2006 State Fair Exhibits FAQ

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Prepared by Mitchell Hoyer
4-H Youth Development Program Coordinator

Each year brings a new set of questions from 4-H members, families, and extension staff. Here are some questions from previous years we thought would also be useful for 4-H members, families, and exhibit judges. If you have an exhibit question, contact your local extension office or send your questions to me at mhoyer@iastate.edu.

Clothing & Clothing Copyright

Q. Where should a 4-H'er enter a "sewing" project (ex: simple bag, table runner, pillowcase) when the youth are sewing to learn a skill and not necessarily to make a clothing or home improvement project? The goal was to learn how to sew; learn how to use a sewing machine; or to learn how to do various stitches.

A. 4-H'ers can very easily exhibit beginning (or more advanced) sewing items in the Clothing area exhibit classes. First a disclaimer - "It depends on their goal". Pillowcases, table runners, and the like - if the goal is the sewing techniques, clearly fit in class 511A "Clothing Design and Creative Sewing" (emphasis added). One of the activities in the Unit I Clothing project manual (Adventures in Clothing, 4H-315a) is making a stuff sack. If we can do a stuff sack as part of the planned learning in our project manuals, we can sure have a table runner in class 511A. Items other than wearables fit in this exhibit area.

Please do help the member evaluate their goal. There are times when the goal will indicate a different class or different exhibit area. For example, there is a difference between making a table runner as a tool to help learn how to sew certain stitches, and making a table runner to accent the holiday decor for a Thanksgiving dinner. The first has more emphasis on sewing and construction techniques, and would likely be a clothing and creative sewing exhibit; the second is more likely a home improvement area exhibit with more emphasis on design elements.

Q. I have a 4-Her that has purchased Harley Davidson Handkerchiefs. She wants to sew them together to make a quilt top. She bought them at a garage sale, but can tell they were originally a store-bought item and not homemade. She's questioning copyright. How does she know if she can legally use these to make a quilt top for exhibit/competition at the fair?

A. Not a problem at all. Treat this just as if she bought the handkerchiefs new. Even though they are "used", she bought them legitimately and has no reason to believe they are anything other than original. This use is similar to purchasing fabric with company names and logos imprinted. She can use the purchased Harley hankies to make - and exhibit - her quilt top.

Q. One of our 4-H members is using a new sewing/embroidering machine. It's one that can be programmed to embroider images on clothing. Several cartoon characters are available for purchase for use with this machine. Can these items be exhibited?

A. Yes. The member is purchasing a license for personal use when they legitimately buy such a program. Companies often license images for use in a variety of ways. Licensing allows them to expand their market, and maintain quality control over their products. This is similar to a woodworker who might buy a pattern to make a wooden cartoon character. As long as the item is not being offered for sale, and the pattern is used as intended, copyright is not an issue. I would suggest the member include a copy of the Terms of Use for the purchased image as documentation. Note that this is different than scanning or copying an image and then programming the machine embroider it. The first (purchase) is a legally obtained and permitted image. The second (scanning) is a copyright violation unless the user has obtained permission.

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