4-H contests give members opportunities to showcase the skills they have gained through their project work. There are many 4-H contests available at the club, county, multi-county, regional, state, and national levels. For most contests, competition is divided into five grade levels. Grade is determined as of January 1 of the contest year. Most of these contests will begin at the club level and elevate if you advance in your grade level. Below are the dates of contests and more information about each one.
Dates of Club-Level Contests
- November- Public Speaking
- January- Poster Design, Photo Contest
- Febuary- Demonstrations, Interactive Exhibits
- March- Baking
- April- Clover Bowl
Clover Bowl
The purpose of the Clover Bowl is to acquaint 4-H members with themselves and their surroundings through participating in an enjoyable and educational program. Information for questions will be in the areas of 4-H, Tennessee (History, Geography, and Government), Agriculture, Life Skills, Government and Science. The county competition will be each April.
Speech
4-H public speaking contests are designed to help youth develop communication skills and confidence. Club-level speech competitions will be each November with the county-level contest being each January.
Demonstration
Do you have a special talent? Youth in 4th and 5th grade can show others how to do something, make something or how something works during your local demonstration contest. The project must be related to one of the 34 4-H project areas. Demonstrations at the club-level will be each Febuary.
Poster Design
The 4-H Poster Contest is designed to increase 4-H members’ awareness of the topics and to give 4-H’ers an opportunity for artistic expression. The poster contests at the club-level will be each January.
Interactive Exhibit
A 4-H interactive exhibit is a way for junior high 4-H members (grades 6-8) to demonstrate their knowledge and skills gained from their 4-H projects in an engaging and interactive way. It’s not a demonstration, but rather a chance to present a self-explanatory display about a 4-H project, with the audience being directly involved in the process. Exhibits at the club-level will be each Febuary.
Baking
The 4-H Baking Contest is a great way to learn new cooking skills. Participate by bringing three pieces from the same batch. Each grade level will be required to bake a different item. The baking contest at the club level is every March.
Photo
The 4-H photo contest is an opportunity for 4-H members to showcase their photography skills and creativity. It allows youth to document their 4-H activities, personal experiences, and the world around them through photography. The contest often includes various categories and age divisions, encouraging diverse perspectives and skill levels. The club-level contest is every January.
Portfolio
Portfolios are where 4-H members learn to set goals, plan, prioritize and record goals set/met. You will evaluate how you did and if you met the goals you set for yourself. You will learn to market yourself, and how to prepare a resume and complete a 4-H Project Interview.