It’s time to begin working on your projects for Youth Fair 2018.
Please read the rules carefully, as there are quite a few changes this year.

View the new Rules and Guidelines HERE.

Download the 2018 Youth Fair Entry Form HERE.

Youth Fair 2018

SCHEDULE

Friday, December 1, 2017 – ENTRIES and FEES DUE by 5:00 p.m.

Friday, December 1, 2017 – DEADLINE to submit digital photos (for all Photography entries)

Tuesday, December 5, 2017 – Online JUDGING of photography entries

Friday, December 15, 2017 – Top 6 Photography winners in each age group and category contacted via email

Tuesday, January 2, 2018 – QUALIFYING EVENT

• 7:30 – 9:00 a.m.  –  Check-in for Arts & Crafts, and Shop Art
• 10:00 a.m. – 12 noon  –  Judging
• 12:00 noon – 2:00 p.m.  –  Ribbons placed on 1st – 6th place items
• 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.  –  Public viewing of items
• 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. – All items must be picked up. Qualifying items (1st – 6th place) must be returned to the Fair on Friday, January 5th

Friday, January 5, 2018  –  QUALIFYING EVENT FOR FOODS & ITEMS ON DISPLAY FOR PUBLIC VIEWING + SILENT AUCTION

• 7:30 – 8:30 a.m.  –  Check-in of qualified items in Arts & Crafts, Shop Art, and Photography (1st – 6th place items)
• 7:30-8:30 a.m. – Check in of all Foods category prior to judging
• 8:30-10:00 – Judging of Foods Category with top 6 advancing to Silent Auction
• 10:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.  –  Silent Auction
• 4:00 – 4:30 p.m. – Area closed to prepare for auction check out
• 4:30 – 6:00 p.m. – Buyers must pay for and pick up items won in auction.
• 6:00 p.m. – Any auction item NOT picked up will be taken to Extension Office and may be picked up Monday, January 8th.

AGE GROUPS

Clover Kids: K-2 (non-competitive basis – participation ribbon only!)

Junior: 3rd – 5th grade

Intermediate: 6th – 8th grade

Senior: 9th – 12th grade

GENERAL RULES

• • Entry fees are $5 per item.
  • Entry forms and fees due in the Extension Office on Friday, December 1st by 5:00 p.m.  No late entries accepted!
    • All photography entries must be submitted digitally by 5 pm on Friday, December 1st.
  • Entry fees must be paid at the County Extension Office via cash or check (payable to Erath 4-H.)
  • Only one entry per subcategory per exhibitor allowed.
  • All entries must be the original work of the exhibitor.
  • All entries must have been made within the past year by the 4-H member.
  • Entries can not have been entered in a previous Erath 4-H Youth Fair.
  • Entries must adhere to size requirements specified in each category.
  • During judging, names will not be displayed. Each entry will be given a number. Names will be displayed after judging is over.
  • ITEM INFO CARD must accompany  ALL items at check-in. (ITEM INFO CARDS must be filled out prior to Check-In!)
  • It  is your responsibility to read the new rules to this contest.
  • This is a 4-H Youth Fair open to 4-H members only.  There will be a standard academic eligibility check as in any 4-H competitive event.
  • All Youth Fair exhibitors are required to do at least one of the following:
    • Help set up on December 12 @ 3:00 p.m.
    • Help clean up on January 11 @ 3:00 p.m.
    • Sell raffle tickets on Friday, January 5 (all day)

• Sign-in sheets will be checked to confirm participation in at least one of the activities listed above before prize money is distributed.

PRIZES

• Monetary prizes will be awarded to 1st – 3rd place in each category.  
• Ribbons will be awarded to the top 6 places.
• Best of Show will be awarded in each Division (Foods, Arts & Crafts, Photography & Shop Art). Best of Show winners will receive a rosette based on overall best appearance and most unique presentation.
• Monetary prize amounts will be dependent on number of entries and sponsors.
• Youth prize money will NOT be available the day of the event.  Money can be picked up at the Extension office between January 12 and February 6.  Any prize money left at the office after Feb. 6 reverts to the 4-H Youth Fair account.

SILENT AUCTION

• ONLY 1st – 6th place items qualify to participate in the Silent Auction.
• Lower placing items (beginning with 7th place) may get bumped up to qualify for Silent Auction if any 1st – 6th place exhibitors choose not to participate in the Silent Auction.
• Silent Auction will be held on Friday, January 5th from 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• Buyers must pay for and pick up items between 4:30 – 6:00 p.m. on Friday.
• Proceeds from silent auction will go to the youth who entered the item.
• Youth must write a thank you note to their buyer and bring it, or a copy, (or email a pic) to the Extension Office prior to receiving their proceeds from the auction.
• Any silent auction money left at the office after Feb. 6 reverts to the 4-H Youth Fair account.

SUPERINTENDENTS

The following volunteered to serve as superintendents:

• General Superintendent – DeAnna Powell
  • Responsible for overseeing placement of items, security, check-in, silent auction check out, etc.
• Arts & Crafts – Emily McLemore
• Foods – Kristi Adams
• Photography – Elizabeth Starnes
• Shop Art – Amber Parks

Category Superintendents are responsible for:

• Overseeing check-in, placement and display of items in their category
• Reviewing items at check-in to confirm proper category/sub-category/age group placement, adherence to rules & guidelines, including size limitations, etc.

• Overseeing placement of ribbons in their category
• Coordinating silent auction pick ups
• Working with General Superintendent to secure judges for their category

CATEGORIES

ARTS & CRAFTS – GENERAL RULES

• All Arts & Crafts items will be judged on Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2018.
• Items must be checked in between 7:30 and 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 2nd.
• All items must be picked up between 4:00 – 6:00 p.m on Tuesday.
• ONLY 1st – 6th place items qualify to participate in the Silent Auction.
• Lower placing items (beginning with 7th place) may get bumped up to qualify for Silent Auction if any 1st – 6th place exhibitors choose not to participate in the Silent Auction.
• 1st – 6th place items must be checked in on Friday between 7:30 – 8:30 a.m. for Public Viewing and optional Silent Auction.
• All Silent Auction items that did not sell must be picked up on Friday between 4:30 – 6:00 p.m.

ARTS & CRAFTS – CATEGORIES

• Drawings – all hand created with pencil or paint brush art work. Work created with charcoal or pencil need to be sprayed with a fixative so that the pieces don’t smear. Paintings MUST be completely dry. All artwork needs to be matted or on stretched canvas. Size limitations: no work larger than 18 inches x 24 inches, including the mat.
• Fashion Storyboards – storyboards contain an original design illustration, design flats and additional materials such as design inspirations, fabric swatches, trims and other design details. Storyboards should be no larger than 20” x 30” and should be displayed on foam or mat board. Do not use poster board. Please follow the Texas 4-H Storyboard guidelines.
• Textiles – includes any item made from cloth, fiber, leather, etc. Please state on your entry card if you created your item from a pattern or if this was a freeform creation.
• Open – for any arts and craft items that are created but do not  fit in the above categories. This could include, but is not limited to, recycled projects, floral arrangements, 3-D art, candles, paper crafts, or items made from household materials like Legos, popsicle sticks, straws, clay, mason jars, soap, etc. Open items are divided into 2 categories:
  • Open Small – items that are up to 24 inches in total measurements. Meaning you add length plus depth plus width. For example, a recycled project from spoons might be 10 length plus 8 width plus 2 depth for a total of 20 inches.
  • Open Large – items that are up to 48 inches in total measurements. For example: a decorative scarecrow might be 30 inches tall plus 10 inches wide plus 8 inches in depth. This would total 48 inches.

FOODS – GENERAL RULES

• All Food items will be judged on Friday, Jan. 5th.
• Items must be checked in from 7:30 – 8:30 a.m. on Friday.  
• Judging from 8:30-10:00.  
• Top 6 placings from each age group will be placed in silent auction unless otherwise instructed or unless item is perishable.
• All food items must be made from scratch. No mixes allowed!
• All food items must include the recipe used to make the item.
• All food entries must include a judge’s sample on a separate plate covered with plastic wrap.
• Due to space, all food basket entries, (including judge’s sample) must fit in a 14” x 18” space.  (Height not an issue) Those larger than that will be disqualified. Please plan accordingly.
• For food safety reasons, perishable food items will NOT be permitted in the silent auction and must be picked up by participant immediately following judging.
• See definition of perishable + other food safety FAQs at: https://www.foodsafety.gov/
• All Silent Auction items that did not sell must be picked up on Friday between 4:30 – 6:00 p.m.

FOODS – CATEGORIES

• Desserts (brownies, drop cookies, bar cookies, cakes, pies, candy, etc.)
• Decorated Cakes – can use fondant, frosting tips, etc.
• Snacks – trail mix, granola, fruit leather, jerky, etc.
• Food Baskets (creative container with at least one homemade item such as bread, salsa, etc).  Due to space, all baskets must fit in a 14” x 18” square.  (Height not an issue) Those larger than that will be disqualified.  This area will also include sample for judges.  Please plan accordingly.

PHOTOGRAPHY – GENERAL RULES

• All photography entries must be submitted digitally by 5 pm on Friday, December 1st. They will be judged prior to Youth Fair.
• To submit your photos, email them (one photo per email) to joditt.williams@ag.tamu.edu. Be sure to include
  • Name of youth
  • Age group
  • Photography category
    
• 1st – 6th place winners will be notified via email by Friday, December 15th.
• 1st – 6th place winners must bring their photos (printed at 8”x 10” size) for Public Viewing and (optional) Silent Auction on Friday, January 5th.
• 1st – 6th place items must be checked in on Friday between 7:30 – 8:30 a.m. for Public Viewing and optional Silent Auction.
• All Silent Auction items that did not sell must be picked up on Friday between 4:30 – 6:00 p.m.

PHOTOGRAPHY – CATEGORIES

• • Animals – photos with an animal emphasis
  • Details & Macro – extremely close-up photos; small details that suggest a larger story
  • Nature and Landscapes – landscapes, outdoor scenic, nature images, sunsets, urban landscapes, seascapes, cityscapes, and farms. Images focus on the beauty of the outdoors.
  • People – focus of photo is one or more persons  (Must include release from featured person(s))
  • Catch All – photos that don’t fit into any other category, such as night photography, marine, food, elements of design, dominant color, plant/flora, storyboard, etc.

• Western Heritage of Texas – Represents and/or expresses the spirit and semblance of North American Western Culture.

SHOP ART – GENERAL RULES

• All Shop Art items will be judged on Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2018.
• Items must be checked in between 7:30 and 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 2nd.
• All items must be picked up between 4:00 – 6:00 p.m on Tuesday.
• 1st – 6th place items must be checked in on Friday between 7:30 – 8:30 a.m. for Public Viewing and optional Silent Auction.
• All Silent Auction items that did not sell must be picked up on Friday between 4:30 – 6:00 p.m.

SHOP ART – CATEGORIES

• Woodworking – items made from wood (bookends, shelves, birdhouses, wood carving, etc.)
• Plasma Metal Art – items made from metal using a plasma cutter/welder
• Traditional Metal Art – items made from metal using a mig, or stick/arc welder
• Open – items made using other materials, (pvc pipe, wire, rubber, etc.), or a combination of materials