BOONE COUNTY FAIR YOUTH ARTS

Step Into Learning & Leadership

General Information

Boone County Fair:  Tuesday, July 16, 2024 - Saturday, July 20, 2024

Project Entry & Judging: Sunday, July 14, 2024:  1:30 pm - 3:30 pm for 4-H Club Members

           3:30 pm for Jr. Superintendents 

Pre-Fair Fun:  Monday, July 15, 2024:   Robotics Competition/Demonstration at 6:00 pm 

Pedal Tractor Pull

Achievement Day: Thursday, July 18, 2024:

May include: Fashion Revue

Demonstrations

Public Speaking

Theater Arts

Table Decor Exhibits

Show-Me Your Wares

Project Release: Sunday, July 21, 2024:  1:00 pm - 3:00 pm 

**Any projects that are not picked up during this time may be disposed of, unless prior 

arrangements have been made.

State Fair Projects:  Decisions are still being made regarding the receipt/transportation of State Fair 

projects.  Once this process is finalized, club leaders will be made aware. 

As a reminder, 4-H Members are limited to two items and one demonstration in the 

4-H Building at the Missouri State Fair.

Youth Arts Committee Chairperson - Sarah Nolke 573-881-4650 

Jr. Superintendents Chairperson - Brenda Wilsdorf 573-445-7415

4-H Youth Program Associate - Elizabeth Rush 573-445-9792

Field Specialist in 4-H Youth Development - Charles Holland 573-445-9792

Any changes to this information will be given to 4-H Club Leaders as soon as possible.

Youth Arts - Special Events 

Boone County Fair Youth Arts Theme Project:

This year’s Youth Arts theme is 4-H - Step into Learning & Leadership Any 4-H’er may create a project that relates to the theme to be displayed in the Youth Arts Building throughout the fair Theme Projects WILL NOT be judged for a specific project and will not be awarded ribbons or premium money.  They will not be eligible for the Missouri State Fair.

Table Decor Exhibits:

Table Decor is open to all 4-H’ers, you do not need to enroll in a specific project. Tables must be set-up during Project Entry and Judging on Sunday, July 14 and will remain on display throughout the fair. Members participating in Table Decor must be available during Achievement Day activities on Thursday, July 18 to discuss their chosen setting with a panel of judges

Please go to this link for ideas and guidelines (dates and contact information are not accurate for the Boone County Fair): 

https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/wayne/Lancaster%20Tablesetting%20Contest.pdf 

People’s Choice Awards:

This year, visitors to the Youth Arts Building will be able to vote for their favorite projects in the following categories: Boone County Fair Youth Arts Theme Project and Table Decor. Visitors will cast their votes using pennies!  All money will be donated to the non-profit organization, “Kids Helping Kids” Monetary awards will be given to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places in each category.  Awards will be given to the winning projects at Recognition Night.

Youth Arts Sweepstakes Trophy:

This traveling trophy will be given to the club with the highest percentage of projects being exhibition in the Youth Arts Building. The trophy will be awarded to the winning club at Recognition Night.

Show-Me Your Wares:

4-H Members are invited to sell their goods on Thursday, July 18 during the Achievement Day Activities, starting at 5:00 pm.  Goods must be the work of the seller!Members may start setting up their “shop” between noon and 4:00 pm on Thursday, July 18. Everything must be cleaned up/put away/torn down before leaving the Youth Arts Building that evening.Members will need to provide their own tables, stands, etc… to display their goods.  They will also need to provide their own tags/pricing guide. Members should have an adult with them throughout the event, as members will be paid directly for their goods.  This is for the safety of the 4-H member!

Youth Arts Rules & Regulations

1. Please have all 4-H Online project registrations completed by May 1.  This allows club leaders time to ensure that all members are in good standing before entries are submitted for Youth Arts projects. 

2. The entry deadline for Youth Arts will be the same as the deadline for showing livestock!  Once 

set, club leaders will be given the date to pass along to club members.   Youth may only register for projects in which they are currently enrolled in through 4-H Online. If a member intends to bring three items for judging in a specific project, all three items must be registered separately.  Youth will not be penalized for registering more projects than they actually enter for judging. 

3. Items must be made in the current year and must be the work of the 4-H member submitting them.  Items exhibited cannot be made using a school or camp curriculum.  Items made using resources from school or camp will be allowed; for example: extension cords made at camp cannot be entered but a painting using brushes from school can be entered. 

4. Entries in the Youth Arts division will be accepted from members of any Boone County youth organization, including FFA, FHA, 4-H, JFA, Campfire Girls, Boy Scouts, and Girl Scouts. Only entries submitted by members of a Boone County 4-H club will be eligible to be selected as State Fair winners. 

5. Project entry is Sunday, July 14, 2024 from 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm.  Projects will be judged using conference judging, a process which allows each exhibitor to be present and discuss their exhibit with a judge.  Projects entered by non-Jr. Superintendents after 3:30 pm may not be considered eligible for exhibition in the 4-H Building of the Missouri State Fair.  The building will CLOSE after all conference judging is completed and will OPEN to the public when the fair opens at 4:00 pm on Tuesday, July 16, 2024.

6. Items made by 4-H members should reflect the skills they have learned in their 4-H project, the needs and interest of the 4-H’er, and quality workmanship.  Members should use the 4-H project literature and “Clover” for ideas and criteria.  The Youth Arts committee has the right to reject any exhibit that they deem inappropriate for exhibition.  EACH MEMBER IS LIMITED TO THREE (3) ENTRIES PER PROJECT. 

7. Items are displayed at the risk of the 4-H member.  The Boone County Fair, Boone County 4-H, and the Junior Division of the Fair will not be responsible for the loss or damage to an exhibit, regardless of the reason. 

8. All exhibits may be “any item made”, unless otherwise stated.  The 4-H member may display any item made in their project.  This includes notebooks, file cards, photo displays, posters or educational displays.  Regardless of the project, the required dimensions for that type of item must be used.  Items that do not comply with size or other specifications will not receive a premium or ribbon. 

a. Notebook - use a three-ring binder with region, county, and name on the spine. 

b. Posters - posters can be no larger than 14”x22”, must be flat (no foam board), and any 3-D items shall not be more than 1/8” above the surface of the poster board. 

c. Educational Display - educational displays should not exceed 12” in height, 12” in depth and 14” in width, can include three-dimensional items, and must be free standing.  Posters with items taped to them do not qualify as educational displays.

d. Working Models - these exhibits should show how things actually work (cutaway sections of motors or computers) or can be used to help people identify parts, such as those of a motor or computer.  Working models should require floor space no larger than 24”x24”.

9. Perishable items such as food, vegetables, crops, and home grown items may not be returned after the fair.  Perishable items will be discarded throughout the fair when quality has deteriorated.  If a decorated cake is made with fondant and the fondant fails, the cake will be removed from display.  If an item is no longer suitable for exhibit, it will be removed and the tag with a card stating its removal will be left in its place.

10. Fire Hazard Prevention: After the entry has been judged and is on display, any exhibit that uses batteries, such as circuit boards or robots, should not have any wires connected to the battery; rather the wires should be taped behind the battery or tape should be placed over the ends of the battery. Another option: Do not attach a battery, but indicate “Battery Goes Here”. 

11. Judging and Awards: All judging of exhibits will be done on the basis of the Danish system, which includes blue, red and white ribbons.  If any premium money is awarded, it will be divided at a ratio of 3 points for a blue ribbon, 2 points for a red ribbon, and 1 point for a white ribbon. 

12. The number of exhibits designated for the Missouri State Fair from each project area is at the discretion of the judge based upon quality of the exhibits with the following exceptions: 

1) Photography - 10 entries to the State Fair 

2) Cake Decorating - 6 entries to the State Fair

3) Posters - 6 entries to the State Fair

4) Demonstrations - 15 entries to the State Fair

5) Working Demonstrations - 4 entries to the State Fair

13. Each 4-H member is limited to a total of two exhibits at the Missouri State Fair.  Missouri State Fair project selection is not made until after the final 4-H member has completed their judging.  If a member has more than two exhibits selected for State Fair, the member must make a decision regarding the two items they wish to send.  However, the Youth Arts Chairperson only needs to be notified in the event that one of their items is in any of the following categories; photography, cake decorating, posters, demonstrations, or working demonstrations.  At that time, an Alternate State Fair project will be chosen. 

14. All items going to exhibit at the State Fair need to be brought, by the 4-H member, to the 

Boone County Extension Center.  It is the responsibility of the 4-H member to pack State Fair items safely for transport.  Neither Boone County 4-H nor the Missouri State Fair are responsible for damage to any project displayed in the Missouri State Fair 4-H Building.  Items that are too large to display at the State Fair may submit a photograph, with final approval determined by the Boone County 4-H staff. 

15. Exhibits may not be removed, without prior permission, before the project release time on Sunday July 21, 2024 from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm.  The Boone County Fair, Boone County 4-H, and Junior Division cannot be held responsible for exhibits left after 3:00 pm on Sunday, July 21, 2024. 

16. 4-H Members that are 13 years of age or older are eligible to apply to be a Junior Superintendent.  More information will be available by early July regarding the application process.

17. Clover Kids, age 5 to 7 years old, will be allowed to show three (3) items. They will not receive any premium money but will receive participation ribbons. 

18. Boone County Youth Arts does not guarantee premium money, merchandise, prizes, or special awards will be given to any exhibitors.

Project Specific Rules

Any changes to previous rules are denoted by the use of bold print!

Amphibians, Reptiles, Livestock, Pets, etc…:

• No live animals may be used as a part of any project or exhibit in Youth Arts

Cake Decorating:

• Decorated cakes should not be real cakes, styrofoam forms are recommended 
• Cakes should not exceed 13” in height, width, or length - including the cake board
• Cake boards should be sturdy
• Only Royal Icing, rolled fondant, or a commercial, food-grade product that will harden and preserve the cake should be used
• Items such as pineapple tops, real flowers, or other perishable items should not be used as decorations
• Candy decorations may be used, but only if they are non-melting

Cookbooks, Notebooks, Scrapbooks, etc…:

• Should be a 1 page/1 side representation of the complete project
• Size should not exceed 12” x 12”
• Page should be in a clear protective sleeve or zipper bag
• Page should not be framed

Country-cured Hams:

• Members that are only entering their ham for the contest DO NOT need to enroll in Ham project when enrolling their projects for Youth Arts at the Boone County Fair.

Electricity, Robotics, etc…:

• Any item that requires the use of electricity or batteries must have the power source 

removed upon completion of judging.

Entomology and Geology:

• Box size must be no larger than 18” long x 24” wide and 3 ½” deep
• All boxes must have a clear display lid that is securely fastened, no open boxes
• All items inside the box should be named, labeled, and mounted to allow for boxes to be 

displayed horizontally, if necessary

Floriculture:

• Live plants or cut specimens must be displayed in a container no larger than 8” in diameterPlants or flowers may be fresh or dried, not silk or plastic, and must have been grown by the 4-H member.

Gardening and Foods:

• The 4-H member must have grown the fruits/vegetables being exhibited and/or made the food item being exhibited - a display of strawberries must have been grown by the 4-H member, but strawberry preserves can be made from store-bought strawberries.
• Items should be brought to the fair in disposable containers, this includes plates used for display 
• Items must be of reasonable quality to last more than one week - do not send casseroles, cream or fruit pies, items made with cream cheese, etc…
• Plating of all cookies, muffins, etc… should include four (4) items of similar size and shape on one plate, in addition to a tasting sample 
• An ingredient list should be included with prepared foods
• Mini-sized versions of cakes and breads are acceptable
• For specific requirements for plating of fruits, vegetables, biscuits, cookies, muffins, etc…, contact your project leader.

Photography:

• Photographs must be 8” x 10” or smaller
• Photographs MUST be mounted on a rectangular 8” x 10” matte board.
• Matte boards may be any color but MUST NOT have any cutouts
• Photographs should be in a clear protective sleeve
• Photographs should be clearly labeled in two places; small label on the bottom, right corner of the front of the sleeve, so as not to damage the photograph, with the title of the photograph and the club member’s name
• label on the back of the photograph with the title of the photograph, club member’s name, and 4-H club name
• For additional rules regarding digital editing, contact your project leader

Posters:

• Due to a decrease in the number of posters allowed to be displayed at the State Fair, members may only submit one (1) poster per project and no more than six (6) posters in total.

Shooting Sports:

• No live ammunition may be brought in for judging or display
• Remove all arrow points

Welding, Woodworking, and Other Large Exhibits:

• You may bring large items to be judged and displayed at the Boone County Fair, however, you might not be able to display them at the Missouri State Fair.  Prior approval for the display of large items must be granted through the State 4-H office.  Submitting a photograph of the large item is encouraged!

All other project rules and regulations can be found in the Clover Magazine, the Boone County Fair website, and the Missouri State Fair website.  For all additional questions and clarifications, contact your project and/or club leader.

Missouri 4-H Clover Magazine - https://extension.missouri.edu/programs/missouri-4-h/4-h-resources/clover-catalog

Boone County Fair - https://www.theboonecountyfair.com/

Missouri State Fair - https://www.mostatefair.com/

Missouri State Fair 4-H Building Guidelines - 2023 Rules https://www.mostatefair.com/wp-content/uploads/4h-building.pdf

Registration Coming Soon!