Judging Contests are designed to support the learning that is taking place in a project area. 4-H members learn to compare and become familiar with project equipment and terminology. Judging teaches critical thinking and decision-making skills. These skills are valuable to young people as well as adults as they must make decisions every day. Youth who excel in county contests may advance to compete at the Delaware State Fair.
Judging Contest Guides are available on the Contest and Events page. We encourage all project leaders and 4-H members to review the information related to the many judging contests offered, well in advance of the contest date. These dates can be found on the 23-24 Sussex 4-H Calendar. In addition to the guides, training materials will be available from your county office and online. Preparation for the judging contests is extremely important; learning, researching, and studying should take place over several weeks to several months.
If you have specific questions related to a contest, please reach out to the contest contact listed. If you have general questions, or are unsure of whom to contact, reach out to your county 4-H office. As a reminder, in order to provide accommodations for youth participants, be sure to communicate any special needs to your county 4-H office 2 weeks prior to the scheduled event.
Contest Dates:
Food Judging Contest – February 24 during Favorite Foods Contest
Photography Judging Contest – April 17, 4-7 pm at Sussex 4-H Office
Wood Judging Contest – April 17, 4-7 pm at Sussex 4-H Office
Clothing Judging Contest – May 6, 4-7 pm at Sussex 4-H Office
Horticulture Judging Contest – May 6, 4-7 pm at Sussex 4-H Office
Wildlife Judging Contest – May 6, 4-7 pm at Sussex 4-H Office
Animal Science Judging Contest Information
Please use the Online Registration Form to register for the Animal Judging Contest County qualifiers. You can register for more than 1 contest. If you are under the age of 13, you have the option of competing as a Senior to make you eligible to compete in your respective contest at the Delaware State Fair (you can only compete at the DSF in 2 judging contests).
Each contest is being held one time for all Delaware 4-H’ers to qualify – Each county will qualify the top 10 participants from their county. You must attend and complete this county qualifier to participate in the State Judging contest at the fair.
Contest Dates and locations are as follows:
Horse Judging – May 18, 10:00 AM, Horse Power Show Hunters, Greenwood, DE
Poultry Judging – May 29, 6:30 PM, Lake Forest High School, Felton, DE
Dairy Judging – May 30, 6:30 PM, Knutsen Farm, Greenwood, DE
Livestock Judging – Date TBA
**Please remember to bring a clipboard, pencil or pen and paper to write your notes on. Contests will have an educational opportunity and a scored contest portion. If you have special needs that need to be accommodated, please contact your county 4-H office 2 weeks prior to the event for which you have registered.
If you have any questions, please contact the Educator who oversees that contest:
Horse Judging– Jill Jackson at jackson@udel.edu
Poultry Judging – Kristin Cook at kristin@udel.edu
Dairy Judging – Kaitlin Rogers at kklair@udel.edu
Livestock Judging – Susan Garey at truehart@udel.edu
Clothing Judging Contest – Lindsay Hughes at Lgooden@udel.edu
Food Judging Contest – Kaitlin Rogers at kklair@udel.edu
Horticulture Judging Contest – Jenny Trunfio at jtrunfio@udel.edu
Photography Judging Contest – Jill Jackson at jackson@udel.edu
Wildlife Judging Contest – Kristin Cook at kristin@udel.edu
Wood Judging Contest – Ernie Lopez at elopez@udel.edu