About the 4-H Fair
The Hartford County 4-H Fair is the highlight of the year for many 4-H’ers. It is held for 3 days in August. At the fair, the 4-H member can submit their record book and display project(s) worked on. Any project can be submitted as the proper record sheet has been completed, even if the project was worked on at home and not in a formal project group.
If a member is showing an animal at the fair, the animal is brought to the show and cared for by the 4-H member. The 4-H member and the animal are not only judged on showmanship in the show ring but also Herdsmanship – how well the animal is displayed and cared for while at the fair.
Each project entered in the fair, including the record book, is judged. Ribbons, rosettes, trophies, and premium money are awarded. The more projects you submit, the more ribbons and awards you are eligible for. In addition to winning awards, the fair is a wonderful experience, and every youth member has great fun while learning.
What are Record Books
Record books are designed to chronicle a 4-H member’s year in 4-H. The books should be worked on throughout the year. The pages of the book can be found on the county 4-H web site and are in a fill in the blank format. Record sheets should be started in the beginning of the year, as it should outline what the 4-H member hopes to learn or improve upon. For each project the member participates in, a project sheet is completed. This portion helps the member to keep track of what the project is and how much it cost. The member completes the book with a reflection as to what worked in the project, what didn’t work, what was learned by the experience and what 4-H means to them.
The record books are submitted and judged at the 4-H Fair along with the project itself. The record book is a requirement for any project submitted to the Fair.
In the beginning, completing Record Sheets can seem a little overwhelming, but leaders and older members can help you out! Don’t hesitate to ask for help. As the 4-H’ers work with the record book, they learn organization, goal-setting, cost and time management, all valuable life skills!