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!
Upcoming 2024 competitions
- March 2- Sauk Rapids (Sauk Rapids-Rice Middle School)
- March 9- Hastings (Hastings High School)
- March 16- Bemidji (Bemidji High School) and Redwood Falls (Redwood Falls High School)
- March 23- Snow date
- April 6- State Bowl (Sauk Rapids-Rice High School)
For participants
2024 rules
2024 references
Project Bowl references used for each contest will be posted below when ready. Each contest selects questions from the references provided each year.
2024 Regional Project Bowl Registration Form
Registration deadline must be postmarked by Feb. 5, 2024.
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.
4-H State Project Bowl: April 6, 2024
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 18, 2024.
April 6, 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?
- 2024 coaches training (webinar recorded 1/4/24)
- The purpose of the training is to prepare coaches to work with a bowl team and build the bowl program by developing confident coaches. On the training webinar, we gave an overview of the bowl program, shared ideas for practices and answered questions.
- For dairy and general livestock only: Webinar recorded on Nov. 9, 2023, reviewing the new divisions.
- How to get started and sample questions
- Ideas for Project Bowl practices
- 4-H Project Bowl Procedure of Play video
Tentative 2025 Dates
- March 1
- March 8
- March 15
- March 29 - Snow date
- April 12 - State
Contact
- Sharon Davis, 4-H animal science director, davis051@umn.edu
- Randi Schwartz, 4-H program manager, schw1553@umn.edu