McHenry County 4-H Show Information

Show Dates 2023

4-H Judging Dates: Dates subject to change

July 11-12: Archery -Demonstration Judging

July 13: Air Rifle -Demonstration Judging

July 15: Dog Fun show

July 29: 4-H Dog show

July 20: General Project Judging - Computer Technologies, Robotics, Video - Extension Office

July 21 AM: General Project Judging - Sewing, Shopping, Interior Design, Photography, Individual & Group Cloverbud Projects - Bldg D

July 21 AM: General Project Judging - Visual Arts - 4-H Bldg

July 21 PM: General Project Judging - Animal/Vet Science, Cat & Small Pet show Civic Engagement & Service Learning, College & Career Readiness, Communications, Consumer Education, Leadership, Child Development, Family Heritage, Health, Intercultural, Theatre arts - 4-H Bldg

July 22 AM: General Project Judging - ALL Natural Res. & Environment Projects, Shooting Sports displays, ALL Engineering & Technologies: Aerospace, Woodworking, Tractor, Small Engines, Bicycle, Electricity, Welding, Maker - 4-H Bldg

July 23: Rabbit Show

July 31 AM: General Project Judging - Food & Nutrition: Cooking, Food Science, Sports Nutrition; Horticulture & Floriculture; Crops, Plants & Soils; Exploratory, Collections, County projects: Lego, model, reading, sports, conservation/environment

July 31: Livestock check-in begins

Aug 1-6 – McHenry County Fair

Aug 1: Goat, Poultry, Swine Carcass Class

Aug 2: Dairy, Sheep, Swine Showmanship

Aug 3: Beef, Beef Carcass, Swine

Aug 3: 4-H Night

Aug 4: Horse show

Aug 5: Livestock Auction

Aug 6: Master Showman Competition

State Fair County Date: Aug 12 - See IL state website for more information

4-H Show Resources

McHenry County 4-H 2024 Fairbook
McHenry County 4-H Fair Entry Link: Direct link to Fair Entry
Family Instructions to Enroll in Exhibits: Step by step directions for enrolling projects on FairEntry.
Schedule of Events for 2023 Fair
4-H Fair Checklist
2023 Fair FAQs
4-H Building Monitor sign up
FoodStand Sign-up
Grand Stand Sign-up
CODE OF CONDUCT – Please go over this and explain to your members and families that they agreed to the behavioral guidelines when they signed up in 4HOnline. Leaders will not have to collect signed forms.
Absentee Form
State Fair date – Friday, August 12 – See State Fair info on Illinois 4-H Website

Judges Resources:

McHenry County 4-H Fairbook:
Illinois 4-H Project Resources, descriptions, judging sheets: https://4h.extension.illinois.edu/members/projects
Conference judging training: https://web.extension.illinois.edu/4hjudging/course/
Example videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLF90EF816D00F33B2

General Project Information

2023 McHenry County 4-H General Project Exhibit Guidelines Judging dates are July 21, 22 (most projects) & July 31 (food, horticulture, crops).
Illinois 4-H Project information: including show guidelines, resources, judging sheets and more!
McHenry County 4-H Project Report: Required for absentee projects ONLY.
Photography Tip Sheet: Finding your photo's metadata.
Photography Model Release
Cooking 101, 201, 301, 401 Curriculum: Foods exhibits in Cooking 101,201,301, & 401 do NOT need the activity mentioned in the original exhibit guidelines.
Cat Entry Sheet due July 1 for Cat Show
More project resources

Cloverbud Resources:

Cloverbud Project Report: Suggested for all Cloverbud projects
Cloverbud Group Project Report: Suggested
Cloverbud curriculum Utah 4-H: https://extension.usu.edu/utah4h/discover
4-H AT HOME: https://4-h.org/about/4-h-at-home/
Big book of Cloverbud activities:
Curriculum available on from the 4-H mall or check with the Extension office: https://shop4-h.org/collections/curriculum

Livestock Show Information

2023 Livestock Showbook ALL livestock shows are pending approval and these guidelines are NOT final! This is a preliminary copy for general livestock information ONLY to help you plan your potential livestock entries.
2023 Livestock Ownership Deadlines McHenry County will observe all Birth & Ownership dates set by the state, Tattoo & Weigh-in dates for Beef & Sheep.
YQCA – Required for Beef, Dairy, Goats, Sheep & Swine.
- Youth must register to attend a face-to-face class or certify on-line on the YQCA website: https://yqcaprogram.org/
- Deadline July 1
QAEC – Required for companion animals one time in a 4-H members career for each project area participating.
- Includes: Cats, Dogs, Horse, Poultry, Rabbit, Small Pet
- Open NOW: https://web.extension.illinois.edu/qaec/
- Deadline July 1

Illinois 4-H Livestock Issues: State and Federal laws dictate the production and exhibition of livestock. Know what's required of you as an Illinois 4-H livestock producer and exhibitor.
4-H LIVESTOCK AUCTION: For questions, please contact the Livestock Committee.
2023 Auction Card

Horse Show Information

Dog Show Information

Livestock Information