Fair Entry Rules

4-H Club work in Oklahoma was first exhibited at the Oklahoma State Fair in 1910, which makes this the
116th year of 4-H involvement. The Fair exhibits have been an important part of the 4-H Youth Development Educational Program, allowing young people the incentive to achieve and then to be recognized for outstanding achievement.
The major goal of 4-H is the individual development of youth in personal, leadership and positive citizenship skills expressed throughout life in the home, school, state, nation and world.
The 4-H exhibits and activities at the State Fair are planned to reflect the many phases of 4-H and the use of projects in the development of youth. The public is invited to visit the 4-H exhibits to observe the accomplishments of 4-H youth.

Eligibility of Exhibitors

Exhibition in this department is limited to Oklahoma 4-H members who have been enrolled and actively participating in the program for a minimum of 30 days prior to this State Fair, and who meet the following requirements:

Each county must enter and exhibit all members’ entries in sections 4300-4325 at the one state fair they designate. Unless the State 4-H Office is notified in writing by July 1, it is understood that the county will exhibit at the same fair as in the previous year.
All 4-H exhibits must be entered by County Extension Educators.
Members should be enrolled in the project area to exhibit.
The 4-H member should enter the class that matches his/her grade (grade as of September 1 of the 4-H year.) *If youth are in 3rd grade they must have been 8 years old before September 1*.
All exhibits must have been made and completed by the exhibitor during the previous 4-H year and cannot be entered more than one time, except for classes which are collections that are added to in successive years.
4-H members who enter crops and horticulture must be able to prove that such crops entered in the 4-H member’s name were produced by the member.

Entry Summary Information

Each county may enter one (1) entry per class.
All exhibits must have been entered and won first place at exhibitor’s home county fair.
If exhibitors’ entry contains more than one piece (i.e.: two pillowcases, two bookends) please label each piece with exhibitor name, county, and piece number (1 of 2, 2 of 2).

Responsibility for All Exhibits

4-H exhibits at the Oklahoma State Fair are entered and displayed at the risk of the exhibitor. The 4-H program of Oklahoma State University, in cooperation with the Board of Directors, Oklahoma State Fair, accepts exhibits and will exercise due care to protect them. However, neither the 4-H Program nor the Oklahoma State Fair can accept responsibility for loss or damage to any exhibit due to the conditions imposed by large crowds, the arrangement of buildings in which exhibits are housed or the large number of exhibits. Members who have exhibits of great sentimental and/or monetary value should carefully consider whether such exhibits should be exposed to the hazards of the fair.

Copy Written Material and Referencing Sources

All 4-H exhibits should be the original work of the 4-H member. When information is taken from books, publications, magazines or from the internet, it should be expressed in the 4-H members own words. The 4-H member must reference the source of the information by using an asterisk (*) or a number (if more than one) and name the actual source at the end or bottom of paper, poster or educational display following an asterisk or corresponding number in text.
No copyrighted or trademark protected written or visual material (pictures, photos, drawings, illustrations, etc.) should be used from books, magazines, publications, professional photographers, or from the internet without permission from the original creator. If the 4-H’er applies for and is granted permission to use a copyrighted or trademark protected item, a copy of the permission form or letter needs to be attached to the back of the exhibit and properly cited with an asterisk (*) or number.

Signing and Dating Exhibits

Exhibits should be permanently signed and dated, in an inconspicuous location, if material permits. Some exhibits that should be signed and dated are posters, most expressive arts including fine art, ceramics, woodworking and woodcrafts, herbarium cards, seed boards, forestry exhibits and model rocketry. Judge or judging committee may permanently mark exhibit with fair and year (for example: OK State Fair 2025), if not signed and dated.

Educational Displays

All educational displays must have stable, freestanding backs with sides attached. This includes Sec. 4301 and educational displays in specific project areas. Size requirements for all display board is 36” x 48”. Educational displays must be 3-dimensional.
Do not include valuables, food items that will spoil or potentially harmful products (such as aspirin, cleaning products, chemicals, etc.) in any educational display. Neither the Oklahoma State Fair nor the 4-H program can accept responsibility for loss of valuables. Potentially harmful products will be discarded. Text of displays should be readable from at least 10 ft. away.
Displays in section 4301 must include the 4-H Clover or mention 4-H.

Posters

All posters must be constructed on poster board 14" x 22" (1/2 of a poster board). They may be horizontal or vertical. Poster may be produced by any medium — watercolor, ink, crayon, acrylic, charcoal, collage, computer, etc. — Posters must be flat. Do not use 3-dimensional pieces on posters. Posters will be judged on 1) educational idea portrayed, 2) public appeal, and 3) creative and original ability presented. Copyrighted or trademarked cartoon characters or other designs must not be used due to copyright restrictions.
For display purposes, exhibitors are encouraged to laminate all posters or cover them with clear plastic film. Posters must be signed and dated on the back with a permanent marker before laminating. If not marked, the judging committee may mark or punch. All posters must be flat (no 3-dimensional posters). Text of posters should be readable from at least 10 ft. away.
Posters in section 4300 must include the 4-H Clover or mention 4-H. Posters in other sections/classes are encouraged to but are not required to include the 4-H Clover or mention 4-H unless requested in section/class description.

Awards and Displaying

Ribbons will be placed to top 10 in each class. Premiums will be paid on the top 3 places in each class as follows: 1st Place: $7; 2nd Place: $5; 3rd Place: $3 unless otherwise stated under the category.
The 4-H superintendents reserve the right to display only 1st through 10th place exhibits or less as space allows