Crops

PLEASE NOTE: Any changes/updates from the previous year will be BOLDED and ITALICIZED! Pay special attention to any projects with BOLD, ITALICIZED WORDS because they have changed from last year.

 

Completion, exhibition participation, and State Fair information for Crops

Division/Level

Grades (suggested)

Completion Activities Needed*

Maximum State Fair Entries

Crops- Corn

Level 1- Beginner

Grades 3-5

Complete 4 Activities* and Record Sheet

No State Fair Entry

Level 2- Intermediate

Grades 6-8

Complete 4 Activities* and Record Sheet

No State Fair Entry

Level 3- Advanced

Grades 9-12

Complete 4 Activities* and Record Sheet

No State Fair Entry

Crops- Hay, Wheat, Oats, Alfalfa

All One Level

Grades 3-12

Complete 3 Activities* and Record Sheet

No State Fair Entry

Crops- Soybeans

Division 1

Grades 3-12

Complete 3 Activities* and Record Sheet

No State Fair Entry

Division 2

Grades 3-12

Complete 2 Activities* and Record Sheet

No State Fair Entry

Division 3

Grades 3-12

Complete 2 Activities* and Record Sheet

No State Fair Entry

Division 4

Grades 3-12

Complete Activities 9,10,11,12 and Record Sheet

No State Fair Entry

Division 5

Grades 3-12

Record Sheet

No State Fair Entry

*“Activities” are defined as project manual activities and/or Hendricks County 4-H Workshops related to this topic. Members must be able to prove attendance by getting a signature from 4-H Leader/Project Advisor that conducts the workshop. Activity sheets available in the Extension Office with Crops Project Manuals. Fair Exhibit guidelines are listed below.

GUIDELINES:

  1. Refer to the Hendricks County 4-H Policies, Entry & Exhibit Guidelines for poster and general display guidelines.
  2. Attach a 4-H exhibit tag to each crop On the corn or soybean exhibit tag, add the variety, date planted, and fertilizer used. Hay exhibitors should add the type of hay exhibited to this card.
  3. Healthy corn and soybean plants will be judged on the basis of freedom from deficiency, root and stalk development, freedom from disease and insect damage, and general appearance and
  4. A Champion and Reserve Champion exhibitor will be selected from each A Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion exhibitor will be selected from the individual crop champion and reserve champion exhibitors.
  5. Members may exhibit in one, multiple, or all crops listed below.
  6. For personal safety, do not include personally identifiable information such as mailing address or phone numbers on posters/displays/exhibits.

 

 

 

HAY, WHEAT, OATS, ALFALFA (SMALL GRAINS)

Youth will learn about growth stages and parts of plants, characteristics of varieties, fertilizers, germination, injurious weeds, diseases and insects, products made from harvest, and good management practices and their importance.

 

EXHIBIT CLASSES:

All one level: Grades 3 – 12

Manual: For Hay, Wheat, Oats - ‘Small Grains Project’ - 4-H 749

For Alfalfa - ‘Alfalfa Project Outline’ sheet – 4-H-39-W

Use the Crops Record Sheet 4-H 626-W to record your project progress in all crops; all divisions.

 

HAY         - Exhibit 1/4 bale of cured hay in one or more of these categories: alfalfa, clover, grass, and mixed.

WHEAT - Exhibit one (1) gallon of wheat from current crop.

OATS       - Exhibit one (1) gallon of oats.

 

 

 

CORN

You can learn about how the corn plants works, the pests that attacks corn, uses of corn and the safety practices when growing, harvesting, and storing corn. In the advanced levels you will learn about hybrid corn, the types and sources of nutrients for corn, soil erosion, producing and comparing hybrids, and planting and growing corn crops.

 

For every level: You cannot exhibit the same activity twice

Use the Crops Record Sheet 4-H 626-W to record your project progress in all crops; all divisions.

 

Level 1: Beginner – first and second year in project (Recommended Grade 3– 4) - “Corn” (4-H 672)

Project Completion Recommendations

  1. Plan your project
  2. Grow a plot of
  3. Complete at least four (4) of the activities
  4. Make an exhibit from one of the project activities you
  5. Complete "Crops Projects Record Sheet" (first page )

 

Exhibit – one (1) of the following as outlined in detail in Beginner’s Corn Project Book “Suggested Fair Exhibits”

  1. “The Parts of a Corn Plant” Exhibit one (1) fully grown corn plant with the plant parts correctly identified and labeled using 3 x 5 inch (see activity 4 in the Beginner’s Corn Project Book)
  2. Exhibit “Identifying Some Pests of Corn” (using Activities #5, #6, and #7) Exhibit one (1) full grown corn plant in which you have prepared for exhibiting as well as four (4) labels describing One (1) each of two (2) shipping tags or 3 x 5-inch card put a picture of a corn insect (or the actual bug itself), its name, and the plant part it attacks. Do the same for two (2) corn diseases. Then on a fully-grown corn plant which you’ve prepared for exhibiting, attach the four (4) tags or cards to the specific plant parts affected by those insects and diseases
  3. Exhibit “Effects of Planting Depth on Corn Growth” (using Activity #3) Exhibit four (4) containers of growing corn which were seeded at the same time but at 1-inch, 2-inch, 3-inch, and 4-inch depths, with a record of your observations, displayed on an 8 ½ by 11-inch
Level 2: Intermediate – third, fourth, and fifth year in project (Recommended Grade 5-7) - “Hybrid Corn” (4-H 673)

Project Completion Recommendations

  1. Plan your project
  2. Grow a large plot of
  3. Complete at least five (5) of the activities
  4. Make an exhibit from one (1) of the project activities you
  5. Complete "Crops Projects Record "

Exhibit – one (1) of the following:

  1. Exhibit one (1) fully grown corn plant in which you have prepared for exhibiting as well as four (4) labels describing One (1) each of two (2) shipping tags or 3 X 5 inch cards, put a picture of a corn insect (or the actual bug itself), its name, and the plant part it attacks. Do the same for two (2) corn diseases. Then on a fully-grown corn plant which you’ve prepared for exhibiting, attach the four (4) tags or cards to the specific plant parts affected by those insects and diseases (see Activities #5, #6, and #7 in the Beginner Corn Book)
  2. Exhibit one (1) of the suggested exhibits from the ‘Intermediate 4-H Corn Project Book’ “Suggested Fair Exhibits”
    1. “My Own Corn Germination Test” (see Activity #8)
    2. “Effects of Weed Competition on Corn Growth” (see Activity #11)
    3. “Know How to Read Pesticide Labels” (see Activity #13)
    4. “Making the Farmstead Safer” (see Activities #16 and #17)
    5. “The Role of Corn in Other Foods” (see Activity #22)

 

Level 3: Advanced – sixth year and beyond in project (Recommended Grade 8-12) - “Corn Growth”
(4-H 674)

Project Completion Recommendations

  1. Plan your project
  2. Grow a large plot of
  3. Complete at least seven (7) activities
  4. Make an exhibit from one (1) of the project activities you
  5. Complete "Crops Projects Record "

Exhibit - one of the following:

  1. Exhibit three (3) stalks of corn with roots Wash the roots clean and exhibit them in a five (5) gallon plastic bucket.
  2. Exhibit one (1) of the suggested exhibits from the Advanced 4-H Corn Project Book “Suggested Fair Exhibits”
    1. “Plant Nutrient Deficiencies” (see Activity #1)
    2. “Fertilizer Nutrient Calculations” (see Activity #3)
    3. “Fertilizer Cost Comparison” (see Activity #5)
    4. “My 4-H Corn Project Field’s Erosion Rate” (see Activity #6)
    5. “Best Tillage-Planting System for My 4-H Corn Project Field” (see Activity #7)
    6. “Cross-, Self-, and Open-Pollination Experiment” (see Activity #8)
    7. “My Corn Performance Trial Results” (see Activity #9)
    8. “Last Safe Planting Date for Corn Hybrids” (see Activity #10)

 

 

SOYBEANS

The Soybean project introduces youth to one of Indiana's major crops, the soybean through fun experiences and hands-on projects. Youth will learn about selecting soybean varieties, planting and harvesting soybeans, and uses for soybeans.

 

Manual: “The Soybean Project” (4-H 209) - for all levels - Grades 3 – 12

 

For every level: You cannot exhibit the same activity twice

Use the Crops Record Sheet 4-H 626-W to record your project progress in all crops; all divisions.

 

Division 1

Project Completion Recommendations:

  1. Complete three (3) of the following activities: 1, 2, 3 or 13 in the 4-H Soybean
  2. Keep accurate records using the 4-H Crops

 

Exhibit – one (1) of the following:

  1. Exhibit one (1) fully grown healthy soybean plant with parts labeled, including
  2. Exhibit one (1) of the exhibit suggestions given for Division 1 in the 4-H Soybean Project Book (page 31).
    1. “Germination of the Soybean Seed” poster project using Activity #1
    2. “Using the Soybean” poster project using Activity #13
    3. Exhibit one (1) peck of soybeans

Division 2

Project Completion Recommendations:

  1. Complete two (2) of the following activities: 4, 7 or 14 in the 4-H Soybean
  2. Keep accurate records using the 4-H Crops Record

 

Exhibit – one (1) of the following:

  1. Exhibit one (1) fully grown healthy soybean plan AND one (1) plant showing insect Identify the type of insect on a 3 x 5-inch card by name and with a picture of the insect if possible.
  2. Exhibit one (1) of the exhibit suggestions given for Division 2 in the back of the 4-H Soybean Project Book
    1. “The Effect of Light and Darkness on Flowering” poster project using Activity #4 in the 4-H Soybean Book
    2. “Soybean and Plant Nutrition Deficiencies” poster project using Activity #7 in the 4-H Soybean Book
    3. “Preparing Soybeans for Home Use” poster project using Activity #14 in the 4-H Soybean Book
    4. Exhibit one (1) peck of soybeans

Division 3

Project Completion Recommendations

  1. Complete two (2) of the following activities: 5, 6, or 14 in the 4-H Soybean
  2. Keep accurate records using the 4-H Crops

 

Exhibit – one (1) of the following:

  1. Exhibit 12 fully grown healthy soybean plants
  2. Exhibit one (1) of the exhibit suggestions given for Division 3 in the back of the 4-H Soybean Book
    1. “Differences in Flowering Among Soybean varieties” poster project using Activity #5 in the 4-H Soybean Book
    2. “How Planting Dates Affect Soybean Yields” poster project using Activity #6 in the 4-H Soybean Book
    3. “Preparing Soybeans for Home Use” poster project using Activity #14 in the 4-H Soybean Book

 

Division 4

Project Completion Recommendations

  1. Complete the following activities: 9, 10, 11 and 12 in the Soybean
  2. Keep accurate records using the 4-H Crops

 

Exhibit – one (1) of the exhibit suggestions given for Division 4 in the back of the 4-H Soybean Book

  1. “Soybean Herbicide Survey” or “Soybean Insect Study” or “Soybean Disease Study” poster project using Activity #9 in the 4-H Soybean Book
  2. “Measuring Soybean Harvest Losses” using Activity #12 in the 4-H Soybean Book
  3. Exhibit one (1) peck of soybeans

 

Division 5 & above

Project Completion Recommendations:

  1. Keep accurate records using the 4-H Crops Record.
  2. Grow at least five (5) acres of soybeans using cultural practices described in current agronomy (AY) publications. These are available in the Extension Office.