Minnesota 4-H at county fairs
For 4-H'ers, county fairs are not just fun annual events.
Every summer, tens of thousands of 4-H'ers take part in Minnesota county fairs. When they show their projects, they are demonstrating the knowledge and skills they've gained throughout the year.
Getting ready and participating in fairs teaches life skills such as problem solving, decision making, project management, communications and public speaking.
County fairs not only make great memories, but they also help 4-H youth grow into successful adults.
4-H'ers who do well in county fair competition may win trips to the state fair, state dog show or state horse show.
Judging
Judging is an important part of the county fair experience. Learn more about judging at county fairs and how to become a judge.
For county fair 4-H exhibitors
Exhibits
- Find learning and exhibit ideas on our 4-H project pages.
- 4-H exhibitor judging tips
- Learn about ID'ing 4-H animals
- 4-H Cloverbuds showcase guide
Judging experience options
Minnesota 4-H provides judging opportunities to those who may be unable to attend in-person judging in their county and ensures that judging experiences are accessible and safe for youth with differing abilities or injuries.
Rules and procedures for county fairs are outlined in your county fair premium book. Contact your local 4-H office to learn more.
How to register 4-H entries for your county fair
- Join 4-H, if you haven't already
- Find learning and exhibit ideas on our 4-H project pages.
- Check out the FairEntry help section below
- Learn about your county's fair on your local 4-H page.
- Register in FairEntry by finding your fair here.
FairEntry user guides and tutorials
- Quick guide (1 page)
- Detailed guide (6 pages)
Exhibitors and entries
Logging back in
Need assistance?
If you need assistance with county fair registration, please contact your local Extension staff or send an email to fourh@umn.edu.
Minnesota 4-H recognizes youth who are making a difference in their community and are sharing their story through project(s) and exhibit(s).
Judges at local and state showcases will place a recognition sticker on each exhibit where the 4-H’er clearly articulates how their efforts made a positive community impact. Exhibitors will be asked, “Has your project made a positive difference in your community? And if so, how?”
To qualify for community impact recognition, the project should primarily benefit someone or something more than the youth individually or their family. Exhibits and presentations may demonstrate the youth’s community impact efforts through:
Direct service involves face-to-face interactions with the people, animals or environment being served - such as distributing meals or cleaning up a park.
Indirect service involves benefiting a cause or group, but there isn’t direct contact with those who benefit - such as fundraising or knitting blankets.
Advocacy involves researching issues of public interest and then encouraging action or promoting awareness - such as promoting mindfulness practices to a school curriculum committee or collecting water quality data for a community organization.
For county fair 4-H volunteers
Interested in getting involved as a county fair volunteer?
Contact your local 4-H office or learn more about volunteering in 4-H.
Online trainings
View these videos to prepare for volunteering at the county fair.
Animal ID verification