Projects/Project WorkQ: I did not receive a project Manuel - what do I do?
Due to COVID-19, the 4-H Extension warehouse has been closed. Most projects do not require project books in normal circumstances. For the select few that due, the State 4-H office is aware of the issue and have made the necessary adjustments. After reading the Showbook, please read the Virtual Show Changes document to see what accommodations have been made.
Note on Cooking 101, 201, 301, 401 - The recipe is still required. If you did not receive a cooking book, we can send you a PDF copy of the recipes! Q: Will the judges be able to taste my food project?
As judging will take place virtually, no food items will be tasted by the judges. This is in compliance with policies set my Campus and Illinois 4-H regarding the suspension of in-person events through July. The judges will focus their attention on other aspects of your project, such as your execution and knowledge. Give your food item to someone you love!
Q: What are the copyright guidelines for projects? Can I make a project on pinterest?
Great question! Copyright guidelines are important to follow in your projects. Simply put, projects should not infringe on the rights of anyone or use material without permission. More specifically, you cannot copy projects from Pinterest or elsewhere on the internet. For information on how Copyright impacts 4-H members, visit our Copyright Guide.
Q: For Photography, do they take a photo of their framed project image, or just upload the image they are submitting?
This has been a question asked throughout the state. After speaking with state fair photography judges, the photography superintendent at the State Office has released the following best practices:
Any three photos will be accepted as originally outlined, but the following is recommended:
Q: do we still have to take the YQCA training?
YQCA is still required for anyone with a live animal for the following species: Beef, Swine, Sheep, Goats, Dairy cows, and Dairy goats. This is the educational component for livestock, food safety and animal welfare, not just an exhibition/fair requirement!
On-line training for YQCA is available at: http://yqca.org Q: FOR BINDER PROJECTS (I.E., SCRAPBOOKS, CITIZENSHIP, ETC), CAN EXHIBITORS GO OVER THE SLIDE COUNT LIMIT?
No – slide limits must be abided by and judges will only judge up to the limit and will not judge any slides over this (example: a project has a max of 20 slides. If 25 slides are submitted, the judge will only judge the first 20). Exhibitors have free range to design the slides in any way they would like to show off their project.
In the case of binder projects/scrapbooks, the exhibitor must be selective to stay within the limits. Much like in college, when students must abide by page/word count limits, exhibitors must do the best they can to curate their best self within the confines of exhibit requirements. Q: CAN I ADD AUDIO OR VIDEOS TO MY SLIDESHOWS
No. Due to technology considerations on the part of our judges, any audio/video embedded in powerpoints/slides will not be viewed per the recommendation given by the State 4-H Office.
Q: Some projects have two asterisks (**) next to them - what does this mean?
Great question! There are a few projects on the virtual show spreadsheet which have asterisks next to them. This is an internal indicator for State 4-H staff and can be ignored by members.
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FairEntry/Virtual FairQ: What if I have Bandwidth/internet issues?
We are very aware that internet and bandwidth issues are very real and a valid concern for many. The FairEntry system was designed to be very accessible to many and the requirements for videos, which use more bandwidth, are not the norm (there are only a handful of projects that require videos). You may also use FairEntry on your mobile device and utilize mobile data.
Here are several other alternatives for those that are concerned about wifi and bandwidth:
Q: Why are you not requiring face-to-face judging?
Due to the diverse circumstances of members, we are not requiring or holding face-to-face judging as Zoom and video conferencing platforms have a significant bandwidth and wifi requirement - which would be a major stumbeling block for those that do not have internet, cannot afford high speed internet, or have internet/bandwidth issues.
Instead, we are opting for optional group face-to-face time over Zoom with participating judges who will provide more general feedback and answer questions after they have judged all projects. If your judge will be participating in this opportunity, we will let you know! Q: How will we be fair with 4-H judging? Photos don't capture everything
We know that this method of judging is not without some flaws, but we also know that all youth will have the opportunity to decide which aspects of their project to show (one seam vs another) or get multiple takes of a video (doing a pattern multiple times to practice). So in this way no one is getting an advantage that is not available to everyone.
We also understand that youth will work to get the best version of their project, and that is okay. Just like we have youth review resumes and scholarships to curate their best self on paper, they will be working to curate the best view of their project. We encourage youth to take multiple pictures or videos and get feedback on which are the best to present. Q: Will all projects be published PUBLICLY? If my family has a personal concern with this publicity, can we opt out?
All 4-H exhibits will be posted online for public viewing for 1-2 weeks after judging is complete. Select exhibits may be invited for longer viewing.
Any member not wishing their exhibit to be posted for public viewing should indicate this by EMAIL to the local county office. Those requests will be honored with the understanding that this makes the exhibit INELIGIBLE to receive Ag Premium Funds (both at county fairs and at state fair if selected). A requirement for premium funds is that the exhibits are publicly viewable. Illinois Department of Agriculture Disclaimer: “State Statute 3-ILCS 120/14(d) from Illinois Department of Agriculture says that “awards are subject to modification or cancellation in any year for which the General Assembly fails to make an appropriation to fund the premiums.” Q: FairEntry is blank or I am getting a weird error - how do I fix it?
FairEntry is a dynamic system which can sometimes interfere with certain browsers. Please contact us and we can assist you! Please also screenshot or take photos of the issue and attach them to your email so we can visualize the error. Additionally, mention which browser and device you are using. If you are unsure, simply visit this website and copy-paste the link it gives you until your email: What browser am I using?
Q: Can I use Google Slides to create my project slides?
Yes! You can use Google Slides to create the slides for your project! The FairEntry system will only accept PDF, PPT, PPTX files so you will simply need to export your slides to PDF and then upload the PDF version in FairEntry. For a walk through of how to export your Google Slides as a PDF, watch the video here: https://youtu.be/AqRf6sbzlYU
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Other questions
Q: Why is 4-H Age eligibility not being extended - ESPECIALLY for completion members?
The question of 4-H age eligibility was discussed and a decision was made on the National and State level - below is the section from a statement released by the State 4-H Office:
"After consultation with the national 4-H program, extension of 4-H membership eligibility will not be offered to members currently in their final year of eligibility. We encourage all our completion members to take advantage of the online system."
We understand your frustration and we see you. We highly encourage all of our completion members (and all members) to take full advantage of this online show. We look forward when the day comes that we can celebrate you in person - please continue checking your email for celebrations we have coming up!
"After consultation with the national 4-H program, extension of 4-H membership eligibility will not be offered to members currently in their final year of eligibility. We encourage all our completion members to take advantage of the online system."
We understand your frustration and we see you. We highly encourage all of our completion members (and all members) to take full advantage of this online show. We look forward when the day comes that we can celebrate you in person - please continue checking your email for celebrations we have coming up!
Q: Will we still get premiums?
The State 4-H Office, in coordination with our local offices, is working with the Department of Agriculture to ensure virtual shows are compliant with Agriculture Premium Fund (APF) requirements. One of these requirements in public accessibility (which is why all photos will be published publicly*). As of right now, we have not heard anything out of the ordinary and we are preparing our APF requests just like every year which we request premiums. Note that, even in a "normal" year, premiums are never guaranteed and this year is no exception - premiums are dependent on the appropriations made by the General Assembly of the State of Illinois and the Department of Agriculture.
*Important note: If a family specifically requests in writing that they do not want their exhibit available publicly, those requests will be honored with the understanding that this makes the exhibit INELIGIBLE to receive Ag Premium Funds (both at county fairs and at state fair if selected)
Disclaimer: "The Department of Agriculture shall use its best efforts to secure sufficient appropriations to fund premiums. In any year for which the General Assembly of the State of Illinois fails to make an appropriation sufficient to pay such premiums, premium amounts may not be accurately reflected."
*Important note: If a family specifically requests in writing that they do not want their exhibit available publicly, those requests will be honored with the understanding that this makes the exhibit INELIGIBLE to receive Ag Premium Funds (both at county fairs and at state fair if selected)
Disclaimer: "The Department of Agriculture shall use its best efforts to secure sufficient appropriations to fund premiums. In any year for which the General Assembly of the State of Illinois fails to make an appropriation sufficient to pay such premiums, premium amounts may not be accurately reflected."
Q: If the situation improves, can we gather in small groups and judge?
No. 4-H is a program of the University of Illinois Extension which is the flagship outreach arm of the College of Agriculture, Consumer & Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois/Urbana-Champaign. Decisions regarding social distancing and the cancellation of in-person programs comes directly from Campus and we have no wiggle room in these guidelines. Currently, the University has canceled or transitioned online all programs (which includes 4-H shows/fairs) through the end of July.
The safety of our 4-H members, families, volunteers, & staff is most important and, though not ideal, we believe a virtual show will allow us to still have fun while being safe and comply with Campus policies.
The safety of our 4-H members, families, volunteers, & staff is most important and, though not ideal, we believe a virtual show will allow us to still have fun while being safe and comply with Campus policies.
Q: I am a member of the Media, do you have any information to provide?
Thank you for your interest! Press materials can be found on our Press page which includes media contacts, photos, news releases, and more! If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us! View Press Information
Q: I am a judge and have a question - who should I contact
Thank you so much for volunteering to judge for us! We really appreciate you! For questions about the judging process, please contact the 4-H Program Coordinator in your county:
KANKAKEE - Debra Koch - [email protected]
GRUNDY - Brooke Baker-Katcher - [email protected]
WILL - Anthony Warmack - [email protected]
KANKAKEE - Debra Koch - [email protected]
GRUNDY - Brooke Baker-Katcher - [email protected]
WILL - Anthony Warmack - [email protected]
View our town-halls for more FAQs
NOTE: These Town Halls are for education purposes only and information that they contain could be dated - any updated info that receive directly from the Extension Office replaces any contradicting info below. Please contact us with questions!
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