4-H Handbook
2025 4-H & Youth Development Handbook
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.
- 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.
- For each class, entries are limited to one per individual. For other pertinent information relative to projects being exhibited, refer to the specific sections, classes, and respective project curriculum.
- 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
If exhibitors entry contains more than one piece (ie: 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 Wagoner County Fair are entered and displayed at the risk of the exhibitor. The 4-H Program and Wagoner County Fair accepts exhibits and will exercise due care to protect them. However, neither the 4-H Program nor the Wagoner County 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.
Exhibit Take-In
Exhibits will be checked in for judging on Monday, August 25th, 2025, Noon to 7 p.m., and Tuesday, August 26th, 8 a.m. to noon.
Releasing of Exhibits
4-H Exhibits will be released Friday August 29 at 6 p.m. Exhibits must be carried out during this release time. Larger exhibits requiring a trailer or pickup may make special arrangements before or after fair hours. All exhibits must be out of the building by 7 p.m., unless arrangements have been made with fair officials.
Copy Written Material & 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.
Educational Displays
All educational displays must have stable, freestanding backs with sides attached. This includes Sec. 301 and educational displays in specific project areas. Size requirements for all display board is 36” x 48”. Educational displays must be 3-dimensional.
First place educational displays will be exhibited. Subsequent placing displays will be displayed as space allows.
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 Wagoner County 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. When using the official clover with H's, the tail should curve to the right and the words 18 U.S.C. 707 must appear under the lower right leaflet, unless poster and clover are hand drawn. For more information on proper use of the 4-H clover please refer to 4-H Clovers and Emblems page.
Posters
All poster boards must be backed with foam board for display purposes. This can be done after making the poster or the poster can be made directly on the correct sized (14” x 22”) foam board.
Posters 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
- educational idea portrayed
- public appeal, and
- 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.
Note: 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.
When using the official clover with H's, the tail should curve to the right and the
words 18 U.S.C. 707 must appear under the lower right leaflet, unless poster and clover
are hand drawn. For more information on proper use of the 4-H clover please refer
to 4-H Clovers and Emblems page.
Signing & 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: WCF 2025), if not signed and dated.
Required Trademark Designation for Use of 4-H Clover
When using the official clover with H's, the tail should curve to the right and the words 18 U.S.C. 707 must appear under the lower right leaflet, unless poster and clover are hand drawn. For more information on proper use of the 4-H clover please refer to 4-H Clovers and Emblems page.
Awards & Displaying
Only 1st through 5th place exhibits will be displayed (unless space allows) with the exception of educational displays. Educational displays will be displayed at the discretion of the Fair committee.