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State Contests

4-H State Contests

State Contests is held yearly on Utah State University’s campus. It is a collection of youth in grades 9 – 12 whose talents have earned them the privilege of competing against each other for the title of being a state champion often leading them to national competitions.

State Contests offers most topics available in county 4-H clubs and gives youth a reason to excel in the skills 4-H has taught them. Competing on the state level usually means that the youth has already won competitions on the county level. Contests range from Fashion Revue, Shooting Sports, Livestock Competitions, and Technology-related fields such as GPS and Video Production.

Winners of the state competitions usually have a choice between a savings bond or State Contests winner jacket. Certain competitions will also have other prizes. For example a serger is given every year to the winner Fashion Revue. Many contests qualify the youth to compete in a National Competition.

State Contests is not just a friendly competition, but also a very social atmosphere. On the last evening of State Contests there is a dance that is followed by a late night party that allows everyone to relax and get to know each other after all the competitions.

To register for a State Contest: Proceed to the bottom of the page for registration documents and other important information concerning this event. Registration deadline in the State Office is July 1st. Please check with your county for qualifying dates.

Click on the links below each contest description to access forms, guidelines, and rules for the contest.

	4-H Demonstrations – Demonstration in one of the following four areas: 1) Consumer & Family Science (minus food), 2) Agriculture (minus Horse), 3) Science, or 4) Other. Presentation should not exceed 20 min. (May win once in all 4 areas). Guidelines Scorecard
	4-H Public Speaking – Contestants give a 6-8 minute original speech specifically related to their 4-H experience. Click here to view the winner of the 2009 State Contests Public Speaking Contest. (To save this video, right click and 'save target as' or 'save link as'.) Click here to view the great "how to" video created by Extension/4-H Agents, Anita Raddatz and Vernon Parent. Guidelines
	Be the Designer – Let the designer in you go wild in this 3 hour track! No sewing involved to create these outfits using redesign techniques. Click here for examples from 2009 and 2010 and 2011 State Contests (This competition will not be held during Centennial - please check out Leadermete workshops) Guidelines
	Chef Extraordinaire - An individual or team of two prepare and serve a meal for 4 guests and a judge within a three hour time limit. Guidelines Forms
	Chopped – A team of two 4-H Alumni, 4-H members (9th - 12th grades), or a combination shall plan a menu, prepare and serve a meal for four from ingredients provided to the contestants. (An individual may enter and will be assigned a partner.) Guidelines
	Congress Interviews – Participants prepare their 4-H Portfolio and submit it to the State 4-H Office by February 15th. The portfolios are then judged and the top individuals will be invited for an interview at State 4-H Contests. Guidelines
	Cooking Up Fun! Track - Spice things Up! – Expand your cooking knowledge with this fun three hour hands-on workshop, where participants will learn about seasonings and spices. They will be making a full meal and be able to apply what they've learned about seasonings. They will also learn about presentation. No previous cooking experience necessary. (This competition will not be held during Centennial - please check out Leadermete workshops) Guidelines
	Consumer Bowl - Participants work as a team to answer various questions from all sections of family consumer sciences - foods & nutrition, clothing & textiles, financial management, consumer decision making, and child care. Download the materials from which questions are taken Guidelines
	Fashion Consumer Strategies – Select and model an outfit for a set of judges, sharing decisions made in the selection of the outfit. They also demonstrate decision making skills in selecting the most suitable of three outfits. Click here to view the great "how to" video created by Extension/4-H Agents, Anita Raddatz and Vernon Parent. Guidelines word version
	Favorite Foods Contest - Participants are judged on selection, knowledge and presentation of a favorite food. Guidelines
	Healthy Cuisine Contest - An individual or team of two prepare and serve a healthy, complete meal, including clean up in one hour. Guidelines Forms
	Horse Bowl – Participants work as a team to answer various horse science oriented questions. Roleplay of Horse Bowl. Guidelines
	Horse Demonstrations – Demonstrations or skills or methods learned in any area in the 4-H Horse Project. Presentations should not exceed 20 minutes in length. Guidelines
	Horse Judging – Participants evaluate horses. Individual scores will be added to comprise a team score. Guidelines
	Horse Public Speaking – Participants prepare a 7 - 10 minute original speech on any appropriate topic related to the horse industry. Guidelines
	Impromptu Public Speaking – Contestants will give a 3 – 5 minute speech on a randomly selected topic. Guidelines
	Livestock Bowl – Participants work as a team to answer various livestock oriented questions. Guidelines
	Livestock Judging – Participants evaluate livestock: beef (market and breeding), sheep and swine. Individual scores will be added to comprise a team score. Guidelines
	Water & Wildlife CSI – Put your sluething skills to the test as we investigate natural resources crime scenes and attempt to solve the mystery. (This competition will not be held during Centennial - please check out Leadermete workshops)
	Sewing & Fashion Contest – Contestants will be judged on construction, personal presentation, and interview responses. The contestant may choose to display or model the article they have sewn. Click here for some suggestions on help writing commentary. Click here to view the 2009 State Contest Fashion Revue. Click here to view the great "how to" video created by Extension/4-H Agents, Anita Raddatz and Vernon Parent. Guidelines
	Science Palooza – Learn and compete in a variety of fun, hands on design challenges. Not only are they lots of fun but are activities you can use at 4-H camp, teen retreats and more. (This competition will not be held during Centennial - please check out Leadermete workshops)
	Shooting Sports – Each participant may compete in three shooting activities, an outdoor skills test, and complete a written test. The three shooting activities include: archery, rifle, and shotgun. Guidelines
	Talent – Participants in the State 4-H Talent Show performance in the categories of dance, piano, variety, vocal, and instrumental. Each performance should not exceed 5 minutes. Guidelines
	Video Production Track – Contestants are to develop a 3-5 minute video that showcases the 4-H Centennial Theme of “Utah 4-H, Celebrating the Past, Creating the Future”. Videos need to be submitted by July 9th to the State 4-H Office. Check out winner videos: 2011 State Contest Winner from Duchesne.wmv (to be added soon, please check back!) 2010 State Contest Winner from Uintah County.wmv, 2009 State Contests participants: Salt Lake County.wmv & Utah County.wmv Counties must request equipment (ie. Flip Camera and/or laptop) at time of registration for contest. Guidelines
	World of Work – Contestants submit a résumé and job application and then interview with human resource professionals. Click here for a great "how to" interview video put out by Extension/4-H Agents, Anita Raddatz and Vernon Parent. Guidelines word version