Multnomah County Fair

4-H Returns to Multnomah County Fair!

creating confident & proud kids

May 27-29, 2013

Free Admission and Free Parking

Eligibility

 All youth from Multnomah 4-H schools and clubs are encouraged to come join the fun. There is still time to finish your projects and head down to the fair over Memorial Day Weekend for fun and learning.  Even if you can't come to the fair, you can still submit your project to the fair for judging and awards. Check out all the details below.

Location

Oaks Amusement Park: 7805 SE Oaks Park Way Portland, Or 97202
at the foot of SE Spokane, Sellwood

Bringing Your Animal to Fair

Youth from 4-H clubs and schools are eligible to bring their animal projects to the fair for workshops, activities and judging. Here are a few guidelines for helping you prepare for the fair

• Animals should be healthy and have no signs of disease or injury
• Pens and shavings will be provided by the fair for the large livestock
• Each exhibitor is responsible for the care of his or her exhibit. This includes proper feeding, cleaning, health, and safety practices. Market animals are the responsibility of the member until they are removed from the fairgrounds. All beef and dairy animals must be double tied (halter and neck rope). For beef, rope halters only, no nylon halters with chain leads will be allowed. Rope neckties are required.
  
• Exhibitors shall furnish the necessary feed and bedding for their animals, and are also to arrange for their care. Exhibitors are to provide their own feeders, buckets, and necessary equipment.
• Small animals should be brought in a cage or pet container
• Download and complete an Exhibit card for EACH animal you bring.  These exhibit cards will need to be attached to the cage or pen of each animal.
• Youth participants will be asked to help with herdsmanship duties (keeping the animals cages and pens clean)
• Youth are encouraged to visit with the public and share information about your animal

Schedules

Coming soon!

How to Enter a 4-H Exhibit at the Fair

• Download and review the Exhibit Guidelines
• Download and complete a 4-H Exhibit Card and attach to exhibit
• Participate in many of the fun 4-H activities at the fair
• Participate in other fair activities

Special 4-H Events at the Fair

Coming soon!

Judging and Evaluation of Projects

The county 4-H Fair is a wonderful opportunity for youth to showcase what they learned and to receive feedback from a judge. Judges have a special interest in young people, and many have knowledge in a particular subject matter area, as a hobby or career. They are selected by paid staff and volunteers for their knowledge and interest in youth. Most are volunteers with some exceptions, such as in the horse project area where professionals are secured.

Having one’s accomplishments evaluated can be motivating and educational for 4-H’ers. When judges critique their work or performance, it serves as a guide to further improvement. The judging process is probably more valuable than the award or recognition. To plan, practice, and present a finished product is to “learn by doing.” To graciously accept constructive criticism of one’s work is a real life experience. 4-H’ers learn quickly that judging results reflect a personal opinion, and that evaluation will vary among judge.

GRADES K-2: Youth projects in grades K-3 will each receive a participation ribbon and feedback from the judges. In addition, comment cards will be available at the exhibit tables for the general public to provide feedback and encouragement to the youth.

GRADES 4-6: Youth projects from grades 4-12 will be judged using the Danish system of Judging. In this system, the judges do not judge one person’s work by comparing it to another’s. The evaluation is made against a standard. A judge looks to see whether requirements are met. A score sheet is used, available from the county 4-H office.

Awards are given for excellent (blue ribbon), very good (red ribbon) and good (white ribbon). One advantage of this system is that everyone whose work fulfills minimum qualification can receive a ribbon. If all entries are judged to be excellent, all receive blue ribbons.

The purpose of using the Danish judging system is to give every 4-H member the recognition for the work that was done. It also helps young people recognize the need to improve their skills and to "make the best better."

Conference or interview: During the fair, Saturday from 1-3 pm, 4-H members also have the opportunity to participate in a conference or interview with the judge. The judge interviews the participant as he/she evaluates the product against a set of standards. The purpose of this judging is to determine what the 4-H’er learned in completing the project. Comments are provided verbally and also in writing on a score sheet. Come to the 4-H Information Table at the fair to sign up for a conference interview!