The 4-H program depends on the skills, talent, and dedication of hundreds of adult judges. They make our county fairs and other competitive events across the state possible.
Our job in 4-H is to build blue-ribbon young people -- not blue-ribbon projects!
You don't need to be a 4-H alum or an expert to be a judge. You do need to be at least 19 and no longer eligible to enroll in 4-H as well as how to evaluate the learning that a 4-H'er has done. We will train you to do that.
For 4-H members, a judge is a very special person. In many cases, members have spent significant time preparing their projects for exhibition. The judge at the fair or showcase event is there to help them reflect and apply what they have learned.
Once you are signed up as a judge and have done your basic training, your name will be in our judges database, which 4-H staff use to locate judges for events. Judges can be paid for their time and travel expenses.
Click here out how to learn more about becoming a 4-H judge.
Don’t wait. The 2026 Rice County Fair runs from July 16-20.
