Judging Teams | Tennessee 4-H Youth Development

The purpose of Tennessee 4-H judging competitions is to provide youth with opportunities to develop knowledge, leadership, and decision-making skills through hands-on learning. These contests allow participants to showcase their talents while building teamwork, confidence, and communication skills. By applying what they learn in real-world settings, 4-H members strengthen their understanding of agriculture, natural resources, and related industries—preparing them to become informed, capable leaders in their communities.

Judging Contests

Consumer Decision Making

Dairy Judging

Dairy Products Judging

General Guidelines

Senior division members must be in grades 9–12 as of January 1 of the contest year.
Members must have completed at least five months of 4-H club work during the current year.
Exception: Participants in land judging and forestry judging must be in grades 8–11 as of January 1.

For regional contests held the same year as the state contest, members must be in grades 7–8 as of January 1.
For regional contests held the year before the state contest, members must be in grades 6–7 as of January 1.
Exception: Junior high land judging and forestry judging contestants must be in grades 6–7 as of January 1.

Teams must represent the same county and include three or four members.
Each county may enter up to three teams per judging area at the regional level.
Counties unable to form a full team may send one or two individuals. These participants qualify for individual recognition and may serve as substitutes if needed.

If a qualified team member cannot attend the state or national contest, the county 4-H agent may substitute up to two members.
Substitutes must have competed in the same regional contest as individuals or as part of another team from that county.
At least two original team members must compete in the state or national event.
When a county has multiple qualifying teams in the same area, substitutions must come from within those teams.

Each region may advance four teams per judging area to the state contest.
Exceptions: Only three teams per region may advance in wildlife judging.
Exceptions: Dairy, dairy products, and poultry judging are non-qualifying events, allowing unlimited county entries.

Members of a state-winning team and the second-place land judging team may not compete again in the same event.
Eligible members may participate in other judging areas.
State 4-H project winners may compete on judging teams if they meet all other requirements.

Members representing Tennessee at the national level must be 14–18 years old as of January 1 of the contest year.

State sponsorship funds for national competition will be forfeited if a qualified team does not represent Tennessee at the national contest.