Oregon State Fair
The Oregon State Fair is an opportunity for 4-H'ers to show off the skills they've learned all year!
What is State Fair?
Fair season is the highlight of many 4-H participants' year, especially those in year-long clubs who have the opportunity to showcase the skills, hard work, and expertise they've put into their art, food preservation, or livestock, horse, or companion animal care and training all year.
For many clubs, State Fair is the culmination of the 4-H year before we begin a new 4-H Year on October 1.
Participating at the Oregon State 4-H Fair is a honor because 4-H youth have excelled with their projects at their local 4-H County Fairs and qualified to showcase their skills with other youth from across Oregon. Come experience the fun and celebrate their achievements!
How Do I Qualify for State Fair?
Who Qualifies?
Each county in Oregon is allotted a number of entries in State Fair based on the total number of 4-H youth members in that county. Who qualifies (and how) is determined by each county 4-H Program, and generally happens at the county fair.
- Under 400 members-three exhibits per class
- 400 to 799 members-four exhibits per class
- 800 to 1199 members-five exhibits per class
- 1200 to 1499 members-six exhibits per class
- 1500 to 1800 members – 7 exhibits per class
- 1800 and up – 8 exhibits per class
I Qualified! How Do I Sign Up for a Contest Time?
Live Contest Timeslot sign-up links - Opens July 1
Your county will enter you in the class, but you need to pick a time using one of the forms below. Many of these forms will not open until qualifying county fair competitions have begun. Please do not sign up for a time slot until you have qualified for state fair.
I want to volunteer at State Fair! How do I sign up?
First of all, THANK YOU! 4-H relies on the kindness and generosity of volunteers to put on an excellent State Fair for 4-H members every year. We can't do it without you! If you're dedicated to creating a positive, kind, and welcoming experience for all of our 4-H youth members, please sign up below.
Volunteer Sign Up Forms: Exhibit Building • Livestock Barn • Dog Show
Volunteer forms for Horse Fair are separated by day:
What is the 2023 Schedule?
Animal Science Schedules
- Horse Fair Schedule
- Livestock Schedule
- Small Animal Schedule
- Includes Dog Shows
- Judging and Identification Contests Schedules
Exhibit Building Schedule
The following classes are offered as live contests:
- Communications Presentations
- Cupcake Wars
- Family Consumer Science Classic
- Fashion Revue
- Flower Arranging
- Food Contests
- Table Setting
Celebrate Our World: Central America
Each year, the Oregon State Fair introduces a geographical theme to encourage 4-H'ers to learn about, explore, and celebrate countries and regions around the world. This allows 4-H youth to learn from cultures beyond their own communities, and benefit from the centuries of techniques different cultures have put into their arts, crafts, foods, and other relevant skills that impact their skill or contest area.This year, we are celebrating the Caribbean!
Exhibits in this class often fit in another "home" class, with a focus or technique learned from this year's region. This year, 4-Hers can focus on any country in Central America:
This year (2024) Celebrate Our World will be focusing on Central America! The seven countries that make up Central America are:
Challenge youth to select a country within this region to focus on and learn more about its people and culture. Then share how the knowledge they’ve gained influenced your 4-H experience through a sewing, art, foods, leathercraft or fiber arts fair entry!
For projects using the Celebrate Our World focus, the Celebrate our World explanation card is used as well as the project’s regular explanation card and judged using the project’s score sheet.
Art of the Americas (Emory University) • Exploring the Arts of Latin America (Smithsonian Associates)
Live Contests Information
Judging and Identification (Animal Sciences) Contests
- Fair Book - Judging Contests
- Judges Place Card (4-H 0104)
- Judging Card - print on blue, ivory or salmon paper (formerly 4-H 0105, 0106 and 0107)
- Judging Placing Card - print on blue, ivory or salmon paper (formerly 4-H 0108, 0109 and 0110)
- Reasons Card- print on blue, ivory or salmon paper (formerly 4-H 0111, 0112 and 0113)
- Score Card for Oral Reasons (formerly 4-H 0114)
Judging Contest Resources
Fairbook PDFs
Full PDF of Animal Science fairbook
Full PDF of Static/Hearth and Live Contests information
^^ These two documents together constitute the entire fairbook. Both docs have the "General information" section and their respective schedules, so you can print either or both and still have what you need.
General State Fair Resources
What does it mean to be a 4-H'er at State Fair?
4-H'ers who qualify for State Fair represent their community, county, and program to Oregon and to the world. All 4-H youth (and volunteers) are expected to abide by a Code of Conduct to ensure we represent ourselves, others, and 4-H well.
To participate in State Fair, you will need to agree to treat yourself and others with respect, be caring, treat animals humanely and provide appropriate care, be honest, be cooperative, welcoming, and inclusive of all.