4-H General Policy
What Every 4-H Family Needs to Know
All posters, notebooks, and display boards must include a reference list indicating where information was obtained, giving credit to the original author, to complete the 4-H member’s exhibit. This reference list should include website links, people and professionals interviewed, books, magazines, etc. It is recommended this reference list be attached to the back of a poster or display board, be the last page of a notebook, or bcure included as part of the display visible to the public. A judge is not to discredit an exhibit for the manner in which references are listed, however a judge may lower placing due to a lack of references.
Membership: Indiana and Tippecanoe County 4-H members will enroll by their grade in school. Youth become eligible for 4-H when they enter the third grade and may continue as a member through grade 12 with a maximum of 10 consecutive years of participation. Grade is determined as of January 1 of the current year.
Exceptions: Youth who enroll in grade three and are advanced academically (thus graduating early) may continue for a total of 10 years ONLY if the enrollment occurs in consecutive years.
Those youth who are academically advanced and “skip” 3rd grade, may begin the program as a 4th grader and may continue for a total of 10 years ONLY if the enrollment occurs in consecutive years.
Those youth who enroll in grade three and are retained a grade in public school may continue to progress through the 4-H Program by adding subsequent years of participation, but MAY NOT exceed 10 years of participation.
Those youth who enter the program in 3rd grade and for one reason or another leave formal education prior to the completion of 12th grade may continue for a total of 10 years ONLY if the enrollment occurs in consecutive years.
NOTE: 10 years of membership in the 4-H Youth Development Program is an opportunity—not an entitlement. Those youth who do not enroll as 3rd grade students or meet the exceptions above, conclude their involvement with the program during the summer immediately following the completion of their senior year in high school.
Opportunities in the 4-H program are available to all Indiana youth as defined regardless of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, or disability. Married women and men of 4H age may participate in any of the 4H projects and most activities. However, married persons must participate by the same rules and/or guidelines as unmarried participants. Membership in 4H is gained by enrolling through a Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service Office located in the county seat in each of Indiana’s 92 counties.
The 4H Club Year: The year usually extends from one annual 4H exhibit to the next.
4H Enrollment: Enrollment must be completed between October 1st and January 15th of each year on 4-H Online.
FairEntry Enrollment: All members must complete fair exhibit registration in FairEntry by the deadline provided from the Tippecanoe County Extension office and Tippecanoe County Exhibit Association to be eligible to exhibit at the Tippecanoe County Fair. No late entries will be accepted.
Drop/Add Deadline: May 15th is the last date you can add or drop a 4-H project. There is no penalty to the 4-Her for not completing a project.
Information: Important 4-H information can be obtained from:
The 4-H Handbook: These contain detailed information about participation in 4-H and requirements for completing and exhibiting different projects
The Tippecanoe County Newsletter: This is the County Extension 4-H newsletter. It keeps you up to date on new guidelines, workshops, and upcoming events. It is offered online through Facebook, 4-H Online, and our county webpage. If you would like to receive a mailed copy, please contact the Extension office.
Your 4-H Club Meetings: Here you will not only receive information, but have help and advice from experienced leaders, 4-H members, and their families.
Project Manuals: These have information about how to successfully complete a project and gives additional educational information.
Tippecanoe County CES Website: https://www.extension.purdue.edu/tippecanoe
Participation: Attendance and participation at 4-H meetings is highly encouraged as a part of the overall educational experience. However, attendance or participation at club meetings cannot be required for project completion.
Exhibition: Exhibition of 4-H projects in the county or state fair is voluntary on the part of the exhibitor. The exhibition of 4-H projects provides 4-H members an opportunity to display their 4-H projects, enter into competition and participate in an educational/social environment with peers. With the exhibition also comes the responsibility for abiding by all the terms and conditions pertaining to the respective 4-H project. If a project is judged, it must be exhibited for the entire scheduled time.
Completion: Completion of a 4-H project must not be misinterpreted as exhibition of the project at a local, county or state fair. A 4-H member is considered complete for the project when they have:
completed an “official” 4-H enrollment form or online enrollment, before the established and published date for enrolling;
turned in a completed 4-H project record sheet before the established and published date; and
have an officially recognized 4-H leader/Extension Educator verify the existence of the completed project.
Residence: Indiana youth typically enroll in 4-H programs in the county or state in which they reside. However, individuals living in one county may join 4-H in another county. There may be educational or social reasons for an individual joining 4-H in a different county than that of their primary residency. During a single calendar year, a 4-H member enrolled in a given project is expected to enroll and exhibit that project only in one county of enrollment. In the event that a project is not offered in the county of primary 4-H enrollment, a 4-H member may enroll in that specific project in a different county. Participation in 4-H related activities and events (i.e., judging; share-the-fun) must be in the county of primary 4-H enrollment. This policy is not intended to provide an escape mechanism for troubled 4-H members and families who are unwilling to follow the term and/or conditions in their current county of 4-H membership. Questions regarding member acceptance in the adjacent county rest with the 4-H Exhibit Association Board and/or Extension Board of the receiving county.
All projects, including livestock, must remain on exhibit until the stated release time.
Fraud & Deception: Fraud and/or deception will not be allowed relative to any 4H exhibits. Fraud and/or deception being defined to include, but not limited to, the following:
tampering (altering) and/or misrepresentation relative to an animal’s breeding, age, ownership, and/or method of preparation or completion; (For example, with animal exhibits this includes, but is not limited to, coloring that alters or misrepresents breed characteristics, pumping, attaching hair/hair substitutes, or filling.)
unethical fitting of animal exhibits consisting of administration of any substance or performance of any surgical procedure altering the animal’s shape and/or rendering its tissues unfit for human consumption at the time of exhibition or subsequent slaughter. Exceptions that are allowed include hoof trimming, dehorning, removal of hair, manipulation of normally attached hair, castration, branding, tattooing, ear notching, docking of tails on sheep and swine, and coloring that does not alter or misrepresent breed characteristics.
Determination of Fraud & Deception: An official, selected by the Tippecanoe County 4-H Exhibit Association Executive Board, will decide if fraud and deception have occurred. Their decision will be final.
The top five places in each livestock class and any suspect animals may be required, upon conclusion of judging, to submit to examination or tests as prescribed by the Tippecanoe County 4-H Exhibit Association Executive Board.
If the official decides that fraud and deception have occurred, the results will be immediate disqualification by the Tippecanoe County 4-H Exhibit Association Executive Board. The Tippecanoe County 4-H Exhibit Association Executive Board’s decision will be final.
Penalty: Upon determination that fraud and/or deception has occurred before, during, or after judging, any one or more of the following penalties shall be imposed:
The exhibit in question will be immediately disqualified. (Reference Determination of Fraud and Deception above.)
The exhibit will not be allowed to sell in the 4-H Livestock Auction.
In case of an exhibit already sold at the 4-H Livestock Auction, the exhibitor can be made to refund/return all sale money over market value to the Tippecanoe County 4-H Exhibit Association Executive Board. At the discretion of the Tippecanoe Co. 4-H Exhibit Association Executive Board, the money will be returned to the buyer or otherwise donated to the Tippecanoe County 4-H program. (Note: Placing of other exhibits will not be adjusted because of the imposition of this penalty.)
Any or all premiums, trophies, and awards won by the exhibitor for the exhibit in questions can be disqualified.
All premiums, trophies, and awards won by the exhibitor in any or all 4-H projects can be withdrawn and required to be returned or refunded to the 4-H program.
The 4-H exhibitor and/or his/her immediate family members may be barred from competition at the Tippecanoe County 4-H Fair shows for up to three years.
Due Process: The assessment of any penalty for fraud and/or deception, with the exception of immediate disqualification (reference Determination of Fraud and Deception above), shall follow the below-listed processes:
The Tippecanoe County 4-H Exhibit Association Executive Board will decide which penalty(s) to impose.
The exhibitor will be notified in writing of the penalty(s) imposed.
Within 15 days of receiving written notification, the exhibitor may appeal the decision in writing to the Tippecanoe County 4-H Exhibit Association Executive Board.
A date will be set for a hearing by the 4-H Exhibit Association Executive Board and the exhibitor will be notified in writing.