Horse Demonstration

• Stimulate learning in equine science and the horse industry.
• Youth develop positive interests and attitudes about equine science and related careers.
• Youth gain a base of knowledge of equine science projects.
• Youth will utilize skills and abilities to solve everyday situations.
• Reward 4-H members for knowledge gained in a subject matter area.
• Provide a competitive setting where attitudes of friendliness and fairness prevail.
• Participants will process information, analyze complex problems and make informed decisions regarding current equine health, safety, welfare, ethics and other equine industry-related issues.
• Youth develop teamwork, self-confidence, public speaking and decision-making skills.
• An increased number of participants seek higher education opportunities and careers related to animal or equine science.

• Contestants must be enrolled in North Dakota 4-H (4honline) as a full-time member in the county they represent. Short-term 4-H members are not eligible to compete at the state level.
• Participants may enter as an individual or as a team. A team consists of two members.
• Individuals with disabilities are invited to request reasonable accommodations to participate in NDSU-sponsored programs and events. To request accommodations, please contact Samantha Lahman at 701-231-6658 or samantha.lahman@ndsu.edu two weeks prior to the contest to make arrangements.
• 4-H members are not eligible for this contest if:
  • They have judged at the national 4-H horse demonstration contest.
  • They have participated in official post-secondary (university, college, junior college or technical school) competitive events of a similar nature in the same subject matter area. Neither can they be a member of a post-secondary team undergoing training in preparation for an event.

Each age division is considered a separate contest, and youth may enter one of the following divisions:

• Junior 4-H division: Youth 8 years of age before Sept. 1, to age 13 as of Dec. 31.
• Senior 4-H division: Youth ages 14 to 18 as of Dec. 31, and enrolled in North Dakota 4-H as a full-time 4-H member (not a short-term member)
  • The senior first-place team and the individual overall in the state 4-H demonstration/illustrated talk contest has the option to represent North Dakota at the Western National Roundup contest in Denver, Colo. The team is awarded $200 and the individual will be awarded $100 from the North Dakota 4-H Foundation to help with travel expenses. Contestants already must have passed their 14th birthday and may not have reached their 19th birthday as of Jan. 1 of the year in which the national 4-H competitive event is held. However, the state 4-H leader may grant a special authorization to compete for youth with developmental disabilities who exceed the upper age limit. To request funding for the national 4-H demonstration/illustrated talk contest  The Extension agent in the county of the representative team will need to write a formal letter to the North Dakota 4-H Foundation ndsu.nd4hfoundation@ndsu.edu. and copy the state 4-H animal science specialist at samantha.lahman@ndsu.edu on the email as well. Request funds for $200/$100. Include: who the 4-H Foundation should write the check to, where to mail the check, the names of those competing on the team, and the name and date of the national event.

County agents and coaches are responsible for determining the age and member eligibility of participants in the state 4-H contest from their respective clubs.

• Registration will go through 4H-Online.
• Register by late registration date to avoid extra charges. Changes and substitutions may be made at registration on the day of the contest.
• Lunch is provided; add the number of lunches needed for coaches/chaperones/etc.
• Registration cost: $5* per individual/team. *Costs are subject to change based on expenses that year and the area where contest is hosted

Participants shall follow the 4-H dress code: 4-H members must be dressed neatly and wear a solid white, yellow, gray or green shirt with the 4-H emblem on the front. County names or other affiliation should not be worn at the state contest to avoid bias. The clover may be imprinted, screened or attached with an adhesive (if clovers are pinned to the shirt, use multiple pins and place pins discreetly underneath the chevron). Failure to comply will result in the deduction of 25 points from the individual or team score. 4-H members are asked to stay in official dress until completion of awards.

Should the contest grow quicker than expected, counties may be limited to one team or individual per age division so the contest can be conducted in a reasonable time frame. If your county has more than one team, register them and we will follow up if necessary to reduce the number of teams.

4-H Western National Roundup rules will apply. Local managers may modify rules and procedures as needed to conduct the event in the allowed time.

• No electronic devices (phones, tablets, computers, etc.) will be allowed during the contest.
• The presentation may be a demonstration or illustrated talk. All references to the term “presentation” in these rules include demonstrations or illustrated talks. A demonstration is defined as a presentation of a step-by-step procedure with an end product or result. An illustrated talk is defined as a presentation of an idea or topic that uses visual aids to convey the message. Both presentation forms are acceptable and will be evaluated equally, although the delivery methods are different, as defined above. Both should utilize visual aids to help convey the major points of the presentation, and more than one type of visual aid is preferable. Visual aids may include handouts, posters, props, videos, slides and computer-generated media. No live animals may be used.
• The subject matter must pertain to the horse industry. Demonstrations or presentations not appropriately related to the horse industry can be disqualified at the discretion of the judge(s).
• Contestants may use notes. However, excessive use of notes may be counted against the contestant. This will be at the discretion of the judges.
• A public address system will not be used in the contest.
• Creative audio/visual aids may be used, but the contestants must be involved in making or designing them
• During the competition, the contestants may introduce themselves by name, county and presentation topic.
• Presentations should be nine to 12 minutes in length for the senior division or three to eight minutes for the junior division. Three points will be deducted from the total score on each judge’s score sheet for every minute (or fraction of a minute) less than nine minutes or more than 12 minutes for seniors. One point will be deducted from the total score on each judge’s score sheet for every minute (or fraction of a minute) less than three minutes or more than eight minutes for juniors. After the individual or team has been introduced by the superintendent, the time will start once the contestant(s) begin(s) to speak.
• Contestants should cite their major reference materials at the end of the presentation. This time will not be counted in the allotted time.
• Only the judge(s) may ask questions of the contestant. Question time will not be counted in the allotted time. Contestants should repeat the question and then answer it.
• Contestant order will be determined by a random drawing and announced at the beginning of the event.
• Once an individual or team has started the demonstration (in this case, it is after they have been introduced by the superintendent), they may not receive assistance from any coach, parent, audience member or other person, which includes the stroking of any key on a computer or other audio/visual device. The penalty for violating this rule is disqualification.
• The judge’s scores are final.
• No coaching from parents or coaches is allowed during the presentation.
• All multimedia and PowerPoint presentations must be provided on a USB drive.
• Ties will be broken first by the judges’ accumulated delivery score, second by the judges’ accumulated organization score and third on content and accuracy scores.
• Judges will consider the questions listed under each section of the scorecard.

Moderator: The moderator helps line up the next presenter/speaker to keep the contest running smoothly and efficiently. This individual allows the judge time to evaluate and make comments before the next participant begins.

Judge: A judge can be anyone with a strong background in the subject matter of the equine industry. The judge will evaluate the participants based on the scorecard criteria being fair and consistent across all participants.

Timekeeper: The timekeeper will monitor elapsed time for each timed event and will indicate to the moderator when time has expired.

Ribbons will be given to the top five individuals and the top five teams in each division.

A computer and projector will be available for your use. Any other equipment needs must be brought by the contestant.

Introduction (10 points)

• Did the introduction serve to create interest in the subject?
• Was introduction short and to the point?
• Was a catchy title used?

Organization (25 points)

• Was only one main idea presented?
• Did the discussion relate directly to the step as it was shown?
• Was each step shown just as it should be done in an actual situation with a thorough explanation?
• Could audience see each step?
• Were materials and equipment carefully selected, neatly arranged and well organized?
• Were visual aids used if and when needed?
• Were key points of each step stressed?

Content and Accuracy (25 points)

• Were facts and information accurate?
• Was there enough information?
• Were approved practices used?
• Was credit given to sources of information, if appropriate?
• Was content appropriately related to the horse industry?

Stage Presence (10 points)

• Were presenters neat and appropriately dressed for subject of presentation?
• Did presenter speak directly to audience?
• Did presenter look at the audience?
• Was the presentation too fast or too slow?
• Was good teamwork displayed? (Team presentation - generally not advisable for one person to do all the talking and the other one all the presenting)

Delivery (15 points)

• Did the presenter appear to enjoy giving presentations?
• Did the presenter have good voice control?
• Were all words pronounced correctly?
• If notes were used, was it done without detracting from the presentation?
• Did presenter seem to choose words at the time they were spoken? (Avoid a memorized presentation)

Effect on Audience (5 points)

• Did audience show an interest in the presentation?
• Could audience go home and carry out the idea?

Summary (10 points)

• Was the summary short and interesting?
• Were the key points briefly reviewed?
• Did summary properly wrap up the presentation?
• Could presenter handle questions easily?