers do not meet or exceed the minimums above, state support of the contest will be discontinued. When a new contest is piloted, the pilot year will not be included in probation.

14.6.2 State Judging and Related Contests  

Any team member that participates in the designated National 4-H contest is ineligible to compete again as a team member at the state level contest, excluding Horticulture and Dairy Judging individuals. Individuals, who are part of a team that go to an invitational contest that is not the designated national contest, are eligible to compete on a team at the state level contest. All individuals who participate in a designated National level contest may return and compete as an individual in state competition. These individuals, excluding Horticulture and Dairy Judging individuals, cannot compete on a team. An individual may enter a National 4-H competitive event in a specific program area only once. Participating members of a team entry (even if they are designated alternate by low score) are ineligible to enter the same event again as a part of another team at a National 4-H competitive event. The membership of the team at a National Contest must be the same individuals that participated in the state event.

The designated national contests for the subject matter include:

• • Livestock Judging: The National 4-H Livestock Judging Contest at the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, KY.
• Meats Judging: The National 4-H Meats Evaluation and Identification Contest, sponsored by the American Royal and American Meat Science Association, Kansas City, MO.
• Livestock Skillathon: The National 4-H Livestock Skillathon Contest at the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, KY.
• Livestock Quiz Bowl: TBD
• Dairy Cattle Judging: The National 4-H Dairy Judging Contest held at the World Dairy Expo, Madison, WI (alternating years)
• Horse Judging: Western National Roundup in Denver, CO.
• Horticulture Judging: The National Junior Horticultural Association Convention (location varies by year).
• Shooting Sports: 4-H Shooting Sports National Championships held in Grand Island, NE through 2026).

14.7.1 Eligibility Rules for Regional and National Events

Individuals/teams representing Nebraska at National competitive events will be consistent with current Guidelines for 4-H Multi-State Competitive Events or the respective policies/guidelines for other national contests. 

See respective contests for specific age/eligibility requirements. Contestants must not have completed post-secondary coursework in the subject area of the National 4-H competition, nor has he or she participated in training for post-secondary competition in the subject area of the National 4-H competition. The State 4-H Program Leader or designee are responsible for determining the eligibility of participants in National 4-H Competitive Events from their respective states.

Participants in Regional or National 4-H events must meet the eligibility requirements of the event.

Entries for Regional or National competitive 4-H events without qualifying events and restrictions on participation should be made through the Extension Educator/Assistant.

Regional or National events with restricted representation from the state will have delegates selected under the supervision and approval of the state 4-H office.

When there are more National events than funded by the State, additional teams/ individuals may participate if given approval from the State 4-H Administrator. The Nebraska 4-H Foundation will not provide funding for these trips. Nebraska will have no more than one team or individual, depending on the event, represented, at any given national event. Teams representing Nebraska at the designated National event must have received no less than a fifth place ranking at the State level.