State Contests

4-H State Contests

State Contests, held yearly on Utah State University’s campus, 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 of a savings bond or State Contests winner jacket. Certain competitions will sometimes have other prizes such as a serger, given every year to the winner Fashion Revue. Many then allow 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 for 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 dealing with one of the three mission mandates- 1) Science, Engineering and Technology, 2) Healthy Living Education, or 3) Citizenship. Presentation should not exceed 20 min. (May win once in all 3 areas). Guidelines
	4-H Public Speaking – Contestants give a 6-8 minute original speech specifically related to their 4-H experience. Are you interested in seeing an example of a winning speech? Click here to view the winner of the 2009 State Contests Public Speaking Contest. (if you'd like to save this video, right click and 'save target as' or 'save link as' to save to your desktop. Click here to view the great "how to" video created by Extension/4-H Agents, Anita Raddatz and Vernon Parent. 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
	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 - Discovering Delicious and Nutritious Desserts – Expand your cooking knowledge with this fun three hour hands-on workshop, where participants will learn and make tasty and healthy desserts. No previous cooking experience necessary. Guidelines
	Consumer Bowl - Participants work as a team to answer various from all sections of family consumer sciences - foods & nutrition, clothing & textiles, financial management, consumer decision making, and child care. Download the materials which questions are taken from. 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
	Fashion Revue – Contestants are judged on clothing construction, modeling, fit, confidence, poise, and how well they respond in an interview during the modeling portion. Click here for some suggestions on help writing commentary. Click here to view the 2009 State Contest Fashion Revue. Also, click here to view the great "how to" video created by Extension/4-H Agents, Anita Raddatz and Vernon Parent. Guidelines word version
	Green Scene – Discover how teens can help take care of our planet through simple activities. Investigate energy by racing solar cars, make a reusable lunch/grocery bag and many other fun, hands on activities are in store.
	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. For a demonstration of the Horse Bowl, watch this roleplay so you can have an idea of the format. 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 talk 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
	Project Redesign- Fashion with a Cause Track – 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 of what participants created in the 2009 State Contests Project Redesign. Also, click here to view the great "how to" model video created by Extension/4-H Agents, Anita Raddatz and Vernon Parent. Guidelines
	Quilting Demo – Contestants will construct a quilt and demonstrate a skill or method used in the construction of the quilt. Contestants will be judged on quilt construction and the demonstration. Guidelines
	Rockets & Robots Track – In the Rockets & Robotics track we will have a blast as we launch robots, test robots and learn about all kinds of robot and rocket competitions your 4-H club can get involved in.
	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 – New Rules: Contestants are to develop short film using their choice of music and video production techniques including, but not limited to, video footage, still photography, computer animations or a combination of techniques. Check out the examples from a the 2010 State Contest Winner from Uintah County.wmv, as well as couple of the 2009 State Contests participants: Salt Lake County.wmv & Utah County.wmv Counties must request equipment ex. 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