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JUDGES SHARE CRITERIA FOR EVALUATING 4-H GARDENING PROJECTS
I may have known the criteria for judging 4-H gardening projects 40 years ago when I entered vegetables at the Carver County Fair but the finer points of why certain exhibits received different-colored ribbons have long since escaped my memory.
Recently, several Master Gardeners shared their insights on 4-H judging in an internet discussion group and I found their thoughts quite interesting.
4-H judging is not judging in the usual sense, wrote Stanley Crist, a Master Gardener from Minnetonka who has judged both flowers and vegetables at the county and state fair level.
You do not pick out any first, second and third prizes, Crist said. Instead, you evaluate whether the entrant has met the requirements for the entry. The most important part of the judging process is having a nice conversation with the entrant to gauge his or her knowledge of gardening. The main idea of judging is to encourage the entrant is his/her gardening activities and suggest ways in which he/she might improve the entry for next year. "I like to find out whether the entrant really grew or made what is exhibited, rather than simply picking something from the mother's garden.
"One thing I have been very fussy about is having the exhibit properly labeled. I like the label to identify the variety of onions, rather than just saying 'onions.'
"In my experience, 95% of entrants will receive a blue ribbon. If the exhibit is really deficient in some respect, I'll award a red ribbon, and if the exhibit is a total failure, a white ribbon. I hardly ever have given a white ribbon.
"Then when you get all through, if there is one or more truly outstanding exhibit, I'll award a special ribbon. This is entirely a judgment call -- you do not have to award any ribbon in this category, or you can award more than one. You are the final judge -- there are no appeals and no one will overrule you.
"The whole idea is to encourage the participants and motivate them to continue their participation and to try to bring an even better exhibit next year.
"In judging, I figure the entrant's knowledge of gardening -- such things as soil preparation, fertilizer, insect and disease control, knowing the difference between vegetables that are annuals and biennials -- is just as important as the product exhibited. Sometimes, for instance, adverse growing conditions will result in a poor quality vegetable, and I don't believe the entrant should be penalized for something beyond his or her control.
"I have always enjoyed talking with these young gardeners. And many times I have learned from them."
Hank Wessels, a Master Gardener and 4-H judge from Madelia, explains that 4-H exhibitors may come into the interview somewhat scared and unsure of what to expect from the judge.
"I never try to rattle the kids. I always ask them if they did the project themselves, or if someone did it for them. I evaluate how neat the project is and how much time they really spent in preparation. I try to determine if this is the first year with a project, or whether they've been to the State Fair with a project. Last but not least, I try to make them feel good about themselves so they will try harder and learn from their experience for next year."
Candy Barthel from Cass County wrote that if the directions called for five annuals, an exhibitor who brought in five pansies plus a johnny jump-up would only receive a red ribbon.
"For arrangements, I sometimes asked them what they liked about it, or why they chose the flowers or colors they did. I sometimes ask where they thought would be a good place to use this arrangement. I have admitted, 'I don't know this flower, can you tell me something about it?' It's more about what they know than about what you know."
Barthel says the biggest problem she's experienced while judging has been the mothers who hung in their kids' shadows, prompting or even answering for them.
In response to the judging discussion, Mary Meyer, coordinator of Minnesota's Master Gardener program, wrote: "Wow, I am so impressed with your answers. What wonderful, positive youth development work you are doing. Every kid should have such positive experiences. Many thanks for sharing your judging philosophies. It's exciting that, through 4-H judging, we can impact youth and perhaps kindle a life-long, positive experience in horticulture."
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