Updated 2015 Iowa County Fair 4-h Judges workshop Powerpoint Presentation shared at May 2 County Fair 4-H Judges Training

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Judging
4-H Science, Engineering
and Technology
Back to the Basics
Educate, Evaluate, Encourage

2. A 4-H Goal is like
planning a trip…
• A good 4-H Goal has….
• The Action- How will you do something
• The Result- What will be the result
• The Timetable-The Amount of time it will take
to complete the goal
• “I want to learn to router an edge on my shelf by June
1.”
• “ I want to compare my use of electricity when I leave
my computer on and when I shut it off overnight by fair
time.” 2

3. The Judging Process should be
a learning Process
• It is important for you to consider the
judging process as much more than
awarding ribbons
• You have the opportunity to help that young
person grow in their ability to see an exhibit as a
product of their learning
• To help them Understand the learning
• Help them understand how they can evaluate
their own exhibits as well as others
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4. 4-H Learning process

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Judging SME Exhibits
Remember the purpose of Science, Mechanics and
Engineering
• is to develop a spirit of inquiry,
• Develop skills in using tools
• safety procedures
• giving credit to sources for their information—
informing others if they were interested where
they could find good or more information
• be able to figure costs
• look for ways to use their skills in doing
community service
• explore career and vocational opportunities to
use their skills

7. As you begin the
judging
process
• Always show excitement to meet the 4-H’er and
model good communication skills
• Spend some time looking through the write-up to
recognize their hard work but always focus on
the 4-H’er…a balancing act
• 4-H’ers should be able to respond to these three
questions:
1. What was your exhibit goal?
2. How do you go about working toward that goal?
3. What were the most important things you learned
working on your goal?
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8. As you begin the
judging
process
• How do you handle expertise beyond their
age?
• How do you take the age and experience of
the 4-H’er into the judging process?
• What if an Exhibit is clearly in the wrong class
based on their goal or their learning
explanation?
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Judging SET Exhibits
You do need to think through your questions
• What—questions most often lead to facts
• Where—questions often lead to location or
source of info
• How—questions often lead to a discussion
about processes or sequences
• Why--questions often lead to a discussion of
reasons
• Could you share or tell me--questions may
result in softer question than “Tell me” or “give
me”

10. Some things have
changed…
• We no longer break a 4-H Exhibit area
such as Woodworking into a bunch of
classes.
• If you bring a Woodworking exhibit it is
entered into Woodworking.
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11. Science Engineering and
Technology Exhibits
• Mechanics and Design
– Automotive and Restoration
– Tractor Restoration
– Electrical
– Welding
• Woodworking
– Building New
– Restoring Wood Process
– Working with Wood Tools
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12. Science Engineering and
Technology Exhibits
• Science and Technology
– Aerospace
• Rocketry
• Space Flight and Study
• Flying
• Astronomy
– Computers and Networking
• Building and Networking
• Programming and Game Design
• Website Development
– Digital Storytelling
• Video and Sound Production
• Computer Animation
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– Biological and Chemical
Sciences
• Biotechnology
• Crime Scene Investigation
• Genetics
• Medical Sciences
– Geospatial Mapping Technol.
• Geocaching
• GIS Software
• Community Mapping
• GPS
– Robotics
• Youth Robotics
• Robotics in Industry and space
• Building and Programming

13. 4-H Project Webpages
• 4-H project HotSheets
• Learning Ideas
• Learning Resources
• Exhibit Ideas
• Citizenship, Leadership and
Communication Ideas
• 4-H Exhibit Tipsheets
• What is the judge looking for?
• Special directions for collections and
special exhibits
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14. 4-H Project Webpages
• 4-H Exhibit Evaluation Form
• 4-H Poster Exhibit Ideas
• Other Opportunities for Learning
– Let’s take a tour of the Web Resources…
• http://www.extension.iastate.edu/4h/projects
• http://www.extension.iastate.edu/4h/adults/judges/
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Judging SET Exhibits
Evaluation Criteria
Do you use the Sheets?
• Learning Involved
• Workmanship and Techniques
– Product
– Idea
• General Appearance and Design
Educate, Evaluate, Encourage

16. 16
Judging SET Exhibits
Other Issues that can come up
• Copyright Issues
– Mostly in decorative accents –Team and
Equipment Logos
– Mostly Woodworking and Welding
– Need permission
– Decals are fine—authenticity is important for
restoration
Educate, Evaluate, Encourage

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Judging SET Exhibits
Good Guide to Posters
• Many Ag & Natural Resource Exhibits and a few
SME Exhibits are put together using a poster
display
• They often need some direction to help sort out
audience, what they want to communicate and
how they could put together a good poster or
display to communicate what they want to say
• Help educate 4-H’ers when you can…get a good
guide resource piece to help you share the
important learning points
Educate, Evaluate, Encourage

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Judging SET Exhibits
Good Guide to Posters
• Catch the eye of the passerby
• Be simple and Clear
• Impress an idea or fact on the viewer
• Stimulate the viewer to support
your idea, get more information or
take action
Educate, Evaluate, Encourage

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Judging SET Exhibits
Good Guide to Posters
• Lowercase letters are easier to read than
all caps
• Use Guide Lines for lettering
• Letters or Headlines can be computer
generated and glued on
• Leave White space
• Make sure lettering is large enough to read
from a short distance (use table of size)

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Judging SET Exhibits
Some tough Questions
• What things can we improve upon as we select
State Fair Exhibits?
• How do you deal with School projects that don’t
seem to have a 4-H goal?
• How do we help kids deal better with a red
ribbon?
• How do you deal with the 4-H club projects—20
birdhouses, 15 welded somethings?
Educate, Evaluate, Encourage

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Judging SET Exhibits
Some tough Questions
• In selecting State Fair exhibits, how do you deal
with a Restored Tractor compared to a gun case
made in School Shop?
• How do you deal with lower numbers, but higher
quality of the learning experience and the
product compared to other 4-H Exhibit Areas
such as photography?
Educate, Evaluate, Encourage

22. What if you have
never welded?
A: Good Weld; B: Travel Too Fast; C:
Travel Too Slow; D: Voltage Too Low; E:
Voltage Too High; F: Amperage Too Low;
G:Amperage Too High
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• Lots of online resources
for 4-H Members
• Lots of Online resources
for Judges
• YouTube
• How not to Mig Weld
• How to Arc Weld
• How to Mig Weld for
Beginners
• How to set your
proper Amperage on
your welder
• Make a visit to your local
metal fabricator or local
welder

23. What if you have not spent
hours in the wood shop?
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• Lots of online resources
for 4-H Members
• Lots of Online resources
for Judges
• YouTube
• Woodworking Tools
for beginners
• Woodworking for
Beginners
• Different Kinds of
Woods
• Wood Finishes basics
• Make a visit to your local
woodworking hobbyist
• The Pros and Cons of Different
Types of Wood
• Amy R. Hughes
• Don’t know your pine from your maple?
Here, everything you need to know about the
types of wood commonly used for furniture.
• Pine
• Pine is an inexpensive, lightweight wood that
can be yellowish or whitish with brown knots.
It's often used for rustic pieces, like
farmhouse-style tables.
Pros: It's low-cost, and it takes paint well, so
it's great for kids' furniture. (The same holds
true for birch and poplar.) Pine develops a
nice, rustic patina from age and use, and it
resists shrinking and swelling.
Cons: It's a softwood, so it's prone to
scratches and dents.

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