Perry Harvest Fair

Updated August 8, 2019

Perry Harvest Fair 2019

Location: Perry, Maine, Community Building, Route 1

Date: October 5, 2019

Time: 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

4-H Exhibit Information

Exhibit Rules:

Individual Exhibit entries are open to all enrolled 4-H members ages 5 to 19. 4-H members ages 5 to 8 are considered Cloverbuds. 4-H Cloverbuds may submit entries for non-competitive display to the exhibition hall. 4-H members ages 9 to 19 may submit entries for Danish system judging.
Each Washington County 4-H Club and School are encouraged to have a Group Exhibit at the fair. This display, which should fit on a 4’ x 4’ table space, can feature projects from the 2018-2019 program year or can be a general display about your group. All aspects of your group display should be new from this current 4-H year (October 2018 to September 2019). The theme this year will be “4-H Seeds for Success”. Please read and review the Point System for judging the group displays. Points have been lost on wonderful displays in the past because details were missed. First place will receive $15. All other clubs will receive $10. Only one exhibit per group is allowed.
Individual 4-H’ers may exhibit items produced and/or prepared by him/her during the current 4-H year. No kits will be accepted, except in the mechanical sciences/robotics category for projects involving models.
Members may enter two individual exhibits. The two exhibits may be in two different project areas, or in any one project area as long as the exhibits are in different media or forms (examples: vegetable garden –- enter two types of vegetables; sewing –- one apron and one pillow; art – one watercolor and one drawing, but not two watercolors). Please keep in mind that quality is being judged, not quantity. A maximum of two individual exhibits per 4-H member will be accepted.
Please call in your entries to the office by Friday, September 20, 2019, so that we can prepare sufficient space at the fair. Call the Washington County Extension office at 207.255.3345 or 800.287.1542 (in Maine) or email Tara at tara.a.wood@maine.edu.
Each entry must have a completed 4-H Exhibit/Judging Card and Life Skills Card securely attached to it. Cards should be obtained from the Extension office before the fair. We are happy to send them out to you when you call or email us and let us know how many you need. Attach the card with string or paperclip only (no tape please as judges need to write on the cards and removal of the tape may ruin the exhibit). The cards must be filled out neatly by the 4-H member before entering the item for competition.
Notice to Leader or Parent: Any special circumstances should be noted with a sticky note explanation attached to the Exhibit Card.
The fair will afford the best protection possible for project exhibits. However, the University of Maine Cooperative Extension and the Perry Harvest Fair distinctly disclaim any liability for loss or damage to exhibits. There are no security services available it the exhibit building.
Exhibits will be accepted on Friday, October 4, between 3:30 and 5:00 p.m. ONLY. Entries will not be accepted for judging at any other time on October 4 or 5. Items not submitted during this time period will not be considered for premiums or Cloverbud honorariums. If you are unable to deliver the exhibits at this time but would like to bring them to the Extension office prior to October 5th, all efforts will be made to get them to the fair for judging. This will be based on a first-come, first served basis, so please contact the office ahead of time if you choose this option.
Judging will be based on the “modified Danish system.” (See below for more information.) Each worthy exhibit will be awarded a ribbon and premium based on how well it displays the appropriate skills for a member’s age and skill level, with the exception of Cloverbuds. Cloverbuds will receive a participation ribbon for every item they exhibit in the Exhibition Hall, and one honorarium for their overall participation (thus, if a Cloverbud enters 2 exhibits, he/she will receive 2 ribbons and one honorarium). Cloverbuds will not be included in the judging process but will receive positive comments on their exhibit cards.
Exhibits must be taken from the 4-H Hall between 3 and 4 p.m. on Saturday, October 5th. If you would like a 4-H staff person to bring your exhibit(s) back to the Extension office in Machias, please let us know beforehand.

Don’t forget to call the Extension office to order Exhibit/Judging and Life Skills Cards for your hall entries. Thanks!

Point System for Judging Club Displays:

Club displays will be judged on the following qualities:

Exhibit Theme
Does exhibit express ONE idea and carry it out? 20 pts.
Exhibit Title
A good catchy title helps. It should be prominently placed with the
largest lettering of the entire exhibit 15 pts.
Lettering
Quality and size of all lettering 15 pts.
Originality
Was imagination used?; Appropriate color and/or motion used?; Was it interactive, informative, and/or novel? 25 pts.
Size of Articles on Display
Can objects be recognized at a distance of 6 feet? 15 pts.
4-H Exhibit & Judging card & Life Skills Wheel
Were the official cards attached and filled out? 10 pts.

Tie breaker:

4-H Experience
10 pts.
Displays will also be judged on how well they exemplify the 4-H Experience (activities, actions, and principles of the Life Skills Model such as nurturing relationships, communication, keeping records, community service, problem solving, healthy lifestyle choices, self-responsibility, marketable skills, community service, etc.). The points earned from this category will only be used in the case of a tie.

Guidelines Upon Which Individual Exhibits Will Be Judged:

Judging is done on what we call the “modified Danish system,” which means we may award a blue ribbon, or red or white, to as many exhibits as judged worthy, based on the judges’ understanding of what may be expected from a member of a particular age and years of experience in the project, and on how well the exhibit follows the fair rules. The 4-H members are not competing against one another, but rather are judged on how well they achieve their potential for their age and experience, and on how well they follow the 4-H rules.
The judges’ goal is to be as positive, affirming and constructive as possible while holding exhibitors to the fair rules and the tradition of 4-H to “make the best better.” We make the best better by encouragement — by complimenting aspects of the exhibit that are well done and constructively suggesting ways it might be improved.
Judges’ comments will be written on the exhibit card. A blue ribbon deserves at least one specific, positive comment. A red ribbon deserves one constructive suggestion as well as at least one positive comment. A white ribbon deserves two constructive suggestions as well as one positive comment. We encourage judges to be specific: “Your stitching is very even,” “Your design is very creative,” and “Your printing is legible and clear” are more helpful than a simple “well done.” Judges must find something to comment positively on before writing suggestions such as, “This could be improved by tightening the stitches/wiping off the excess glue” or whatever it would need to receive a blue ribbon.
The judges may mark the award down one ribbon if the exhibit card is not complete. This action will be explained in a comment.

Recognition For Cloverbuds: There will be only specific, positive comments on their exhibit cards. At this young age, we want youth to receive positive feedback to encourage future participation and build self-esteem. Each Cloverbud will receive a dollar coin honorarium for their participation and a green ribbon for each entry.

Recognition For 9- to 19-year-old 4-H members: Ribbons and premiums will be as follows:

Blue Ribbon/First Place: $5
Red Ribbon/Second Place: $3
White Ribbon/Third Place: $1

Project Areas/Categories for Individual Exhibits:

Animal Care: Any item made about an animal (ex: photo, story); any item made for an animal (ex: tack box); or any animal product (ex: 6 clean eggs, a sheepskin vest).
Art: Any original drawing or painting, suitable for hanging. Any medium or mixed media may be used. Should be framed, matted, or mounted on posterboard/cardstock. May be fitted with hangers or be able to be displayed on a stand supplied by the exhibitor.
Citizenship and Community Service: Display or 14 x 22 inch poster illustrating a member’s community service project; or the importance of voting (for example); or a collection of historic or related items; or four photos that tell a story, with individual labels.
Conservation and Natural Resources: Mounted drawings or photos that tell a story illustrating conservation issues; recycling – a labeled display or model illustrating the concept; item made from something found in nature (ex: log made into birdhouse or bench).
Crafts: Basketry; candle/soap making; ceramics and pottery; decorative/tole painting; fabric painting; felt crafts; glass etching; holiday crafts; jewelry; macramé; paper mache; any other craft approved by your leader or mentor.
Fiber Arts: Crocheted item; felted item; knitted item; rug; spinning; weaving.
Food and Nutrition: Specific food item – any nonperishable food item such as bread, bars, brownies or cookies made entirely from scratch by the 4-H member.
Food Preservation: Canned – Beginner: 1 jar of either vegetable, fruit, jam, jelly, pickles, or conserves. Intermediate: 3 jars, each different produce. Advanced: 5 jars, each different produce. Note: Low acid foods must be pressure-canned. Dried – Beginner: 1 sample of dried fruit, vegetable, or meat (can be smoked). Intermediate: 3 samples of dried food. Advanced: 5 samples of dried food.
Forestry and Forest Conservation: Six mounted photographs of forestry practices; or a collection related to forestry or forest conservation (beginner: collection of leaves, needles, or twigs of at least 10 different species labeled with common names; intermediate: collection of 10 seeds of different species labeled with common names; advanced: collection of 4 disease-, insect-, or animal-damaged specimens); or display of some phase of industrial forestry.
Knitting: Beginner: an article made using one or two different stitches. Intermediate: an article made using two or more different stitches. Senior: An article using three or more different stitches.
Mechanical Sciences/Robotics: Rocketry, space, or airplane models made by the 4-H member; or an electrical project, such lamp-making or wiring; or a welding project; or a robotics project.
Photography: A) Single photo, black and white or color, of high quality, illustrating techniques of photography (good lighting, “rule of thirds,” composition, contrast, special effects), enlarged to a 5×7 or 8×10-inch print. Panoramas are also acceptable. B) Photo story using 3 to 6 photos (at least 3×5-inch) showing a “how-to” sequence or “before and after” scenes. All photo exhibits should be mounted on mat or poster board to complement the photo and be ready for hanging. This work should be completed by the 4-H member.
Plant Science and Crops: Displays of specific vegetables, crops, or fruits – berries or grains, 1 pint; small vine crops such as peas or beans, 10 specimens; large vine crops such as cucumbers, pumpkins, or squash, one specimen; root crops such as potatoes or carrots, three specimens; vegetables grown in heads such as cabbage and broccoli, one specimen; other vegetables such as corn, tomatoes, or peppers, three specimens; forage crops. Flower gardening and house plants – garden flowers; potted houseplants; or potted herbs. Note: Please write the variety on the display card.
Sewing and Needlecrafts: Any item of clothing or household item sewn completely by the 4-H member; any other item is sewn by the member; any embroidered item made by the 4-H member; any quilted item made by the 4-H member.
Veterinary Science: A poster displaying the parts of an animal, normal vital signs, diseases, plants that are poisonous to the animal, genetics, and/or nutrition for the animal.
Wildlife: A display of labeled sketches or photos of wildlife that the 4-H member studied; or casts of animal tracks that the member made; or items the member made for wildlife use (birdhouses, feeding stations, etc.); or a labeled display of collected items.
Woodworking: A project built from wood (suggestions: beginner – bookends or rack, napkin-, key-, letter-, bag-, or broom-holder, birdhouse, cutting board, picture frame, bootjack, or stilts; intermediate – toolbox, footstool, bench, candleholder, game, spice rack, tie rack, or telephone shelf; advanced – gun rack, toys, garage creeper, shoeshine kit, knife rack, or equivalent); or a woodcarving project; or a detailed woodworking plan.
Writing: A collection of poems; or a short story; or a journal; or an illustrated story. Entries should be neatly presented, and if not typed, should be printed legibly.
Creativity Unlimited: Any exhibit made entirely by the 4-H’er during the current 4-H year that is not covered under another project category in these rules. The exhibit project must have the approval of the 4-H’er’s leader or project mentor.