4-H Project Book Judging

4-H Project Book Judging Information (2025)

Project Book Judging & Interviews allow 4-H members to present their completed project & share what they've learned through project work. Many alumni credit 4-H for helping them build valuable life skills, such as the ability to interview! Please be sure to look at the general guidelines for the topic area as well as the project specific guidelines. All project guidelines are captured within the first few pages of your project book. ALL 4-H members must complete project book interviews to recieve a Fair Pass and exhibit in Junior Fair shows.

We want all 4-Hers to have a positive experience with the evaluation portion of their project. Please contact the Extension office to make arrangements for members with special needs so reasonable accommodations can be made. If you have a disability and have questions about accessibility or wish to request accommodations, please contact Maddie Allman at allman.68@osu.edu or 740-268-5044.

Please notify the Extension Office if your child us unable to judge at their scheduled interview time. Early and Makeup judging options are available.

PARENTS: Due to a lack of space in the Extension Office, once youth are checked in for their project interviews and seated in the waiting area, parents are asked to exit the space and wait in the hallway or in the car for their child. Parents are not allowed to enter the judging area with their children. Teen helpers and volunteers will assist youth back to the judging area if necessary. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding. If your child has a Winning 4-H Plan or needs accommodation, please contact Maddie.

4-H members will receive a carbon copy of their Project Book Interview Score sheet at the end of their interview. DISCLAIMER: Judges comments and indicators on the youth copies of the score sheets are NOT final and are subject to the judge's interpretation. Scores are debated and tallied at the end of the day. Winners are not announced until the 4-H Awards Ceremony at the Jackson County Fair.

Non-Livestock 4-H Projects - Monday, July 7th, 2025

Non-Livestock Project Judging for 2025 will take place Monday, July 7th at the Jackson County Extension Office. The judging schedule can be found below. Please be sure to plan for possible delays, as the judging process takes time and our judges want to make sure they spend an adequate amount of time with each exhibitor.

Check out the Ohio State Fair 4-H Project Judging Guidebooks for sample score sheets and more information about your specific non-livestock project area. Jackson County 4-H attempts to mimick the Ohio State Fair as closely as possible when it comes to non-livetock project judging.

Livestock 4-H Projects - Tuesday, July 8th, 2025

Livestock Project Judging for 2025 will take place on Tuesday, July 8th at the Jackson County Extension Office. The judging schedule can be found below. Please be sure to plan for possible delays, as the judging process takes time and our judges want to make sure they spend an adequate amount of time with each exhibitor.

2025 Livestock Project Display Theme: "Safe Handling of _____"

Exhibitors should study the safe handling section of their project's resource guide, as well as take inspiration from Quality Assurance Training, to create a display detailing the safe handling of their respective livestock project.

Livestock Project Book Judging Interviews are scheduled by Last Name. If your family has members with multiple last names, please bring all members together based on the primary last name (no need to split up families).However, in order to avoid long wait times, it is important that exhibitors arrive at their alloted time slot. Changing time slots is not permitted unless with prior approval and a valid excuse.

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Important Notes:

If a member is exhibiting multiple projects in the same species, both projects will be judged at the same time with the same judge (ONE interview). Interview time slots will be adjusted to be longer. Examples include:

Beef Feeder and Market Beef
Equine Record Book and Trial Riding (or other equine projects)
Market Lamb and Breeding Sheep
Market & Exhibition (fancy) Poultry (turkeys, chickens, & ducks)

If a member is exhibiting multiple projects in different species, projects will be judged seperately (multiple interviews). Examples include:

Market Rabbits and Market Chickens (two interviews, two different time slots)
Breeding Beef and Market Lambs (two interviews, two different time slots)

Notes for Equine Projects:

Beginner 4-H Equine exhibitors should first start with the Beginning Horse Management Book for the first 3-years of the project.
All other 4-H Equine Exhibitors should have purchased a 4-H Equine Project & Record Book. Any other equine projects a member has enrolled in (Trail Riding, Draft Horses, Roping, etc.) should be brought to that interview along with the Equine Project and Record Book.
All horse projects will be judged together in ONE interview.

Notes on FFA Projects:

"I am taking an ____ to the Fair as my FFA project. Why don't I see it on the list?" Project Book Judging & Interviews are a 4-H requirement, therefore FFA projects are not listed. Please check with your FFA advisor regarding FFA requirements.

Early & Make Up Project Book Judging

BY APPOINTMENT ONLY:

Early 4-H Project Judging: Friday, June 20th
Makeup 4-H Project Judging: Wednesday, July 1st*

*Members who complete early or makeup 4-H project judging are not eligible for Ohio State Fair Selection and Non-Livestock Awards, but are still elligible for Fair Passes, Livestock Exhibition, and County Fair Awards.

Please contact Maddie Allman at allman.68@osu.edu or 740-268-5044 to schedule an appointment.

Ohio State Fair 4-H Project Judging

Each year, delegates are selected to represent Jackson County in various 4-H project areas at the Ohio State Fair. If you are selected, information will be shared with you. Jackson County 4-H Ohio State Fair Delegates should attend the Ohio State Fair Orientation Meeting to receive their passes and information.

Click HERE to read important information about exhibiting 4-H non-livestock projects at the Ohio State Fair!