Supporting Youth Through County Fair Judging

Once again, we find ourselves at that time of year when tending your garden can not only offer a bountiful harvest, but also result in a ribbon worth proudly displaying. For parents with 4-H youth entering the county fair, there are a few key factors to keep in mind while guiding youth in preparing their fruit and vegetable exhibits. Yes, judges will ultimately be considering the overall health and quality of the specimen(s), uniformity in size and color, absence of damage or disease, and properness of harvest. However, it may also be helpful to consider the mindset 4-H fair judges bring to these entries before youth sit across from them during consultations.

Ultimately, the objective of a 4-H fair judge, in addition to fairly and accurately issuing ribbons, is to help build communication skills with youth while encouraging critical thinking, reflection upon their projects, and offering constructive feedback that inspires goal setting.

To be clear, judges are still judging the exhibit and not the child. That said, demonstration of critical thinking skills, such as identifying issues that arose and showing effort in addressing them, ultimately reflects the passion, learning, and effort that has gone into a project, which is ultimately what judges are looking for.

Though their interaction may be brief, 4-H judges often approach judging with the objective of helping youth develop professionalism, responsibility, resilience, and adaptability. They understand that every judging conversation translates into skills that extend well beyond 4H, into school, careers, and life.

This is not to say, however, that one should be apprehensive about these interactions! While youth development is always present, 4-H judges (horticulture or otherwise) want to see youth succeed. They will also encourage participants to strive for even better, even when they are already ranking at the top. The standards they judge from are cohesive, equally applied to all, and directed through those outlined in the county and state fairbooks.

So, if your youth are participating in consultation judging, they can expect a few questions geared toward helping them learn: Why did you choose this particular project? Tell me about how you grew it. What troubles did you have along the way? What do you think caused those troubles, and what do you think you can do next time to avoid them? With critical thinking skills engaged, they may be taking home much more than a ribbon from their fair experience.

Official horticulture judging standards can be found here: C405 Exhibiting Fruits and Vegetables

by Anthony Reardon, Horticulture Small Farms Agent, 2026