Overall Exhibit Guidelines:

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 The 4-H Poultry Project provides youth a fun and hands-on learning experience that
develops life skills, as well as teaches valuable information about properly caring for their birds.
Subjects such as such as general care, nutrition housing, and health care are presented in the
curricular materials, through workshops and activities such as poultry judging, and in preparation of an
exhibit. Youth also have the opportunity to develop responsibility, decision-making, nurturing, and
communication skills through active participation in the 4-H Poultry Project.

4-H members are required to complete quality assurance training. – See Indiana 4-H Livestock Quality Care

Each exhibitor must furnish their own feed and water equipment. 4‑Hers who do not care for their poultry and clean pens will not receive premium money. Turkeys should have bedding and metal or plastic feeders which should be wired to the cage. The committee will collect any eggs laid during the 4-H Fair. All exhibition chicken breeds must be recognized in the American Poultry Association, however, commercial class chickens can be crosses. Exhibitors can use https://amerpoultryassn.com/accepted-breeds-varieties/ and https://amerpoultryassn.com/poultry-breeds/ to class your birds based on their breed as needed.

 

NPIP Testing: Chicken and Turkey exhibitor must turn in their NPIP affidavit of health when entering poultry for exhibit. Waterfowl is exempt from this requirement. Birds requiring tests can schedule appointments at the Heeke ADDL lab near Dubois, IN at ph. 812-678-3401.

 

Number of Animals Exhibited: All 4-H Exhibitors may exhibit chickens into one or more classes, but no more than one entry per class for commercial classes. Two entries are allowed for exhibition classes as long as the following is true:

  1. Exhibitor is enrolled and active in 4-H Online by May 15th.
  2. Exhibitor has completed an animal quality assurance training. For details please See Indiana 4-H Livestock Quality Care

This means the exhibitor can bring up to 16 entries in the chicken category (one for each class)

 

Manual Information: See page 12 for project manual information. Project Manual completion is not a
requirement. 

Contact Us

Lauren Fenneman, Youth Educator
lhaase@purdue.edu
Purdue Extension Dubois County
505 W 5th Street 
P.O. Box 588
Jasper, IN  47547
812-482-1782

Chicken Project Guidelines

A Grand and Reserve Grand Champion will be selected from champions and reserve champions in both Bantam breed and standard breed classes

Check In, Show, and Check Out Dates and Times

Small animals check in, show, and check out dates and times will be in 4-H newsletter and on the fair schedule.

  1. Any animal not checked in at the appropriate time will not be allowed to exhibit at this year’s fair. Any poster not checked in during normal project check in will be exhibition only and not receive comments.
  2. Exhibitors are required to tear down their own pens and clean up surrounding area.

The appropriate specie committee will dispose of any small animal not claimed by its owner by close of animal release at the end of fair. The exhibitor of any animal disposed of by the committee will be billed for all costs, including time spent by the committee, involved with disposal of the exhibit.

 

Small Animal Building Hours

Please check with Small Animal Building Committee for Sunday “Care of Animal” building hours.

The small animal building will be open Monday through Friday of fair week from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm for care of the animals and viewing by the public. Failure to care for your animals will not result in the building being opened at any other time.

Members compete by grade. Members must show their own animal (Only exception is if 4-H member does not have an animal on the premises).

Junior ‑ 3rd-5th graders

Intermediate - 6th-8th graders

Senior ‑ 9th-12th graders

Pullets ‑ Two pullets to be exhibited (Female Birds of same breed, less than 1 year of age day of show)

  • White Egg Shell Pullets
  • Brown Egg Shell Pullets
  • Colored Egg Shell Pullets

Hens ‑ Two hens to be exhibited (Female birds of same breed, one year old or more day of show)

  • White Egg Shell Pullets
  • Brown Egg Shell Pullets
  • Colored Egg Shell Pullets

Broilers – two birds of the same sex, 6-8 weeks of age and not over 5 ½ pounds on show day

Roasters – two birds of same sex, 8-12 weeks of age (over 5 ½ pounds to 10 pounds on show day)

 


Large Fowl Breed Chicken Classes – May exhibit one cockerel, pullet, cock, hen, young pair, or old pair. No entry can be duplicated per sub-class (same age, sex, and breed). Two entries are allowed per breed category.

      Breed Categories

  • American
  • Asiatic
  • Continental
  • English
  • Mediterranean
  • AOSB (All Other Standard Breed)

Sub-Class for each category

  •  Cock – a male bird one year old or more day of show
  •  Cockerel ‑ a male bird less than one year old day of show
  •  Hen ‑ a female bird one year old or more day of show
  •  Pullet – a female bird less than one year old day of show
  •  Old Pair of cock and hen – pair of male and female birds, same breed, and one year old or more day of show
  •  Young Pair of cockerel and pullet – pair of male and female birds, same breed, and less than one year old day of show.

 

May exhibit one cockerel, pullet, cock, hen, young pair, or old pair. No entry can be duplicated per sub-class (same age, sex, and breed). Two entries are allowed per breed category.

Breed Categories

  • SCCL (Single Comb Clean Leg)
  • RCCL (Rose Comb Clean Leg)
  • AOCCL (All Other Comb Clean Leg)
  • FL (Feather Leg)
  • OE (Old English Game)
  • Modern (Modern Game)

Sub-Class for each category

  •  Cock ‑ a male bird one year old or more day of show
  •  Cockerel ‑ a male bird less than one year old day of show
  •  Hen ‑ a female bird one year old or more day of show
  •  Pullet ‑ a female bird less than one year old day of show
  •  Old Pair of cock and hen – pair of male and female birds, same breed, and one year old or more day of show
  • Young Pair of cockerel and pullet – pair of male and female birds, same breed, and less than one year old day of show.

A Grand and Reserve Grand Champion will be selected from champions and reserve champions in both Bantam breed and Large Fowl breed classes.

ALL
POSTERS need to be turned in on check in day for the exhibit buildings. DO NOT turn any posters in
at animal check ins.
The following animal species and their associated poster classes are exhibited in the small animal
building ONLY; rabbits, chickens (fancy and commercial), pigeons, ducks and turkeys. To maintain a
positive show environment for this diverse group of animals and their owners, the following rules
apply to all species and their poster classes.

State Fair Entries:3 Poultry entries per county; one per level.

Beginner (grades 3-5 suggested)
Create an educational poster, notebook or display about any manual activity or on any specie related
topic of choice that is age/grade appropriate. Check with the Purdue Extension office in your county to
determine if enrollment is required in the species project you want to learn about. Owning or
possessing an animal is not required.
Intermediate (grades 6-8 suggested)
Create an educational poster, notebook or display about any manual activity or on any specie related
topic of choice that is age/grade appropriate. Check with the Purdue Extension office in your county to
determine if enrollment is required in the species project you want to learn about. Owning or
possessing an animal is not required.
Advanced (grades 9-12 suggested)
Create an educational poster, notebook or display about any manual activity or on any specie related
topic of choice that is age/grade appropriate. Check with the Purdue Extension office in your county to
determine if enrollment is required in the species project you want to learn about. Owning or
possessing an animal is not require

Poster Guidelines

All poster exhibits must be 22" x 28", displayed horizontally, and have a stiff backing (corrugated cardboard or foam core board preferred) and be covered with clear cellophane, plastic or in poster bag unless otherwise stated in project requirements. Quiz Boards are not considered posters and do not require a clear covering. Leave space in the lower right hand corner of poster for project label affixed outside of covering. (Poster board, foam core board, and poster bags are available at the Extension Office at cost.) 

Leave space on exhibit for label. Label size is 2 7/8” wide x 5 ½” long and will be attached in readily visible position.

References:  All posters, notebooks, display boards must include a reference list indicating where information was obtained, giving credit to the original author, to complete the 4-H member’s exhibit.  This reference list should/might include web site links, people and professionals interviewed, books, magazines, etc.  It is recommended this reference list be attached to the back of a poster or display board, be the last page of a notebook, or included as part of the display visible to the public.  The judge will not discredit an exhibit for the manner in which references are listed.

 

All pictures and wall hangings, etc. should be ready to hang or display. Use strong hangers (not can tabs) attached with nails or screws (not glue or tape) or provide a suitable stand. Label the stand with your name.

 

Exhibit labels supplied by the office are to be attached securely. There may be specific other instructions for certain projects. See individual project requirements for these instructions. Be sure all exhibit items can be identified with 4-H member name and 4-H club. i.e. notebooks, exhibits with multiple items, etc. Be sure all parts of your exhibit have your name on them.

Secrets of a Successful Poster
A successful poster will:
· Catch the eye of the passerby
· Be simple and clear
· Impress an idea or a fact upon the viewer
· Stimulate the viewer to support your idea, get more information, or take appropriate action.
· Have space left over—Posters that are uncluttered are easier to read.

An effective poster: attracts attention, focuses on a main interest or idea, and motivates you.

Planning A Poster
A poster should have one main idea. Have the reason clearly in mind before you start.
· Consider who your viewer will be
· Decide what you want them to know
· Decide what you want them to do
· Think of a clever theme or slogan
· Limit your effort to one main idea
· Make a small rough sketch
· Visual communication is an aid to what you are trying to teach with your project.

Choosing Colors
Color combinations affect how easily the message is read and the overall appearance of the poster.
· Consider the Contrast: This means you use dark letters on a light background, and light letters on a dark background.
· Let the most important items be the most important color.
· Colors that are close to the background shade will not show up well and cannot be read at a distance.
· Avoid using too many different colors. Two or three should be sufficient. You don’t want to overwhelm your main point!
· Avoid putting red and green next to each other—this is hard to focus on if a person is colorblind.
· Avoid bright neon colors—they may catch the eye, but they are hard to focus on.

Lettering
· Lower case letters are easier to read than all CAPITALS. Use capitals only for emphasizing an important phrase or word to give variety.
· Save fancy or script lettering for catching the attention of the viewer.
· When hand lettering, always use guidelines. Using a ruler, lightly pencil in straight lines that can be erased when your poster is complete.
· Letters may be cutout and glued on, or precut letters may be purchased.
· Keep written material to a minimum. Use only headings, captions and signs necessary to tell the story.

Use different size lettering for items of varying importance.
· Allow margins to keep things from running together and looking too cluttered.
· Below is a table of letter sizes and their effectiveness:

*Ask your parents, 4-H Leader, or older 4-H member to look at your poster and tell you what they think.

Revise-Re-Do-Rearrange
1. Cut out all your letters, pictures and graphics.
2. Draw guidelines and place or draw in letters.
3. Lay all your pieces of your poster out on the poster board.
4. Ask yourself, “How does it look?”
5. Revise and rearrange as needed. Re-Do anything that should be a different size or color.
6. Move things around until you are happy with the overall effect and message of your poster.
7. Glue everything in place.
9. Remember—NEATNESS COUNTS!