Rules
- General Rules - Nebraska State Fair Livestock General Rules & Regulations apply to this department. It is strongly encouraged that all exhibitors read and understand the Nebraska State Fair Livestock General Rules and Regulations and Livestock Health Requirements. These documents can be found on the Nebraska State Fair website.
- Health Requirements - See Health Requirements for Animals Exhibited at the Nebraska State Fair for additional information.
- Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) - Nebraska 4-H requires all youth enrolled in livestock projects to complete annual quality assurance training through Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA). Refer to the Nebraska State Fair General Rules and Regulations for additional information.
- Entry Deadline – All applications for an entry must be made online at www.statefair.org. All 4-H entries must be made through the State Fair website by 8:00 PM CT on August 10.
- Number of Exhibits per Exhibitor - A 4-H member is limited to exhibiting 6 live bird entries (egg production trios are considered one entry). Egg entries are not considered in the 6-bird limit. Egg entries are limited to one dozen per exhibitor. Poultry exhibitors have the option to nominate up to 10 birds in the state fair entry database for potential substitutions. The family will incur a nomination fee per bird and there will be no refunds for poultry entries. Families are not required to nominate more than 6 birds but will not be able to make substitutions at check-in. Only birds that have been nominated by August 10 will be allowed to be substituted and shown. Birds that are not nominated or pre-entered will not be allowed to show. For State Fair, an animal can only be shown in either 4-H or FFA, not both.
- Check-In & Show Schedule - See Nebraska State Fair Livestock Schedule for arrival, check-in and show times and dates. Note: No check-ins will occur on Saturday.
- Judging Schedule - Critique judging of poultry exhibits will be at the same time as showmanship judging with two judges. Each 4-H exhibitor should be present at the exhibit area at that time. If the participant or a substitute showman approved by superintendent is not present, animals will not be judged. Showmanship judging and critique judging will begin as per the Nebraska State Fair Livestock schedule.
- Limits on Substitutions - Due to the specific cage size needs of the birds, substitutions can only be made within a class. For example, a large fowl chicken may only be substituted with another large fowl chicken. A goose may only be substituted for another goose.
- Dress Code - When showing animals, exhibitors must wear the official State Fair 4-H shirt. No exhibitor number harnesses may be worn. Blue jeans are appropriate. Hats shall not be worn in the show ring.
- Showmanship - All 4-H exhibitors are automatically registered but not required to show in Showmanship. Exhibitors must show their own animal, and the animal must be entered and exhibited in a breeding or market class. See additional guidelines and information in the Showmanship section below. Review the Nebraska State Fair Schedule for times and dates.
- Awards - Exhibitors will receive awards for Grand and Reserve Champion Large Fowl, Grand and Reserve Champion Bantam, Grand and Reserve Champion Production Trios, Grand and Reserve Champion Eggs, Grand and Reserve Champion Waterfowl, Grand and Reserve Champion Turkey and Best of Show, Reserve Best of Show, and 3rd Best of Show. Only entries receiving a purple ribbon are eligible to receive champion and reserve awards.
- Breeds - To be eligible for breed exhibition, cockerel, pullet, cock, or hen poultry entries must be fair representatives of the breeds and must be listed in the American Poultry Association Standard of Perfection or the American Bantam Association Standard of Perfection.
- Production Trio - A pen of egg production birds can be hybrids, crossbred, or purebred and shall consist of 3 sexually mature females. Egg production females will be judged for production qualities only and need not necessarily conform to breed standards. Hens must be in egg production.
- Rules for Bantam & Other Poultry - The rules for standard size chickens apply equally to bantams and waterfowl, where applicable.
- Care & Handling Practices - Poultry must be cared for by the 4-H member. The superintendents are not responsible for daily care (feed is provided). Cardboard or other barriers may be used to help separate fighting poultry between cages. Barriers will not be supplied by the Nebraska State Fair and must be provided by the 4-H member.
- Release of Exhibits - All animals will be released according to the Nebraska State Fair release schedule. All poultry must be housed at the State Fair from check in to the release time. Poultry removed early will forfeit awards.
State Fair Entry Limits
A 4-H member is limited to exhibiting 6 live bird entries (egg production trios are considered one entry). Egg entries are not considered in the 6-bird limit. Egg entries are limited to one dozen per exhibitor.
Division: Bantam
Class
- G070007 - Game Bantam (Modern and Old English)
- G070008 - Single Comb Clean Legged (Plymouth Rock, Leghorn, Japanese, Rhode Island Red, Orpingtons, New Hampshire)
- G070009 - Rose Comb Clean Legged (Rosecomb, Wyandotte, Sebright, Belgian Bearded D’Anver)
- G070010 - All Other Comb Clean Legged (Polish, Cornish, Houdan, Sumatra)
- G070011 - Feather Legged Class (Silkie, Cochin, Brahma, Belgian Bearded D’Uccle, Langshan)
Division: Large Fowl
Class
- G070001 - American (Plymouth Rock, Jersey Giant, Wyandotte, New Hampshire Red, Rhode Island Red)
- G070002 - Asiatic (Cochin, Brahmas, Langshan)
- G070003 - English (Cornish, Orpington, Australorps, Sussex, Dorkings)
- G070004 - Mediterranean (Leghorn, Buttercup, Minorca)
- G070005 - Continental (Polish, Hamburg, Campines, Faverolles, Houdan)
- G070006 - All other Breeds (Naked Neck, Game, Sumatra, Araucanas, Ameraucanas)
Division: Waterfowl
Class
- G070012 - Ducks (all weight classes)
- G070013 - Geese (all weight classes)
Division: Turkey
Class
- G070018 -Turkey Rules
Division: Production Fowl
Class
- G070014 - Egg Production Trios
Division: Eggs
Class
- G070015 - One (1) dozen white eggs
- G070016 - One (1) dozen brown eggs
- G070017 - One (1) dozen other colored eggs
Rules
Eggs will be judged on shape, color and weight uniformity. Please do not refrigerate eggs prior to checking in the eggs.
4-H exhibitors are limited to exhibiting one (1) dozen of either brown, white or other colored eggs.
Division: Poultry Showmanship
Class
- G070021 - Junior Showmanship (ages 8 to 10 before January 1 of the current year)
- G070022 - Intermediate Showmanship (ages 11 to 13 before January 1 of the current year)
- G070023 - Senior Showmanship (ages 14 to 18 before January 1 of the current year)
Rules
- Showmanship Entry - All 4-H exhibitors are automatically registered but not required to show in Showmanship. Exhibitors must show their own animal, and the animal must be entered and exhibited in a breeding or market class. Review the Nebraska State Fair Schedule for time and dates.
- Eligibility - After an exhibitor receives champion in showmanship, they are no longer eligible to compete in that age division of that species. If a junior exhibitor wins in that species, they will automatically move up to the intermediate division the following year. If an intermediate exhibitor wins in that species, they will automatically move up to the senior division the following year. Once a senior division exhibitor wins champion, they are no longer eligible to compete in showmanship in that species.
- Basis for Judging - Showmanship is based on grooming and training of the bird and the appearance and behavior of the exhibitor. The exhibitor must vocally explain the steps in their routine and the merit of the bird. Showmanship is the skill of the exhibitor in presenting and explaining the bird before the judge. The excellence of the bird is not considered in the scoring.
- Questions - The judges may or may not ask questions of the exhibitor at the close of the routine.
- Time Limit - Maximum length of showmanship presentations are five (5) minutes. Exhibitors will be timed. One (1) point will be deducted for showmanship presentations exceeding 5 minutes.
- Scoresheet - Poultry Showmanship SF290
Scoresheets, Forms, and Contest Study Materials
Scoresheets, forms, contest study materials, and additional resources can be found at http://go.unl.edu/ne4hpoultry.
Superintendents
For questions, contact:
- Ann Dobesh, 402-643-2981, adobesh@unl.edu
- Mirissa Scholting, 402-267-2205, mscholting2@unl.edu
- Brandy Schulze, 402-472-2805, bschulze@unl.edu