Weed and Grass Identification Contest

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The Weed and Grass Identification Contest allows 4-H members to compete as individuals or as a team. Through this competition 4-H members will learn more about range plants and how to decipher the best specimens. Medals will be awarded to the top three individuals in each division. For more information go to the Resources section at the bottom of this webpage. 

Rules

  1. 4-H members may enter as individuals and/or as members of a team. A team consists of three to four individuals with the total scores of the three high individuals making the team score. Membership of the team must be designated if a 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 will compete in the Senior division, even if some members of the team are in the Intermediate division. 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 for individual honors within their age division. 
  4. 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 stems, but may also include flowers, seed, or roots structures.  
  1. 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. 
  2. All 4-H members participating in the contest must wear the official State Fair 4-H T-shirt. T-shirts will be provided at each contest check-in and are to be worn during the contest and awards. 
     

Advance Entry

4-H members must register on the state fair website by August 10th deadline. 

Entry Fees

Refer to the general rules at 4h.unl.edu/fairbook/general/rules.

Contest Schedule 

Time slots will be determined following the advance entry deadline. Specific competition times may be requested, but cannot be guaranteed. 

Eligibility

4-H member eligibility: 

  • Must be 8 years of age by January 1 of the current year. 
  • Must be enrolled in 4-H by June 15 of the current year. 
  • Past high point individuals (i.e., Gold Medal Winners) may compete for individual and/or team honors. 
  • 4-H members are required to pay a non-refundable fee of $5/person. 
  • 4-H members will be notified of the location of the contest prior to state fair. 
  • General rules from the 4-H section of the Nebraska State Fair apply. 

 Quota

Not defined in this contest.

Scoresheets, Forms, and Contest Study Materials

Scoresheets, forms, contest study materials, and additional resources can be found at https://go.unl.edu/ne4hweedgrassidcontest. 

Special Awards

Individual 

  • Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals will be awarded to the top three individuals in each division of the State 4-H Weed & Grass Identification contest. 
  • Placing ribbons will be awarded to the top 10 individuals in each division of the State 4-H Weed & Grass Identification contest. 

Team 

  • Ribbons will be awarded to each team member of the top three teams in each age division. 

Weed and Grass Identification Contest

Class

Age Divisions will be determined by their 4-H age, the age of the youth before January 1 of the current year. 

 F500031 Junior Division: Ages 8-10 

 F500033 Intermediate Division: Ages 11-13 

 F500035 Senior Division: Ages 14-18 

 

Superintendents

  • Nygren, Aaron
  • Seymour, Ron

4-H Fairbook | Nebraska State Fair