This document provides an overview of a judging workshop for 4-H science, engineering, agriculture, and natural resources projects. It discusses getting to know the judges, asking questions, reviewing different project areas, and the 4-H learning process and values. The document also covers best practices for an engaging judging conversation and addressing challenging issues that may come up.

1. Science, Engineering
and Technology
and Agriculture and
Natural Resources
Judging Workshop

2. Getting to Know You…
• Name, Hometown and County
• Years Judging
• One piece of judging wisdom you could
share or one thing you would like to know
• Describe a Science, Mechanics and
Engineering or Ag Project that ―wowed‖ you

3. Lets start with 3 questions
• Share three questions you have
about judging, or about the 4-H
Learning Process in Science,
Engineering and Technology or
Agricultural and Natural
Resources projects each on a
note card

4. Agriculture and Natural
Resources Exhibits
• Animal Science; Beef, Dairy Cattle, Dairy Goat, Dog,
Horse, Meat Goat, Pets, Poultry, Rabbit, Sheep, Swine, Vet
Science
• Horticulture; Gardening, Vegetables, Flowers, Landscaping.
Herbs
• Crop Production
• Outdoor Adventures; Camping, Hiking, Canoeing,
Fishing
• Shooting Sports

5. Science, Engineering &
Technology
• Mechanics; Electrical, Energy, Welding, Small
Engines, Restored Tractors, Restored Implements,
Restored Auto, Mechanical and Metal Restoration
• Science & Technology; Aerospace & Rocketry,
Biological & Chemical Sciences; Computers &
Networking, Digital Storytelling; Earth and Climate;
Environment and Sustainability—Energy,
Forestry,Entomology; GPS/GIS Mapping, Robotics,
Science in our Everyday Lives
• Woodworking

6. Review of the Iowa 4-H Youth
Development Experience
• Guiding Principles
Vision
A world in which youth and adults learn, grow,
and work together as catalysts for positive
change
Mission
4-H empowers youth to reach their full potential
working and learning with caring adults.

7. Review of the Iowa 4-H Youth
Development Experience
• Values
We the youth and adults of the 4-H movement
value:
– Youth as powerful members of society
– Youth and adults as caring partners
– Learning as a lifelong commitment
– Diversity and social conscience
– Doing our best and making it better

9. Review of the Iowa 4-H County
Fair Judging Process
• Judging the 4-H exhibit is just a small, but
extremely important part of the 4-H Experience
• We have the opportunity to make this an
interactive learning process that in itself is a
reward and an important part of the life long
learning process
• It is critical to be excited and engaging with every
4-H’er to let them know how important it is that
they are participating in this learning process

10. Critical Elements that make this
judging process a valuable step in the
4-H’ers life long learning
1. Start by letting them know that this is an
important step in just bringing in their exhibit and
that this judging is just ―a part‖ of the learning
process for them.
2. This opportunity to interact with you should be
an opportunity to stimulate growth and motivate
the youth to learn more. After visiting with you
are they motivated to go out and get started on
another project?

11. Critical Elements that make this
judging process a valuable step in the
4-H’ers life long learning
3. In counties that suggest or require write-ups,
there’s a delicate balance in reading it enough to
let the 4-H’er know you appreciate their work,
but not to rely on it too much since the 4-H’er is
sitting with you.

12. Critical Elements that make this
judging process a valuable step in the
4-H’ers life long learning
4. Work hard to find out how this exhibit fits into
their learning process about this project.
a) Is this their first attempt?
b) Was this just a chance to see if they like working with
welding?
c) Is this just a project more motivated by Mom than by
the 4-H’er?
d) Is this something they wanted to make? What tools
and skills did they use in working on their project?

13. Critical Elements that make this
judging process a valuable step in the
4-H’ers life long learning
5. Yes, ―To make the best better,‖ is still the 4-H
Motto. Use this judging process for the 4-H’er to
share with you what things they would do
differently if they had to do it all over again.
Many times they know what didn’t go so well
and what they would do over if they had time or
resources.
1. Share your knowledge with them as if you were
working with them on the next project to make a
process easier or more complete.

14. Critical Elements that make this
judging process a valuable step in the
4-H’ers life long learning
6. An important part of the learning process is
learning to share sources of information, where
they found the idea or information for their
project.
7. It is important for youth to learn Safety
procedures in working with the equipment
8. Learning to figure costs associated with
constructing, building, and restoring is a very
important skill associated with any SMA and Ag
& Natural Resources Exhibit

15. Critical Elements that make this
judging process a valuable step in the
4-H’ers life long learning
9. Always stress the learning and
accomplishments that have taken place rather
than the award.

24. Important Resources for
Judging
• Project Hot Sheets—Resources for Project
• Project Tip Sheets-What a judge is looking for
• Harvesting and Preparing Vegetables for
Exhibit-4H462
• Preparing Cut Flowers and Houseplants
for Exhibit-4H464
• Creating an Entomology Project-4H422

25. Tackling Tough Issues
• School Projects
• Small number of Agricultural
Projects to choose from for Iowa
State Fair (Quality Issue)
• County Fair Selected for State
Fair Project vs. The Exhibit
Judging Process at the State Fair

26. Tackling Tough Issues
• The club workshop ―Bird House‖
or ―Metal Flower‖ projects
• The wonderful learning that is
directed in the 4-H Project
Literature vs. the reality of the 4-
H Learning process directed by
self learning or passing on skills
from Dad or Grandpa..Mom or
Grandma

27. Tackling Tough Issues
• The Ag and Natural Resources
Poster Project
– Do they make graphics and letters
large enough?
– When sharing Data, is it easy to
understand and have a description to
help us understand?
– Did they cite sources?
– What did they learn from the research
or what is the ―Big Learning‖ from the
exhibit?
– Who is the audience they are
communicating with?

28. State Fair Issues
• The Write Up, The Write Up, The Write Up
• Quality vs. Quantity
• SME…Woodworking now has refinished
pieces with the focus on the refinishing
and restoration process
• Ag and Natural Resources…
– Tri Fold Displays must be no larger than 4 ft X
4 ft when laid flat—No top title piece