(Revised October, 2002)

COMPETITIVE EVENTS

Competition at the state, district, area, and county level has been a part of 4-H since the establishment of the program. Competitive events are important educational methods in programming and in providing evaluation and feedback. Participation in competitive events helps 4-H’ers learn how to make and defend decisions and to speak publicly. In addition, they gain knowledge and skills in subject matter and learn how to deal with competitive situations.

This section defines the policies under which state, district, area, and county 4-H competitive events are conducted. State and national entries from a Nebraska 4-H member or program must conform to both state and national policies and regulations.

4-H Competitive Event - A 4-H competitive event is one in which 4-H members compete individually or as teams for some type of special recognition and which uses 4-H in the name of the event and/or the 4-H name and emblem in promoting the event. The term "event" is used to apply to 4-H divisions or classes or other activities that are part of a larger program which includes non-4-H events, as well as those events which are exclusively 4-H. 4-H competitive events include judging contests, presentations, and other performance events open to 4-H members, in addition to project exhibits. When competition is a major part of an event, it should be clearly understood that competition is secondary in importance to the education and development of youth. (See appendix D for Operational Guidelines for Competitive State and District Events.)

Criteria for a 4-H Competitive Event

• The event is sponsored or co-sponsored and/or conducted by University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension - Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR.).
• The event is approved by and/or conducted by Extension staff responsible. Rules and regulations are established by or approved by Extension staff responsible.
• The event is open to participation by 4-H members from a county, group of counties, district, state, region, or nation. Participants must be enrolled in 4-H during the current calendar year.
• The event utilizes the name and emblem of 4-H in promotion and recruitment.
• The event seeks to provide a safe and healthy environment and a positive educational experience for youth.

Open Shows/Non 4-H - Field days, fairs, and other events not promoted or identified as 4-H and not identifying Cooperative Extension as the sponsor are not classified as 4-H events. 4-H assumes no responsibility for these events, nor will the awards from these events be considered as 4-H awards. The 4-H name and emblem should not be used to publicize these events.

Other Organizations - Participation is encouraged in other organizations’ activities. However, it is not appropriate to identify other organizations’ activities as 4-H. Participation in these activities by Extension Staff does not qualify the activity as a 4-H event. Only activities meeting all the criteria above should be identified as a 4-H event.

Multi-county units are encouraged to collaborate to provide 4-H programs/events as efficiently as possible.

• Entries in State 4-H Competitive events will be made through each county Extension office. Entries may be team or individual as governed by the event rules and regulations.
• The Extension Educator/Assistant is responsible for certifying the eligibility of 4-H participants from the county.
• The high scoring individual in a judging contest may return to state competition and compete again for individual and/or team honors.
• Any team member that participates in the designated national 4-H contest be ineligible to compete again as a team member at the state level contest; however individuals from teams that go to a different, invitational (but national level) contest, still be allowed to compete on a team at the state contest level. All individuals who participate in a national level contest may return and compete in state competition again as individuals. They are however, no longer eligible for participation in additional national competition or the designated recognition event unless allowed by the specific event guidelines.
• Individuals that are selected and compete in a national contest based on their individuals placing in the state level contest (rather than county team placing) are eligible to return to the state contest and judge on a county team.
• A member may continue to participate in exhibiting regardless of the number of times he/she wins a given project exhibit.
• Contestants in national 4-H Competitive events must not have participated in official post secondary (university, college, junior college, or technical school) competitive events of a similar nature in the same subject matter area to be eligible for participation in National 4-H Competitive Events. Neither can he/she be a member of a post secondary team undergoing training in preparation for an event. (For example, a contestant who has competed in an official collegiate livestock judging contest, either on or off campus, is ineligible to compete in a similar National 4-H judging contest.) The State 4-H Program Leaders are responsible for determining the eligibility of participants in National 4-H Competitive Events from their respective State. (The Nebraska interpretation of undergoing training in post-secondary setting is having completed one semester/quarter and received at least 12 hours of college credit, a portion of which is course work related to the contest.)

Regional and National Events

Regional or national events with restricted representation from the state will have delegates selected under the supervision of and with the 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 Office. The 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 a national event must have received no less than a fifth place ranking at the state level. Individuals who are representing Nebraska at national event must have received a minimum of a purple ribbon placing.

Minimum Numbers for Judging Contests:

If a contest does not have a minimum participation of 20 youth from at least five different counties/units and two different Extension Districts, the contest will be placed on probation for a year. If, during the probationary year, participants numbers do not meet or exceed the minimums above, the contest should be discontinued.