Save the Dates: 2024 Summer Judging will be July 15 & 16

NEW for 2024, we will be having summer project judging on TWO days. The judging schedule will be as follows and project judging will take place at the Ed Sands Building at the Fairgrounds.

Monday, July 15, 2024

  • Food and Nutrition Projects
  • Creative Arts Projects
  • Family & Consumer Sciences Miscellaneous Projects
  • ALL Self-Determined Projects
  • Clothing/Sewing Projects
    • Details are still being worked out for the Style Revue.

Tuesday, July 16, 2024

  • Leadership
  • Communications
  • Engineering
  • Environmental Sciences

4-H Summer Judging – Please schedule a judging appointment!

Hello 4-H Members! We hope that you are busy working on your 4-H projects this summer. Here are a few important updates to be aware of:

  • All Summer Judged Projects will be judged on the following days:
    • Tuesday, July 11, 2023, 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. (by appointment).
      • Food & Nutrition
      • Genealogy
      • Home/Money
      • Creative Arts
      • Collecting
      • ALL Self-Determined Projects
    • Wednesday, July 12, 2023, 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. (by appointment).
      • Animal Science
      • Robotics
      • Communications/Leadership/Citizenship
      • STEM
      • Nature/Gardening
      • Woodworking
    • Thursday, July 13, 2023, 11:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (by appointment).
      • Clothing

If you cannot attend judging during this week, you can:

  1. Attend Late Judging on Tuesday, July 25th from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. by calling 740-653-5419 to schedule an appointment. Participation in Late Judging receives a grade only and is not eligible for county awards or state fair consideration.
  2. Advisor Completion – Talk to your club advisor as they can work with you to review your project for completion only. No grades or awards will be given with this option.

Please review the 4-H Member Handbook as you complete your project(s) and prepare for judging.

Youth enrolled in the Tractor Maintenance Club or Shooting Sports Club do not need to complete summer judging if they met all completion requirements at the club level for Small Engine/Tractor Projects and or 700 level Shooting Sports disciplines (Shotgun, Rifle, Archery). However, if they wish to qualify for the Ohio State Fair for any of these projects, they must attend summer judging for each project.

Youth enrolled in Cake Decorating and gardening projects have the option for summer judging completion or county fair completion. If youth wish to qualify for the Ohio State Fair, they must complete summer judging.

Food and Nutrition Project Members should also review their project book inserts. These were tucked inside your project book if books were purchased at the Fairfield County Extension Office. If needed, you can download these here: Food Project Insert packet.

Clothing Project Members should also review their project book inserts. These were tucked inside your project book if books were purchased at the Fairfield County Extension Office. If needed, you can download these here: Style Revue Card and  Clothing Project Insert packet.

  • Clothing Project Members plan to attend the Style Revue at Liberty Union High School, July 13, 7:00 p.m. This is a required part of judging to be eligible for county awards and State Fair participation.  A practice session will be available on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. at Liberty Union High School.

Scheduling is now open!

    • We ask that you schedule an appointment that works best for you by using this link: http://go.osu.edu/fcsummerjudging
    • Scheduling will be open through MIDNIGHT, Sunday, July 9th. 
    • If you have more than one project, please be sure to schedule an appointment for EACH PROJECT and allow time between appointments to complete each interview.

Please contact the Extension Office if you have additional questions about project judging! We can’t wait to see you!

Save the Dates: 2023 Summer Judging will be July 11-13

Continuing for 2023, we will be having summer project judging on 3 days. The judging schedule will be as follows and project judging will take place at the Ed Sands Building at the Fairgrounds. Additionally, one change for 2023 is that ALL Self-Determined Projects will be judged on the same day

Tuesday, July, 11, 2023

  • Food and Nutrition Projects
  • Creative Arts Projects
  • Family & Consumer Sciences Miscellaneous Projects
  • ALL Self-Determined Projects

Wednesday, July, 12, 2023

  • Leadership
  • Communications
  • Engineering
  • Environmental Sciences

Thursday, July 13, 2023

  • Clothing/Sewing Projects
  • Style Revue to take place that evening at 7:00 p.m. (location TBD)

Summer Judging Results and Photos

Congrats to all 4-Hers, parents, and advisors! Summer Judging week has been wonderful as we get to see all of the hard work come together in our project interviews. Results for summer projects will be posted at this link and all results will be posted by the of the day on Friday, July 16th: go.osu.edu/fcsummerjudgingresults

State Fair packets will be ready starting on TUESDAY, July 19th during regular office hours.
 
All county award winners should save the date of August 13th at 7:00 p.m. for Summerfest!

Additionally, photos from summer judging have been posted on our Ohio State – Fairfield County 4-H Facebook Page. Direct links are as follows:

4-H Summer Judging for STEM Projects: Wednesday, July 13th

Hello 4-H Members enrolled in STEM Projects!

We hope that you are busy working on your 4-H projects this summer. Here are a few important updates to be aware of:

  • All STEM Projects will be judged on Wednesday, July 13, 2022 from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. (by appointment, see scheduling info below).
    • If you cannot attend this judging day, you can:
      1. Attend Late Judging on Tuesday, July 26th from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. by calling 740-653-5419 to schedule an appointment. Participation in Late Judging receives a grade only, and is not eligible for county awards or state fair consideration.
      2. Advisor Completion – Talk to your club advisor as they can work with you to review your project for completion only. No grades or awards will be given with this option.
      3. There will be no early judging.
  • Scheduling is now open for summer judging!
    • We ask that you schedule an appointment that works best for you by using this link: go.osu.edu/fcsummerjudging
    • Scheduling will be open through MIDNIGHT, Sunday, July 10th. 
    • If you have more than one project judged on this day, please be sure to schedule an appointment for EACH PROJECT. Also, please allow time between appointments to complete each interview.
  • Please review the 4-H Member Handbook and 4-H Project Member Guidelines as you complete your project(s) and prepare for judging.

Please contact the Extension Office if you have additional questions about project judging! We can’t wait to see you in less than one month!

Summer Judging Project Interviews – Scheduling opens next week!

Summer project interviews will be coming soon! Dates for projects are correctly listed in the 4-H Member Handbook. Please note that there are errors on correct dates in the 4-H Project Guidelines for Self-Determined Projects. Again, pay attention to dates in the 4-H Member Handbook.

We will be scheduling interviews by appointment. The summer project judging sign up link will be sent to all youth enrolled in these respective projects via 4-HOnline next week.  The email will say from 4-HOnline, so please be on the lookout – some email systems don’t like 4-HOnline.

Please contact Stacy Hicks at 740-653-5419 if you have questions about summer judging sign ups!

Projects to be judged on Tuesday, July 12, 2022 from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. (see page 11 of the 4-H Member Handbook):

  • All Food and Nutrition Projects
  • Family Life (Babysitting)
  • Genealogy
  • Home Living
  • Scrapbooking
  • Photography
  • Cake Decorating (youth must complete summer judging option if they wish to qualify for Ohio State Fair)
  • Collectibles
  • Creative Arts/String Art/Graphic Design
  • Money Management
  • Quilting
  • Creative Writing
  • Healthy Living

Projects to be judged on Wednesday, July 13, 2022 from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. (see pages 11-12 of the 4-H Member Handbook):

  • Self Determined 365.00
  • Self Determined 365.04 Natural Resources
  • Self Determined 365.06 Workforce Prep
  • Communication/Leadership/Citizenship
  • Discovering 4-H/4-H Around the Globe
  • Horseless Horse/All About Dogs
  • Veterinary Science
  • Science Fun
  • Aerospace
  • Robotics
  • Bicycle
  • Electricity
  • Knots
  • Small Engines
  • Energy
  • ATV
  • Woodworking
  • Welding
  • Natural Resources
  • Gardening (youth must complete summer judging option if they wish to qualify for the Ohio State Fair)

Projects to be judged on Thursday, July 14, 2022 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (see page 12 of the 4-H Member Handbook):

  • All Clothing Projects

The Style Revue will be at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 14th for all clothing project members.

Summer Judging Award Results and Photos are POSTED!

We are so proud of all of the hard work each of our 4-H members (and their families…and their advisors!) have put into the last few months as you have worked through your 4-H project work and completed summer project judging last week!

Please know that we hope that each 4-H member is able to learn and grow from their 4-H project judging experiences – an opportunity to be asked questions and respond, an opportunity to open up and talk to an adult that they do not know, an opportunity to be brave! As 4-H staff, we truly have the best seat in the house on judging days watching the kids and their projects come through the door and we are so proud!

Did you miss summer judging? No problem…call our office (740-653-5419) to schedule an appointment for late judging which will take place on Tuesday, July 27th at the Ag Center/Extension Office. Members participating in late judging are no eligible for awards for state fair consideration.

The results from 2021 Summer Judging have been posted on our website. Click here to check them out! On the webpage, please select each day to view Summer Judging results. Eligible youth will be contacted when State Fair packets are available. Please note: State Fair Delegates are selected at the discretion of the judge(s). Not everyone will qualify for State Fair Selection.

Save the date for our Summer Judging Awards Program: Summerfest! Scheduled for Saturday, August 21st from 7-9 pm, Ed Sands Building, Fairgrounds. Invitations will be sent to the Award Winners soon!

Additionally, we tried to get photos of most youth while participating in judging this week. All photos have been posted in our Facebook Photo Album: Click here to access.

How do I get ready for summer judging?

  1. Complete your project book and activities as outlined in your the Project Guidelines for your particular project.
  2. Practice reviewing your project with an adult. Have them ask you questions about what you did and learned from your project.
  3. Schedule an project judging appointment by July 8th for each project that you are completing this summer by clicking this link.
  4. What day is my project judging? Review your project information in the 4-H Member Handbook.
    • Can’t make it on your assigned day? No problem! Although you won’t be eligible for county awards/state fair consideration, you can sign-up for late/make-up summer judging on July 27th at the Ag Center/Extension Office by calling 740-653-5419 to make an appointment.
    • That still doesn’t work for you? No problem! Although you won’t be eligible for county awards/state fair consideration, you can talk to your 4-H advisor to work with you to review your project for completion for the year.

WHAT IS INVOLVED IN INTERVIEW JUDGING?

Interview judging is a discussion between the judge and 4-H member regarding the member’s project, the member’s learning experience and development and plans for the future. It is a one-on-one discussion. Members do not have to participate in interview judging to complete a project, but it is an excellent way to build skills in interviewing and provides an opportunity to compete for county awards and state fair participation. Listed below are a few statements or questions often used in making the interview meaningful to the 4-H member. These types of statements help a judge find out about the member’s knowledge, accomplishments, interests, and challenges with the project.

I. PAST EXPERIENCES & PROJECT SELECTION
a. What projects have you taken in 4-H?
b. Why did you select this project this year?
c. What did you hope to learn from the project?

II. THE PROJECT
a. Knowledge of project – subject matter – use of project terms.
b. What went well with the project? What did you do? What did you accomplish?
c. What problems did you encounter?
d. What assistance did you have? – 4-H Advisor, Junior Leader, Parents, Friends or Relatives.
e. Questions related to 4-H project book content.

III. PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
a. What more would you like to learn in this project area?
b. What project will you take next year?
c. What are your other interests?

IV. PERSONAL INFORMATION & KNOWLEDGE OF 4-H
a. What 4-H activities have you participated in within your club or county?
b. Leadership experience in local club
c. Overall knowledge of 4-H
d. Plans for future – schooling, career, etc.
e. What was the biggest thing 4-H taught you this year?

V. ADDITIONAL TIPS TO PREPARE FOR JUDGING:
This is an interview, so 4-Hers will want to keep in mind:
a. Wear nice clothes (dress pants/slacks, skirts, nice blouses, tops, etc.)
b. Grooming is essential. (hair, nails, etc. should be presentable)
c. Shake the judge’s hand
d. Be polite; use please and thank you
e. Do not have gum or other food in their mouth!

Summer Judging Results from Day 3 (Wednesday, July 15th): Engineering & Environmental Science

We are so proud of the hard work 4-H members have put into their projects this year! Congrats to all!

Here are the results of our members who participated in judging on Day 3 (Wednesday, July 15th). For a complete list of results, click here.

Summer Judging – Please Schedule an Interview Time by 5:00 p.m. Friday, July 10th!

Greetings 4-Hers!

Thank you to those who recently responded to last week’s survey regarding project completion options. We have taken survey responses into consideration, along with OSU’s guidance on primarily using virtual options for events due to the potential continued spread of COVID-19. In that light, we will be conducting project judging interviews using the online video conference format called Zoom. This will allow for a live, interactive interview with a judge and 4-Her. For those 4-Hers that do not have access to adequate technology to support a Zoom interview, we will offer a few limited slots for an in-person interview. Please read details below before choosing your judging appointment.

All SUMMER project judging will be conducted the week of July 13th. Projects will be judged on these originally scheduled days:

  • Monday, July 13: Food, Home Dec, Genealogy, Laundry, Health, Child Care
  • Tuesday, July 14: Demonstration, Communication, Creative Arts
  • Wednesday, July 15: Engineering and Environmental Science
  • Thursday, July 16: Clothing

Awards this year will be simplified with Outstandings and Honorable Mentions across projects. There is no state-level competition this year, so the primary focus of county judging will be the interview experience and an opportunity for the 4-Her to share what they have learned. Note: we will not be awarding special overall food or clothing awards this year.

Project displays: in order to offer flexibility, you may create a poster and have it near you for zoom judging, or a digital poster that you could ‘screen share’ and later print out to display at the fair. Note: food projects will NOT be required to complete a portfolio this year. Instead you could do a mini poster to display at the fair. The choice is yours.

Online (Zoom) Judging for all summer projects:

  • Extension staff will ‘host’ the meeting and send a link to the judge and 4-Her. Staff will remain online throughout the meeting as tech support, timekeeper and to provide a 2nd adult to avoid any one-on-one meetings with youth.
  • 4-Her and judge will utilize their own computer with a camera or device from their own homes.
  • This is a ‘live’ interactive interview and the judge can ask 4-Her questions.
  • Training will be provided on how to participate in a zoom interview.

In-person Judging for youth without access to internet or computer/phone:

  • Note: this option is reserved for members who cannot do a zoom interview because they do not have access to technology
  • Safety measures:
    • 4-Hers, judges and staff will be asked to wear masks. (provided if needed)
    • Plexiglass tabletop shields positioned between the judge and 4-Her
    • 6-foot distance between everyone
    • Surfaces will be sanitized after each 4-Her
  • Held at the Ed Sands building at the fairgrounds the week of July 13.
  • 4-Hers will wait in their car until it is time to be judged.

As a reminder, if you have a project that you do not plan to complete, please email Missy Koenig at Koenig.398@osu.edu with the project you wish to drop from your record. You also have the option of interviewing with your club advisor for project completion. Please contact your advisor to make arrangements.

We are excited to see all that you have completed and learned in your 4-H projects this summer. Please click on this link to schedule your SUMMER judging appointment by 5:00 p.m. Friday, July 10th: Summer Judging Scheduling Link Please note:  If you have multiple summer projects or multiple 4-H members, you will need to re-select the link to schedule additional projects, it is not member specific.

~Fairfield County 4-H Team