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OSU Extension

College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences

CFAES

Hamilton County

Project Judging 

Project Judging occurs before the Hamilton County Community Fair.  This is your chance to show off all you know about the project you've worked on all year. Here are some helpful tips to get you ready for Project Judging.  Questions? Contact 4-H Educator Claire Linepensel at linepensel.2@osu.edu or Cindy Capannari at gccapi@yahoo.com. 

Interview Tips

Dress as if this was a job interview. Think business casual.

  • All clothes should be clean and neat.
  • For livestock project judging, it is okay to dress like you will for your species show. If wearing jeans, make sure they do not have holes or look worn out.
  • Shorts and t-shirts should not be worn to project judging.
  • Think about your shoes too. If you have nice shoes, wear those. Flip flops should be avoided.
  • Hats – Many judges do not want youth to be wearing hats. If you are wearing a hat, you may or may not get points taken off. It is usually better to just not wear a hat, unless it specifically goes with a project – like a sewing or costume project or a project about hats. If you do wear a hat, take it off when you get to the judge.

The Interview

Introduction – Start with a handshake and introduce yourself! 

Control the Conversation – The more you control the conversation the less chance the judge has to ask you questions you can’t answer. 

Questions – If you don’t know the answer, admit that.  Say things like, “I don’t know but it could be….”, or “I will look that up later.” 

Ending – Make sure to thank the judge when you leave.

What to Bring

Project Book – Bring your completed project book. Make sure you have filled out all the sections that are required. If your book has pages that do not apply to you, either write on the page Not Applicable (N/A) or paper clip the pages together. Be prepared to explain to the judge why you did not complete these pages.

Leadership and Citizenship Activities – These can be simple activities, but older youth should have more complex activities.

Educational Display – This is a visual representation of something you did or learned for your project. It can be a poster, a scrapbook, a tri-fold board, an item you made, etc. This will give you something to talk about with the judge. Make sure your first name, last initial, project name, club, and age are listed in a visible spot on your display!