Agricultural Exhibit and Competition Guide

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4-H Club Show Guide

4-H Livestock Shows:

Members raise and show animals such as cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and poultry. Youth are judged on animal care, handling, and showmanship, as well as their knowledge of the breed and industry.

4-H Gardening Exhibits:

Youth showcase vegetables, fruits, flowers, or container gardens they’ve grown. Entries are judged on quality, variety, and presentation, reflecting each member’s gardening skills and growing knowledge.

4-H Cooking Competitions:

Young chefs submit baked goods, preserves, or full meal entries. Judging focuses on taste, appearance, nutrition, and following recipes, with an emphasis on kitchen skills and food safety.

4-H Sewing Exhibits:

Participants present handmade clothing, accessories, or home décor items. Entries are judged on craftsmanship, creativity, and the difficulty of the project, as well as proper sewing techniques.

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Animal Showmanship Competition Guide

Animal Showmanship Competitions (Youth & Adult):

Showmanship competitions focus on the handler’s ability to present and control their animal, rather than the animal itself. Judges assess grooming, leading, posture, and knowledge of the species. Open to both youth and adults, these contests highlight skill, confidence, and the bond between exhibitor and animal.

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Livestock Show & Competition Guide

Cattle Competitions:

Cattle shows feature dairy and beef breeds judged on size, structure, muscle tone, and overall health. Participants showcase grooming skills and breed standards, often with youth classes and showmanship divisions.

Sheep Competitions:

Sheep are judged for fleece quality, body structure, and breed characteristics. These events may include shearing demonstrations and youth showmanship focused on handling and presentation skills.

Goat Competitions:

Goat shows include dairy, meat, and fiber breeds, evaluated for conformation, health, and productivity. Judging often highlights milk production traits in dairy goats and muscular build in meat breeds.

Pig (Swine) Competitions:

Pigs are shown for their size, muscling, and condition. Swine shows focus on market-ready animals and breeding stock, with emphasis on body structure and overall efficiency.

Poultry Competitions:

Chickens, ducks, turkeys, and other birds are judged on breed standards, feather quality, and condition. Exhibitors often display rare or heritage breeds in both youth and open classes.

Rabbit Competitions:

Rabbits are evaluated by breed, size, coat type, and health. These shows highlight grooming and handling skills, and often include pet classes and educational youth entries.

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Dairy and Beef Cattle Judging Guide

Dairy Cattle Judging:

Dairy cattle are evaluated on traits that contribute to milk production, such as udder quality, body structure, and overall health. Judges look for well-balanced animals with strong dairy character, good feet and legs, and excellent conformation.

Beef Cattle Judging:

Beef cattle are judged on muscle development, body condition, structure, and market readiness. Both breeding stock and market animals are assessed for traits that contribute to meat quality, growth potential, and overall soundness.

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Poultry & Rabbit Judging Guide

Poultry Judging:

Poultry judging includes chickens, ducks, turkeys, and other birds, evaluated on breed standards, feather quality, body condition, and overall health. Judges look for symmetry, posture, and productivity traits like egg or meat quality.

Rabbit Judging:

Rabbits are judged by breed type, size, fur quality, body shape, and overall condition. Each entry is assessed for conformation to breed standards, grooming, and the animal’s health and temperament.

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Sheep Shearing Demonstration Guide

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Sheep shearing demonstrations showcase the skill and speed involved in removing a sheep’s fleece safely and efficiently. Spectators learn about proper shearing techniques, wool handling, and the importance of shearing for the animal’s health and comfort. These events often highlight both traditional hand shearing and modern electric methods.

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Horse Show Guide

Light Horse Classes:

These events feature agile, smaller-framed horses used for riding or light work. Judging focuses on movement, conformation, and rider control in a variety of classes including halter, pleasure, and performance.

Heavy Horse Classes:

Heavy horses, such as Clydesdales and Percherons, are shown for their strength, size, and presence. These majestic breeds are judged in hand or under harness, often highlighting their calm temperament and power.

Draft Horse Teams:

Draft teams are shown pulling wagons or equipment in pairs, fours, or larger hitches. Judges look for teamwork, precision, and control, showcasing the handler's skill and the horses' synchronization and strength.

Miniature Horse Classes:

Miniature horses are shown in halter, driving, and performance events. Despite their size, they are judged with the same standards as full-sized horses, focusing on proportion, presentation, and responsiveness.

Western Riding Classes:

These classes include disciplines such as reining, pleasure, and barrel racing. Riders and horses are judged on control, style, and performance while showcasing traditional Western tack and attire.

English Riding Classes:

English classes feature events such as dressage, equitation, and hunter classes. Judging emphasizes the horse's movement, obedience, and the rider's posture, precision, and style.

Jumping Competitions:

Jumping classes test a horse and rider's skill, speed, and agility over a series of obstacles. Points are awarded based on technique, form, and accuracy, with penalties for knockdowns or refusals.

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Crop and Horticultural Exhibit Guide

Grain & Hay Competitions:

Farmers enter samples of threshed grain and bales of hay to be judged on quality, cleanliness, color, and nutritional value. These exhibits showcase the best of local field crops and forage.

Fruit & Vegetable Displays:

A colorful highlight of the fair, these displays feature homegrown produce judged on size, shape, uniformity, and condition. Creativity and presentation also play a role in themed arrangements.

Giant Pumpkin Weigh-offs:

A crowd favorite, growers compete to see who has grown the heaviest pumpkin. These impressive gourds can weigh hundreds of pounds and highlight dedication, technique, and a little luck.

Home Garden Competitions:

Amateur gardeners enter their best blooms, produce, or themed garden arrangements. Judging includes plant health, variety, layout, and overall appearance, celebrating backyard horticulture.

Field Crop Exhibits (Corn, Soybeans, Wheat, etc.):

These exhibits display the region’s top commercial crops, judged on kernel uniformity, moisture content, cob or pod quality, and presentation. They reflect the expertise of local producers.

Maple Syrup & Honey Exhibits:

Producers present their golden goods in jars for judging based on clarity, color, taste, and purity. Displays may include different grades and educational information about production.

Heritage Seed Displays:

These exhibits showcase traditional or heirloom seeds preserved over generations. Often educational, they promote biodiversity and awareness of sustainable, non-GMO farming practices.

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Agricultural Demonstration and Competition Guide

Tractor Pulls (Antique & Modern):

Tractor pulls showcase power and performance as both vintage and modern machines compete to pull weighted sleds the farthest. A thrilling test of horsepower and grit!

Horse Pulls:

Teams of heavy draft horses demonstrate incredible strength and teamwork as they pull increasingly heavy loads. A traditional and crowd-pleasing competition.

Demolition Derbies:

Smashing, crashing fun! Drivers battle it out in a metal-crunching arena where the last car running wins. Loud, wild, and a fairground favorite.

Lawn Tractor Races:

Modified lawn tractors zip around a dirt track in this fast-paced and quirky race. It’s grassroots motorsport at its most fun and accessible.

Chainsaw Carving Demonstrations:

Watch skilled artists turn logs into amazing sculptures using only chainsaws. A captivating blend of power, precision, and creativity.

Antique Machinery Demos:

Historic farm equipment comes to life in working demonstrations that show how farming was done generations ago. A must-see for history buffs and machinery fans.

Plowing Matches:

Competitors use tractors or horses to plow straight, even furrows in a true test of farming skill and precision. A proud agricultural tradition.

Sheep Dog Herding Demonstration:

Border collies and their handlers showcase expert herding skills, guiding sheep through gates and courses with impressive teamwork and control.

Motocross:

Riders race and perform jumps over rugged dirt tracks in an adrenaline-pumping display of speed and skill. Action-packed fun for motorsports fans.

Monster Trucks:

These towering trucks thrill the crowd with roaring engines, car-crushing stunts, and jaw-dropping jumps. Big noise, big air, and big excitement!