Judging Day
Please join us at this year's Kings County 4-H Judging Day!
Event Information and Registration
Tentative Schedule:
3:00 p.m. - Judging Begins
Intersection of Centennial and Greenfield Avenues
The Kings County 4-H Judging Day event is a free, annual county-wide event that takes place each December. It is a judging contest that 4-H members of all ages are welcome to participate in. Youth will participate in three (3) judging divisions: Livestock, Home Economics, and General. Each division will have five (5) classes plus one ID (identification) class. In addition, each division will have a reasons class on which members will present a set of reasons to a judge.
There will be individual and team awards for each age group (Junior, Intermediate, and Senior). Primary member activities will be available for ages 5-8 (as of 12/31/24).
Once the judging is complete, there will be some fun activities such as line dancing, Christmas Tree Decorating Contest, and a hot chocolate station.
The event is open to all Kings and Tulare County 4-H members; even if you are not enrolled in a livestock related project. More information about judging contests and resources can be found below.
What is a Judging Contest?
A judging class consists of four items. The 4-H’er is asked to evaluate and rank the class in order from best to worst. Points are given on how close the participant comes to matching the placing an expert gives the class. Junior, Intermediate, and Senior 4-H participants will also be given the opportunity to give oral reasons. Oral reasons enable the participant to explain to a judge why they placed the class the way they did. Points are given for how convincing the reasons are. Even if the class wasn’t placed correctly, if good reasons are given, the points will reflect that.
How to Give Reasons:
When you explain your choices in a judging contest, you are “giving reasons”. Before you can give your reasons, you need to have a clear picture of the class in your mind. After judging the class, be sure to make some notes. Giving reasons will be easier after you have studied your notes. Step up to the judge and explain your reasons using the following example: Oral Reasons Format
Opening Statement: I placed this class of_______________________
4-1-2-3.
Explanation: In my top pair, I place 4 over 1 because:
________________________________________.
For my middle pair, I place 1 over 2 because: ___________________________________.
In my bottom pair, I place 2 over 3 because: _____________________________________.
Closing Statement: For these reasons, I placed this class of ______________ 4-1-2-3. Thank you.