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.

Communication Events

Q. I've been selected to give my Working Exhibit at the Iowa State Fair. How many supplies do I need?

A. Plan on supplies for at least 100 participants (60 for junior exhibitors). Senior working exhibits (grades 7-12) are presented for 45 minutes; junior working exhibits (grades 5-6) are presented for 25 minutes. Here's how I figure the math.

If your activity takes 3 minutes to complete, then 15 people can do the activity in 45 minutes (45 divided by 3 = 15). Figure that 6 people can be at the working exhibit table at once, so multiply 15 by 6 to get 90 people in a 45 minute time span. If it takes a less time to do the activity, then you'll need more supplies. Adjust accordingly. Figure that sometimes extra folks may crowd the table, so you'll need a few more supplies, so round up. You don't want to run out!

Plan on having extras, and then present your working exhibit locally this fall at a children's fair or other 4-H promotion event. That will help use up the extra materials and give you an opportunity to promote 4-H communications.

Q. Can 4-H members from two different counties do an educational presentation or working exhibit together?

A. Yes, members from two counties could present as a team. They should have the OK from both counties (can't see why anyone would not allow that), and they should decide in which county they will be formally evaluated and have the opportunity to be selected for state fair or other opportunities. They get one chance to be selected for state fair, not in both counties.

Q. I will be doing a 4-H Educational Presentation at the state fair. I prepared my visuals using PowerPoint and need to use an LCD projector. I know it is very bright in the 4-H building; will the audience be able to see the slide show, and do I need to bring my own projector?

A. Yes, it is bright in the 4-H building presentation rooms, even with a fabric shade on the windows. The audience will be able to see the visuals - if you do your job in effectively preparing your PowerPoint slides for use in bright conditions. I would advise you to select a background and font color combination that will project well in lighted viewing conditions. This usually means a light or white background, with black or dark colored text, just the opposite of formats many of us use in darker conditions. This may mean you will need to make changes to the slide template from the current design. Other graphics and photos often depend on the quality of the initial image. There may also be some adjustments that can be made to the computer resolution to allow better viewing. Practice at home in varying conditions and with varying formats to see what works best.

We will have an LCD projector available. However, some members may be more comfortable using a projector they have practiced with. That will be up to you. Members do need to bring their own computer, and should have all appropriate connecting cables and know how to connect them. Projection screens are used in the presentation rooms; we supply those. Please check with your county extension office to make sure they indicated on the communication event database entry form this will be a computer/LCD presentation. That will help us in scheduling and making sure we have the right equipment available in the right presentation room when it is time for your presentation

Q. One of our members wants to do a working exhibit on making balloon animals. Can she do this? We're concerned about the safety of balloons and young children.

A. Yes, she can do this activity for a working exhibit. The member should address the safety issue as part of her discussion with participants and not allow young children to do the activity without adult supervision. The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends that parents and guardians not allow children younger than eight (8) years old to play with uninflated balloons or balloon pieces due to possible suffocation hazards. If a young child wants to participate in this working exhibit, the 4-H member should tell them they cannot participate unless an adult is with them. Addressing safety as part of the working exhibit demonstrates the member is aware of and knowledgeable about child safety and will strengthen the presentation.

Q. A member is planning to do an educational presentation on making soap. One of the ingredients is lye which can be caustic. Is this OK?

A. Sure. The member should use appropriate safety precautions during the presentation. This would include using only the amounts needed, proper covering for presentation room equipment, possibly creating a safe distance zone from the presentation area to the audience, informing the audience of safety hazards if they were to do this on their own, and certainly using all appropriate personal protective safety equipment (gloves, goggles, apron, etc.). If done well, there is no reason this presentation couldn't be safely presented.

Q. A 4th grader and a 5th grader are planning a team working exhibit. Are they eligible to participate at the Iowa State Fair?

A. No. Both members of the team must meet the eligibility guidelines to participate at the Iowa State Fair. You should strongly encourage them to participate locally for the learning experience and fun, and encourage them to participate again the next year.

Q. We had our county Share The Fun event and selected the three acts for state fair. One of the acts was a group of members from a 4-H club. Now that they've been selected to perform at the state fair, they want to add several more members from the club to the performance. Can they do this?

A. Ultimately, this is a county decision. We will accept the performance as the county enters it, as we dont know how many performed with the group at the county event. However, it is my general recommendation that counties not permit these type of substantial changes to communication event entries. You could potentially be accused of showing favoritism, and that allowing one group to significantly change their act is unfair or inequitable to other groups not selected. County offices dont need that hassle.

In this case, several additional members now want to participate. They were not involved with the Share The Fun act before the county event. It is not appropriate that they reap the reward of a state fair performance when they were not part of the group that worked to earn it.

Q. The 4-H Extemporaneous Speaking Contest rules indicate reference material must be printed materials such as books or magazines. Are printed materials from web sites allowed?

A. Yes, printed materials from web sites will be allowed. Use of the Internet allows members access to many news magazines and newspapers beyond those to which they may subscribe. Use of these sources should be encouraged as a member prepares for Extemporaneous Speaking events. Such material should clearly indicate source (web site or other originating source) of the information. And as with other reference material, if the member uses quotes, etc. in the speech, that material should be properly cited.

Q. One of our members is preparing a 4-H Poster Communication exhibit with the theme “Only at the Fair”. Since this is the Iowa State Fair theme, does the poster need to relate 4-H to the fair, or can it be only around the idea that 4-H is “Only at the Fair”?

A. If a member wants to tie 4-H and fairs with this theme, go for it. If the member wants to communicate only a 4-H idea, great. Perhaps the member could identify 4-H activities that are “Only at the Fair”. Just don't use pre-existing logos/artwork other than the 4-H emblem on the poster (e.g. state conference logo, state fair logo). 4-H members should use the given themes and develop their own concept for the poster to promote 4-H.

Q. One of our members restored an antique rifle. Can this be exhibited at the county fair? State Fair?

Q. One of our members is doing an educational presentation on gun safety and wants to use a shotgun in the presentation. Is this allowed?

A. Probably Yes for county fair; No for state fair. (However, please check with your county fairboard or other exhibition location to see if they have policies restricting firearms in 4-H exhibits.)

We believe it is quite appropriate for members interested in guns/gun safety/hunting/wildlife, etc. to prepare exhibits or give educational presentations on gun safety and related topics. If the member wants to display a gun at your county fair as part of an exhibit, we encourage a discussion with the member about how to safely display the gun. This includes safety for the viewing public, and safety of the exhibit, not unlike safety with other valuable items on exhibit. This would include not exhibiting any ammunition, removing gun parts as needed to make the gun inoperable, installation of trigger locks, and securing the gun as needed. As with other valuable exhibit items, the member should be aware that while county extension staff will attempt to display the item as securely as possible, there is always some possibility, despite your best efforts, of damage to and/or theft of exhibit pieces.

For an educational presentation at the county, much the same. The member should bring the gun cased, trigger locks installed, and it should be inoperable. Leave the ammo at home. I often suggest the member check the gun in with extension staff when they arrive, obtain it in time for the presentation, and then remove the gun from the presentation area and secure it in their vehicle immediately when finished.

There is no reason not to select a qualified exhibit or presentation using firearms for the state fair. However, the Iowa State Fair policy is no firearms (or other weapons) on the fairgrounds during the Iowa State Fair. We have asked about their use in exhibits and educational presentations, and the State Fair Patrol has consistently said no means no. There is not an exception during the state fair for the 4-H building, no matter what security precautions we might offer. The member will need to modify his presentation to use a model or some other prop to substitute for the gun. We realize this is sometimes a little awkward for the 4-H'er, but believe our members are resourceful and will make the best of the situation. For an exhibit, the member will exhibit any poster, display, report, etc. documenting the restoration process (or other topic), but the firearm must remain safely at home.

State fair judges have been instructed in the past, and will be again, about state fair policy, and that the 4-H member is not to be penalized during the evaluation of an exhibit or presentation because they are unable to use the firearm as they did at the county.

Q. A 4-H member giving an educational presentation at the state fair wants to use part of his exhibit selected for the state fair in his presentation. Can he do this?

A. Yes. Because the item will be removed from display for only a brief period, he can use the item in his state fair communication event. Have the member inform our staff during the communication event check-in that an exhibit is needed for the presentation, and where the exhibit is located. The member should not remove the item on his own. Our building and communication staff will assist the member in removing the item for use in the presentation, and replacing the item as soon as the presentation is completed.

Q. Can I use a frosting made with dairy products in my educational presentation?

A. As long as you follow food safety guidelines and practice safe handling and storage procedures, sure. Refrigerators are available for the storage of ingredients prior to preparation. It would be best to bring your ingredients in unopened, sealed containers. Be sure to maintain proper temperature during transport to the fair. Any product prepared during an educational presentation is consumed immediately after preparation. Members need to follow safe handling and preparation practices, and be prepared to thoroughly discuss those practices with the presentation judge, as well as demonstrate safe practices (during the presentation) to the viewing audience.

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Graphics used by permission of Iowa State Fair