Communications Events at the Indiana State Fair

Several 4-H communications contests are held during the Indiana State Fair. Learn more about each below and on the Communications project page. 

Any 4-H member in grades 6-12 may participate in the Indiana State Fair demonstration contest. This contest allows the 4-H member to show the audience step-by-step procedures how to do something related to any project: Examples of a demonstration include how to take a prize winning photograph, how to give an intramuscular antibiotic injection or shot, how to design a mini-barn blueprint, how to construct a garment, how to develop a wildlife rehabilitation plan, how to treat a cat for fleas, etc. Live animals are not permitted. There is no interaction with the audience. Junior members (grades 6-8) have 5-7 minutes to present their demonstration, while senior members (grades 9-12) will present their demonstration in 5-10 minutes. Questions may be asked of the contestants by the judges following the demonstration. Categories will be Junior Individual, Senior Individual, Junior Team, and Senior Team. The team category is for two (2) people and will be determined by the highest grade level of any member of that team. A county may have no more than three (3) entries in each of these categories.​

An illustrated talk is offered at the Indiana State Fair in poultry and rabbits. All participants must complete the Indiana State Fair Rabbit or Poultry entry form. This completed form is to be submitted to the rabbit or poultry barn office, respective to the contest, at check-in. There is no Indiana State Fair entry fee for this event. Categories will be Novice (grades 3-4), Junior (grades 5-6), Intermediate (grades 7-8), Senior (grades 9-10), and Master (grades 11-12). An illustrated talk is for any 4-H member and allows the member to present a 5-7 minute speech to the audience on a topic related to that project while using props and/or a PowerPoint, Prezi, or other digital presentation. Live animals that would be eligible to show in that project may be used in the illustrated talk.​

Any 4-H member in grades 6-12 may participate in the Indiana State Fair informative presentation contest. This contest allows the 4-H member to present a topic of their choice related to a 4-H event, project, or activity to the audience. Examples of an informative 4-H presentation include the benefits of attending 4-H Round-Up, State 4-H Junior Leader Conference, Science Workshops, or Citizenship Washington Focus; the impact of a community service project on the 4-H members involved and their community; why a family should enroll their children in 4-H; how 4-H prepares a young person for the workforce or college, etc. Live animals are not permitted. There is no interaction with the audience. Junior members (grades 6-8) have 5-7 minutes to present their informative presentation, while senior members (grades 9-12) will present their informative presentation in 5-10 minutes. Questions may be asked of the contestants by the judges following the informative 4-H presentation. Categories will be Junior Individual and Senior Individual. There is no team category in Informative 4-H Presentation. A county may have no more than three (3) entries in each of the categories.​

4-H Performing Arts Event is a non-competitive event designed to allow 4-H members to exhibit their talent in a fun way. Categories include musical, non-musical, and group. Examples of a 4-H Performing Arts act include singing, dancing, playing a musical instrument, and performing a funny skit to name a few. A limited number of performances at an area event will be invited to perform at 4-H Round-Up or Indiana State Fair. Participation is open to any 4-H member. Mini 4-H members may be part of a group act. Contact your local Purdue Extension Office to learn more. ​

 

Visit the performing arts project page

Any 4-H member in grades 6-12 may participate in the Indiana State Fair professional presentation contest. Contestants will be required to research a public issue in their community, collect data showing how this issue is or could affect their community, formulate a plan to address this issue, and present it in a professional manner using electronic digital media such as PowerPoint, Prezi, etc. Contestants are to submit three (3) sets of accompanying handouts at registration. These handouts will be provided to the judges. It is suggested that youth practice by presenting their professional presentation to service clubs, 4-H council or fair board, government officials, or other boards. Examples of public issues could be the lack of accessibility to trails or public parks, congested traffic locations, public health issues, impoverished neighborhoods, school dropout rates, the size of farm machinery outgrowing the size of roads, etc. Live animals are not permitted. There is no interaction with the audience. Junior members (grades 6-8) and senior members (grades 9-12) will present their professional presentation in 5-10 minutes. Questions may be asked by the judges following the professional presentation. Categories will be Junior Individual, Junior Team, Senior Individual, and Senior Team. The team category is for two (2) people and will be determined by the highest grade level of any member of that team. Those members of the winning team who are younger than 14 years of age will not be able to compete in a team informative presentation in future years. A county may have no more than three (3) entries in each of the categories.​

Any 4-H member in grades 6-12 may participate in the Indiana State Fair public speaking contest. This contest allows the 4-H member to give their prepared speech to an audience from a stage or stage-like setting. There is no interaction with the audience. Props, signs, and PowerPoint presentations are not permitted. The topic can be of the 4-H member’s choice and but must be related to 4-H. Junior members (grades 6-8) have 3-5 minutes to give their speech while senior members (grades 9-12) will give their speech in 5-7 minutes. Questions may be asked by the judges following the speech. A county may have no more than three (3) entries in each category.​