New Family Fair Orientation Presented by: Deanna Roby & Doris Braddock University of Illinois Extension, Kane Co. 4-H Youth Development Staff Welcome! • Thanks for visiting this site. • This is a new adventure for us too! • We hope to give you enough information to get through the fair without feeling frustrated and lost. • Please feel free to ask questions. Just give us a call. Please Read! • Fair Orientation Handbook (this will be mailed to you in May) • Summer 4-H Newsletter • Fairbook • Any mailings sent to your child Purpose of 4-H Shows @ Fair • Members have selected projects. • Work done in project helps prepare youth for the fair exhibit, not always the actual exhibit. • Fair is an opportunity for 4-H’ers to showcase the skills and knowledge they have gained. • 4-H’ers are not required to exhibit at the fair. What can be exhibited at the fair? • At your May 4-H club meeting, you should be receiving a Fair Registration Form. 4-H’ers will register for what they are bringing to fair on this form. • It is linked to project enrollments. Youth must be enrolled in a project area to register for an exhibit in that same area. • Fair registration forms are due June 5. When is the fair? • For the public, the fair is July 15 through July 19. • For 4-H members, the majority of project check-in and judging is July 13. • Livestock/animal project members check-in on July 14. Judging occurs throughout week. • Some things happen before this week. • See tentative schedule. Who organizes the fair? • Two separate organizations. • University of Illinois Extension organizes anything related to 4-H. • The Kane County Fair Association organizes everything else (open shows, rides, attractions, entertainment, food vendors, commercial exhibits, fair hours, admission/parking costs, etc.). Where are the fairgrounds? • The grounds are located in St. Charles on Randall Road between Routes 64 and 38. • See fairgrounds map (on website). • Parking is available in the grassy area in front of grounds. It is accessible from the Extension Office parking lot. • Once the fair opens to the public, you will need an admission pass to utilize the pedestrian entrance gate in the parking near the Extension Office. What is the fairbook? • It is the communication tool that we use to describe all of the exhibit requirements for 4-H projects youth may exhibit. • It is available online. • Anyone may enter the open show – there are exhibit opportunities for youth and adults. Info is also available online. • There are fees associated with the open show. Where do the exhibit requirements come from? • Most of the exhibit requirements are determined by the exhibit requirements for the 4-H portion of the Illinois State Fair. • 4-H fair superintendents and the 4-H Fair Committee review exhibit requirements each year and make suggestions for changes. Project Check-in • All general and home economic projects are checked in on Monday, July 13, in the 4-H/Industrial Building between 1:30 and 5:30 p.m. • All live animals (except dogs, cats & small pets) are brought to the fairgrounds on July 14. Times vary – refer to fairbook. What happens during project check-in? • For general & home economics projects, the main check-in tables are in the NE corner of the building. Pick up exhibit tags here – proceed to the south end of building, the parent’s gallery. • In the parent’s gallery, youth can attach exhibit tags to their projects. Bring supplies needed. • Parent’s may not go beyond this area. How does the project get judged? • The building is divided into categories. Refer to map on the website. • With exhibit tags attached, youth proceed to the appropriate area(s) to check in project with superintendent. We will have helpers for this process if needed. • They may immediately see a judge for a conference or they may have to wait. What is conference judging? • This type of judging brings 4-H members and judges together to evaluate project exhibits. • It allows 4-H’ers to learn how to improve knowledge and skills. • 4-H’ers can share their project experiences. • It is great preparation for the future! How long does judging take? • Judges are encouraged to spend 5-7 minutes with each child. Some take longer and others don’t. • Judging is scheduled to run from 2-6 p.m. • Timing for judging really depends on the number of exhibits. Allow extra time for busy judges and areas. • Please be patient and plan to spend the afternoon at the fairgrounds. What do all the ribbons mean? • The judging process has two phases. • The first phase is non-competitive. Everyone is given a blue, red or white ribbon based on their own merit. • The second phase is competitive. Projects are judged against each other. • Refer to ribbon posters which are hung in the building. How does the IL State Fair (ISF) figure into this? • At the ISF, the State 4-H office organizes a junior show for 4-H members from across the state. • 4-H’ers must be age 10 as of 9/1/08 to be eligible. • In general & home economics, county fair projects are selected to represent county at the ISF. • In livestock, any member can participate. How will you know if a project is selected for the ISF? • Projects from our fair selected for the ISF, will have a state fair delegate or alternate ribbon on them. • 4-H’ers can send one non-livestock exhibit to the ISF. • State Fair Delegates & Alternates are asked to mark choices on the state fair board in the 4-H/Industrial Building. • There are also registration papers and an orientation packet for delegates. When is project check-out at the county fair? • All projects can go home beginning at 6 p.m. on Sunday, July 19. • We ask that projects be picked up by 7 p.m. that evening. • 4-H’ers who take projects earlier than the scheduled release time may forfeit their right to exhibit in future 4-H shows. Are we charged admission to the fair? • 4-H members exhibiting in the fair will receive a season pass at no charge. • Adult volunteers who serve as a superintendent also receive a season pass. • Some volunteers are given one day passes. • All others are asked to pay the admission fee. • Season passes do not include rides, attractions, food, entertainment, etc. What are 4-H premiums? • 4-H premiums are a monetary incentive for 4-H exhibits at the fair. • Premium checks are distributed at the end of the 4-H year. • The process to determine premiums is called the x-factor. See handbook for more details. Questions, Suggestions & Comments • Fair related questions can be addressed to your 4-H leader, junior leaders, other 4-H families, or the Extension Office staff. • We are always open to your thoughts and ideas about the fair. It is best if they are in writing. Thank You! • We hope that you find the information in this presentation helpful. • As always, please don’t hesitate to ask question if you need more information. • See you at the fair!