Project Bowl is a long-standing program in Minnesota 4-H and is the second most attended event of the year. In Project Bowl, teams of 3-6 youth members build skills working and thinking together while testing their knowledge in these 4-H areas: dairy, dog, general livestock, horse, llama-alpaca, plant science, poultry and rabbit.
There are four regional bowls, which lead to the state competition. Each regional contest has two divisions for dog, horse, poultry and rabbit: Junior (grades 3-8) and Senior (grades 4 through one year post-high school).
New this year, in dairy and general livestock, there will be three divisions: Junior (grades 3-5), Intermediate (grades 3-8) and Senior (grades 4 through one year post-high school).
Regional winners advance to the State 4-H Project Bowl. Llama-alpaca and plant science teams have the opportunity to participate in the State 4-H Project Bowl.
Winners at the state level in dairy, general livestock, horse and poultry go on to national contests.
Get your friends together, recruit a coach, study hard, and have fun during the Project Bowl season!
The Minnesota 4-H General Livestock SkillaThon also takes place during Project Bowl.
Upcoming 2025 competitions
- March 1- Sauk Rapids-Rice Middle School in Sauk Rapids
- March 8- Hastings High School in Hastings (Note: Dog not offered at this site)
- March 15- Bemidji High School in Bemidji and Redwood Falls High School in Redwood Falls (Note: Dog not offered at this site)
- March 29- Snow date
- April 12- State Bowl at Sauk Rapids-Rice High School in Sauk Rapids
For participants
2025 rules
Review the rules and information 2025.
2025 references
Project Bowl references used for each contest will be posted below when ready. Each contest selects questions from the references provided each year.
2025 Regional Project Bowl registration form
Coaches: Completed official registration form must be submitted to the local Extension office no later than Jan. 27.
Extension staff: Completed official registration form plus entry fee ($50 per team) must be postmarked to the region of choice and the online form completed no later than Feb. 3.
Bowling 101
The state 4-H bowl committee is committed to increasing the interest in project bowl participation, particularly for younger 4-H’ers. This is why we are offering a non-competitive “Bowling 101” category.
New for the 2025 bowl season: two age divisions of Bowling 101 will be offered.
4-H State Project Bowl: April 12, 2025
Winners in dairy, general livestock, horse and poultry will advance to the national contests. If your team qualifies for the State Project Bowl, you must sign up before you leave the Regional Project Bowl. If you do not sign up before you leave, you will forfeit your state trip.
The State Project Bowl registration form for llama-alpaca and plant science is due by March 17, 2025.
April 12 at Sauk Rapids-Rice High School
- Team registration - 8:30-9 a.m.
- Team orientation - 9 a.m.
- Bowls commence - 9:30 a.m.
Team confirmation letter
- Coaches of qualifying teams will receive confirmation letters when they sign up for the state contest.
T-shirts and sweatshirts
- T-shirts and sweatshirts will be for sale at the State 4-H Project Bowl! The official design is still being drafted by Northwest Designs, but as in previous years, 4-H members will be able to have their names on the back of the shirts. Bring some extra money as you may want to buy a shirt! The Minnesota 4-H Project Bowl Program receives a portion of the sales.
Coach and volunteer information
Interested in coaching a 4-H Project Bowl team?
- 2025 coaches training on Tuesday, Jan. 14 (webinar recording)
- The purpose of the training is to prepare coaches to work with a bowl team and build the bowl program by developing confident coaches. The training webinar included an overview of the bowl program, shared ideas for practices and answered questions.
- How to get started and sample questions
- Ideas for Project Bowl practices
- 4-H Project Bowl Procedure of Play video
Tentative 2026 dates
- March 7
- March 14
- March 21
- March 28 - Snow date
- April 11 - State
Contact
- Sharon Davis, 4-H animal science director, [email protected]
- Randi Schwartz, 4-H program manager, [email protected]