*STATE FAIR ELIGIBLE PROJECTS*
AEROSPACE
The aerospace project teaches safety in using and building model rockets. A model rocket kit will give you instructions on building a rocket. The first year exhibit is one rocket with the Estes Skill Level of E2X or one of comparable difficulty.
BEEF
In the beef project you feed and care for a beef steer or beef heifer. You will also learn grooming and showing techniques while preparing the animal for judging. The exhibit is showing one or more animals at the county 4-H fair. All animals exhibited must be owned and cared for by the exhibitor. The animal(s) must be properly enrolled on the beef enrollment form.
BEEKEEPING
Members must perform the jobs necessary for proper care of the bees. The 4-H’er in Division I must exhibit a poster with 10 pressed flowers of Indiana, honey plants or information about the uses of honey and beeswax.
CAKE DECORATING
This project allows a 4-H’er to develop cake decorating skills. This project is divided into three levels. Beginners will exhibit a single layer cake or styrofoam with simple techniques such as basic borders, a printed message, leaves, one color sugar molds, etc. Intermediate exhibits a cake or form with techniques such as figure piping, side decorations, a written message, a three-dimensional cake, etc. Advanced will exhibit a decorated cake or form using advance techniques such as nail flowers, color flow, fancy borders, etc.
CAT
In this project you can choose from three different activities: live cats, an educational poster about cats, or an action demonstration. The live cats will be shown during the county fair. There are different cat categories, however, there is no separate category for purebreds.
CHILD DEVELOPMENT
In the child development project you can learn to work with young children and to better understand them. The first year exhibit is a toy or game you have made, suitable for a pre-school child.
COMPUTER
Many young people are exposed to computers, both in the classroom and at home. This project lets you get a better understanding of the computer that you use. Level I exhibitors, grades 3-5, will display a poster that shows the parts of computer equipment, how computers accomplish tasks, or how a career or occupation has been dramatically been changed by computers.
CONSUMER CLOTHING
Instead of sewing your clothes, for this project you buy them and then model them. The purpose of this is to teach 4-H’ers the importance of wise consumerism.
CRAFTS
You can put your imagination to work in this project. You can create something in the fine arts category, which includes things such as oil, charcoal, ink, etc. The needle craft includes such things as needlepoint, candlewicking, and quilting. The any other craft category is anything else you dare to create.
DAIRY
In the dairy project you can raise calves or keep records on the production of dairy cows. You can learn how to raise top notch animals and how to groom and show the animals for judging. The exhibit is showing one or more dairy animals at the county 4-H fair.
DOG
Many people own dogs and wish they could train their dogs to obey commands. In the 4-H dog project, you learn how to train your dog. The exhibit is entering your dog in the dog obedience show at the county fair. All dogs are judged on grooming and training. You may also exhibit an educational dog poster.
ELECTRIC
The 4-H electric project gives you a chance to learn more about the energy that lights our homes and cooks our meals. The first year exhibit is a simple circuit board that shows a parallel or series circuit. The kit is available at the Extension Office.
ENTOMOLOGY
In the 4-H entomology project you learn about insects and how to identify them. You also learn how to capture and prepare insects for mounting. The first year exhibit is a collection of ten insects mounted in one 18’’ x 24’’ entomology box.
FLORICULTURE
The 4-H flower project teaches you how to raise flowers and make beautiful arrangements. The first year exhibit may be one of three things: 1) three blooms from flowers you have grown; 2) a notebook on flowers; 3) one house plant you have taken care of.
FOODS
The foods project shows you how to set an attractive table and prepare simple but nutritious meals for your family. The first year exhibit is six dropped, bar, or molded cookies that have been baked.
FOOD PRESERVATION
The food preservation project teaches you all the different ways you can preserve food at home. The first year exhibit is one frozen package of cookies.
FORESTRY
In the forestry project you will learn the parts of trees and how they grow. You will learn the different types of leaves and how to identify trees. The first year exhibit is a collection of six leaves and “The Parts of a Tree” sketch, on a poster.
GARDEN
Many families grow or would like to grow their own vegetables. In the garden project you can learn how to grow a family garden with at least 10 different vegetables. The first year exhibit is at least one plate of a single vegetable that you grew.
GENEALOGY
The genealogy project teaches you how to gather information on your family. The first year exhibit is a notebook that contains a family tree and other information about you and your family.
GEOLOGY
In the geology project you will learn more about rocks. You will learn what they are made of and where they come from. The first year exhibit is a collection of six rocks mounted on a poster.
GOATS
In the goats project you will learn how to take care and show your goat. You can show your live goat at the county fair, or create an educational poster about goats.
HEALTH
Good health is one of the most important possessions you can have. The 4-H health project can help you understand how to keep your good health. The first year exhibit may be selected from three topics: 1) the effects of smoking; 2) eating healthy foods; 3) the ways that you are unique.
HOME ENVIRONMENT
This project will show you how to make your room more attractive through changing colors, organizing and keeping your room ready for use. The first year exhibit is a wall hanging or a storage item you have made such as a waste basket for your room.
HORSE & PONY
In the horse and pony project you will learn how to care for your horse or pony and learn about horsemanship. You will learn to keep records on your animal such as feeding and costs. You will need to properly enroll your animal on the horse and pony enrollment form at your County Extension Office before the deadline date announced by the County Extension Office each year. The first year exhibit is entering your horse or pony at the county 4-H fair.
LAWN & GARDEN TRACTOR
This project is designed to let you learn more about lawn and garden tractors. You will enter a contest that will help you develop and refine your lawn & garden tractor safety and operation skills.
MODELS
The models may be made from a kit, but should be more difficult as the age increases. Models should be completely finished, including painting and decals, where appropriate. This project is divided into three levels: beginner, grades 3-5; intermediate, grades 6-8; advanced, grades 9-12.
PHOTOGRAPHY
The 4-H photography project offers the opportunity to improve your skills with a camera and to take better pictures. The photography projects are: color prints, black and white prints, color slides, salon prints, digital pictures and video. The beginner exhibit in the color prints and black and white prints are 10 pictures of any subject mounted on a 22’’ x 28’’ background board.
POULTRY
The poultry project encourages you to keep records of your poultry-raising activities and of your birds performance. The first year exhibit is one or more birds at the 4-H poultry show at the county fair. All animals are to be owned and cared for by the 4-H exhibitor.
POULTRY SCIENCE DISPLAY
This project is not limited to those that have birds. It is open to any 4-H’er who is interested in learning a technical aspect of some part of the poultry industry. All exhibits are displayed on a poster format.
RABBITS
Would you like to care for a rabbit? In the rabbit project you will learn to care for, house, feed, and raise a rabbit. The first year exhibit is one or more rabbits shown at the county fair. All animals must be owned and cared for by the 4-H exhibitor.
SEWING
Learning to sew is fun. 4-H’ers can choose from either a wearable or non-wearable category for the item they sew.
SHOOTING SPORTS
Learning to use firearms safely is important. 4-H’ers can choose from Hunting, Pistol and Rifle.
SHEEP
In the sheep project you will learn to feed and care for your animal. You will learn to groom and train your animal for judging. All animals exhibited must be properly enrolled on a sheep enrollment form by the date set by the 4-H council. These enrollment forms are obtained at the County Extension Office. The first year exhibit is one or more animals shown at the county fair.
SMALL ENGINES
This project gives you the opportunity to learn how an engine works. You would exhibit a small engine that you overhauled or tuned up or an educational display about what you learned.
SOIL & WATER SCIENCE
Do you know how important soil and water are? In this project you will learn to think about our resources—soil and water—and how they affect us, and the way you and others may use them wisely to conserve them for the future. The first year exhibit is a poster based on any of the following activities: designer soils, color clues, earthworms & sowbug, or conservation reporter.
SWINE
In the swine project you can learn about the feeding and caring for a barrow or a gilt. You will learn how to prepare your animal for judging at the county fair. The exhibit is one or more animals that are owned and cared for by the 4-H exhibitor and have been properly enrolled by the date set by the 4-H council.
TRACTOR
This project teaches tractor safety, maintenance, and operation of equipment. The first year requirement is to complete the record book and drive in a tractor operators contest held during the 4-H fair.
VETERINARY SCIENCE
In the veterinary science project you will learn more about diseases that animals get and how to take care of them.
WEATHER & CLIMATE SCIENCE
In the weather project you will do several experiments. You will learn about how air, water, and heat are related to weather. You will also learn to make weather instruments. The first year exhibit is a weather poster (supplied in your 4-H manual) which you will color and display.
WILDLIFE
In this project, you will learn about the animals that live outdoors. Grade 3 exhibitors will display a poster that you will color and that features 12 species.
WOODWORKING
This project is planned to help you learn how to use tools in doing woodwork. You will learn skills and habits in the proper use of common tools. The first year exhibit is one of the articles you have made from the plans in the 4-H woodworking manual.
*COUNTY ONLY PROJECTS*
BAKE WITH A MIX
This project allows members to purchase mixes from the store and create different recipes. This is a good project for members to experiment with different types of baking mixes.
COLLECTIONS
All young people collect items from time to time. In all categories, if the collection is too large or too valuable to exhibit, a notebook containing photos and a description of your collection can be exhibited instead of the actual collection.
CREATIVE GIFTS
This project will give the 4-H’er the opportunity to create and share projects they have made for a person who seems to have everything. A themed package provides a great options to the standard gift and shows that you put special thought into the gift.
CREATIVE WRITING
In this project you have the power to create short stories, poetry, essays, or whatever else you would like to write. In Level I, grades 3-5, you will exhibit a scrapbook that includes three or more different activities from the manual.
CROPS
In this project you will grow and exhibit a crop. The crop can be alfalfa, corn, soybeans, or wheat.
FARM TOY SCENE
This project is designed to motivate and interest individuals in modeling a custom built farm toy display Members are encouraged to display their many artistic abilities.
GIFT WRAPPING
Everyone enjoys giving or receiving a decorated gift. In this project you will learn to make handmade bows, wrapping paper, and to incorporate ideas for some very fancy gift wrapping. In the division I project you will exhibit one wrapped gift, including a handmade bow.
JUNIOR LEADERSHIP
The 4-H junior leader project is for those 4-H’ers in grade 7 and up, who wish to help in their local club and develop their own leadership skills. In addition, and 4-H’er enrolled in the project may become a member of the county-wide Junior Leader Club. A completed record book is due at the county 4-H fair.
LEGO-TYPE MODELS
This project encourages you to use your imagination and ingenuity in creating an exhibit out of lego-types. The level A division, grades 3-4, will exhibit a “fictional” character or “thing” that has been made.
MICROWAVE COOKERY
In microwave cookery you will learn more about microwave cooking, safety, utensils, and cleaning. You will learn how to cook vegetables and make candy. In the first year you would exhibit a fruit dessert such as baked apples, cherry crisp, apple crisp, etc.
PETS
This project gives you the chance to show off your favorite pet. You will show your pet at the county fair. Your pet must be fed and cared for by you, and you must own the pet.
READING
Encourage reading in and out of the formal classroom environment for youth to share their love of reading with others. Read at least eight (8) books each year.
RECYCLING
The recycling project gives you the chance to come up with ways to change your trash into something useful. The beginners division, grades 3-5, exhibits an article or display made of discarded plastic items.
SCRAPBOOK
The scrapbook project is designed so that you can keep your memories in a neat way. The beginner division, grades 3-5, exhibits a scrapbook album with a front and back cover containing 10 completed pages for judging.
SEW FOR FUN (wearable & non-wearable)
This project is to develop judgment in planning and selecting clothing that is suitable for the age and intended use of the wearer. In this project you would make at least one garment you wild like for yourself or for someone else.
SPORTS
This project is great for the sports enthusiast. You could exhibit a report on a sport that you did or have learned about, a poster on a sport that you did or learned about, or a video explaining a sport that you did or learned about.
