Navigating the 4-H Fair Maze - Iowa State University · 2014-12-18 · Navigating the 4-H Fair Maze...
Transcript of Navigating the 4-H Fair Maze - Iowa State University · 2014-12-18 · Navigating the 4-H Fair Maze...
Navigating the 4-H Fair Maze
Mitchell Hoyer
Program Specialist
Iowa 4-H Youth Development Iowa 4-H YouthFEST, November 2014
Welcome
• Today’s Topics
– Roll Call
– Leader Presentation
– Member Activity
– Resources for 4-H staff
Navigating the 4-H Fair Maze
The Path Narrows
Where’s the trail?
Warning!
• Don’t let this happen to your 4-H members!
Educate, Evaluate,
Encourage
What project?
• What are interests?
• What does the member want:
– To do
– To learn
• Are there specific requirements?
– Ex: livestock, fashion revue
Planning / Selection Help
• Create Your Own 4-H Project (4H 696)
• Create Your Own 4-H Project Leader
Guide (4H 696 LDR)
What to do now?
• Focus on:
– Project Goals
– Project Activities
– Regular progress
– Encourage sharing
– Might start thinking about exhibits
Purpose of 4-H Exhibits
• Receive feedback
• Sense of accomplishment
• Expand future goals
• Share learning
Question
• If my goal is to learn to measure ingredients properly, how could I demonstrate this with a fair exhibit?
• Make a product (cookies, muffins)
• Make a poster showing how to measure
• Prepare “mistakes”, then make display showing the difference
Helping Youth Learn
• Strengthening Goal-Centered Learning in the
Exhibit Experience (for 4-H’ers) 4H 203c
• Strengthening Goal-Centered Learning in the
Exhibit Experience (for Adults) 4H 203
What exhibit class?
• Simple process
• First question – What is the exhibit
goal?
• Then can ask:
– Why did you make this exhibit?
– How do you want the exhibit to be
evaluated?
• Enter in exhibit class most closely
related to the goal!
Why we judge
• Encourage youth
• 4-H’ers more important than exhibits
• Ribbons fade, learning lasts a lifetime
Three Questions
• What did you plan to learn or do? (What was your exhibit goal(s)?)
• What steps did you take to learn or do this? (How did you go about working toward your goal(s))?
• What were the most important things you learned (as you worked toward your goal(s))?
3 Questions
How much is enough?
• Summary is good
• Longer not always better
• Sufficient to provide need information
• Easy to find important information
• Judges do not want to read a novel!
• Include 4-H component
• Examples
Exhibit Goals
• Establish purpose of exhibit
• Educational context for evaluation
• Determined by 4-H member
• Develop decision making
The Judging Experience
• Build rapport
• Gather information
• Encourage self-evaluation
• Provide educational feedback
• Encourage future learning
Evaluation Criteria
• Learning Involved
• Workmanship & Techniques
– Product
– Idea
• General Appearance & Design
Questions that encourage
talking
• How – did you decide…..
• Why – did you choose to…..
• Tell me – about…..
• What if – you had changed…..
Evaluate
• Balance goals with standards
• Use all three criteria
– Learning involved
– Workmanship and techniques
– General appearance and design
• Determine ribbon rating based on
information and exhibit as presented
Evaluate
• Judge is one opinion about exhibit
• Be honest and fair
• Teachable moment
• Explain evaluation criteria
• Help member understand why a ribbon
was awarded
Good Questions
• Is there anything else you’d like to tell me
about your exhibit that we haven’t
discussed?
• If you were a judge, what ribbon would you
give your exhibit?
Encourage
• Recognize accomplishments
• Provide positive, constructive feedback
• Encourage project expansion
• Appreciate their efforts
• Friendly judging style
• 4-H’ers learn from your actions
Ribbons
• Blue – meets ALL standards well
• Red – meets some standards well, could
use improvement on others
• White – needs improvement on many
standards; missing critical information
• Purple – if awarded, exhibit exceeds all
standards
Help Members Learn
• What did you enjoy?
• How did you feel?
• What did the judge say: – You did well
– Suggested improvements
– Ideas for next year
• What would you do different?
• Focus on the member – not the ribbon – Reinforce what they did well
Kansas 4-H says…
• Participation in county fairs is an opportunity and
privilege for 4-H members.
• If they choose to participate, they are in effect
asking for an adult to give his or her opinion
regarding the quality of their exhibit or
participation.
• Having asked for this opinion, they should
accept it gracefully and learn from it.
Preparing for Judging
• Practice – With leaders
– Older members as mentors
• “Achievement” shows
• Review “3 questions”
• Know exhibit class descriptions – Special class requirements
– Size and / or safety
• Know county rules & procedures
Preparing for Judging
• New members and families – Do they know:
• What to have ready?
• What will happen?
• Rules & regulations?
• Where to go?
• County Fair judging day – Assign helper if needed
– Extra supplies
– Have a smile
Exhibit Evaluation Resources
• Evaluating 4-H Exhibits notebook
• Previous training outlines
• 4-H Project Materials
• Project objectives
• Horticulture DVD
• Food & Nutrition video
• Self study
• Extension staff
• Judges
Internet Resources
• Evaluating Exhibits handbook
– http://www.extension.iastate.edu/4h/statefair/eehandb
ook
• General Judges Info
– http://www.extension.iastate.edu/4h/page/iowa-4-h-
judges
• State Fair website
– http://www.extension.iastate.edu/4h/statefair
Thanks for all you do!
• Discussion/Questions?