HOWARD COUNTY 4-H FAIR – YOUTH CONTEST RULES
TERMS & CONDITIONS
1. For Contestants: The Howard County 4-H Fair Youth Talent Contest consists of two divisions:
• Jr. Division: 12 years or less of age (If you turn 12 years of age during the 2024 calendar year, you must enter the Junior Division.)
• Sr. Division: 13-21 years of age (If you turn 13 years of age during the 2024 calendar year, you must enter the Senior Division. If a performer will turn 22 years old during the 2024 calendar year, they must be no more than 21 years of age at the time of the Howard County 4-H Fair Youth Talent Contest.
2. Group acts must compete in the division determined by the ages of the majority of the group. No one older than 14 may compete in the junior division.
3. Every contestant in the Youth Talent Contest MUST BE AN INDIANA RESIDENT.
4. Original music from sanctioned contest must be used.
5. Language and actions must be appropriate.
6. Any attempt to circumvent these terms & conditions shall result in disqualification.
7. The Howard Country 4-H Fair does not audition acts for competition in the Youth Talent Contest.
8. Entries will be accepted in the following 12 categories for both the Junior Division and the Senior Division.
(1) Vocal Solo (2) Vocal Group (3) Instrumental Solo
(4) Instrumental Group (5) Dance Solo (6) Dance Group
(7) Novelty Solo (8) Novelty Group (9) Tumbling (Free X only Solo)
(10) Tumbling (Free X only) Group (11) Clogging Solo (12) Clogging Group
9. Cheerleaders and Baton twirlers or similar acts using batons, machetes or sharp instruments will not be accepted in the Youth Talent Contest. No fire, dry ice or fog will be allowed on stage. Any attempt to circumvent these terms and conditions shall result in disqualification.
10. The Youth Talent Contest Chairman and Howard County 4-H Fair Entry Manager reserve the right to assign acts to what they determine to be the proper categories. Any questions shall be resolved by the Chairman and the Indiana State Fair Executive Director or their designee.
11. In the event that fewer than three acts are entered in any one category of competition, the Youth Talent Contest Chairman reserves the right either to cancel the category or combine it with another category.
ENTRY INFORMATION
1. All entries must be made in accordance with the terms and conditions.
2. Online Entry – To enter into the Howard County 4-H Fair, please register here by complete the online form and following the prompts. Each talent contestant or group is required to pay an entry fee at the time of entry. A talent contestant or group will not be considered entered into the Howard County 4-H Fair until payment is made in full. Include a printed copy of the completed application with a check for the entry fee and send to Howard County 4-H Fair, Attention: Talent Show, P.O. Box 275, Greentown, IN 46936
3. Entry Deadlines and Fees:
a. Enter by Tuesday, July 9th, 2024
b. - Per Solo: $5.00
- Duets or Groups: $5.00 Per person; and
- Groups over 5: $25.00
4. Entry questions? Call, Kurt Waddelow 317-379-5733
CATEGORY GUIDELINES
A. VOCAL – Solo male, female or group (2 or more performers, male or female): This categoryshall consist of a solo or group performance by a vocalist(s). Instrumental accompaniment is allowed but must assume the pure character of accompaniment. The test shall be whether the performance would stand alone if the accompaniment were removed. Any background vocal on a CD must be minimal. (No props allowed)
B. INSTRUMENTAL – Solo male, female, or group (2 or more performers, male or female): This category shall consist of a solo or group instrumental performance without vocal utterance. Accompaniment is allowed but must assume the pure character of accompaniment. The test shall be whether the solo performance would stand alone if the accompaniment were removed. No instrument of the same nature may be used for accompaniment. 2-minute limit, set-up time.
C. DANCE—Solo male, female or group (2 or more performers, male or female): This category shall consist of a solo or group dance performance. Accompanists are permitted on stage. Ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, lyrical, modern, hip-hop, step will be judged in this category. Dances may not include any stunt where the hips go over the head. Props must be part of the costume I.e. hat, cane, umbrella, parasol, etc.
D. CLOGGING – Solo male, female or group (2 or more performers, male or female). This category shall consist of a solo or group clogging performance. Accompanists are permitted on stage. Freestyle, artistic expression, traditional moving line, hoedown, precision, artistic expressions are all allowed. Props must be part of the costume. No tumbling is allowed.
E. TUMBLING/RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS – Solo male, female or group (2 or more performers, male or female). (Floor exercise only): This category was created for the dance routines that incorporate more than two acrobatic/tumbling tricks. Everyone is responsible for his/her own mats and runners. Props and scenery are allowed. No spotters. Two (2)-minute limit, set-up time.
F. NOVELTY – Solo male, female or group (2 or more performers, male or female): This category shall consist of a solo or group performance in any act that has not been previously described. The following acts are in this category: Skits, impersonators, Lip Sync, comedians, magicians, recitations (original or otherwise), mimes, jugglers (pins, balls, plates, etc.), unicyclist, hoola hoops, reenactments, dramatic presentations (theatrical). THIS CATEGORY DOES NOT INCLUDE SINGERS, DANCERS, TUMBLERS, CLOGGERS OR INSTRUMENTALISTS. Props are allowed. Two (2)-minute limit, setup time.
G. PERFORMANCE RULES
1. A group act in the county preliminary competition may drop a member who is listed on the Youth Talent Contest Form but MAY NOT ADD OR REPLACE any member that was not listed on the original entry form submitted to the Howard County 4-H Fair.
2. Contestants may refer to this contest brochure under the Competition Schedule for the date and time that they should report to the South Stage. Approximate line-up time will be given to contestants at registration. Disqualification may result if tardy.
3. Performance time allotted shall be: 2:00-minute limit for solo act; 2:30-minute limit for duets and groups of three or more; 5:00-minute limit for band performance. The definition of a band is one (1) lead singer, one (1) bass player, one (1) lead guitarist and one (1) drummer/percussionist. A band must consist of four (4) or more members. An official timer will be present at each competition during the Howard County 4-H Youth Talent Contest. Ten penalty points will be deducted from the score of any act that exceeds the designated time limit for that act.
4. Timing begins:
a. When music begins, when music is used, OR
b. At first movement or vocal utterance of performer without musical accompaniment. Set-up time for all props, including mats, is 2 minutes only. Music must end within the designated time limit. Ten penalty points will be deducted if set-up time exceeds 2 minutes.
5. The Howard County 4-H Fair DOES NOT provide any equipment (including gymnastic mats or keyboards and pianos), except for the lighting and sound equipment. All acts will use ONLY the lighting system provided by the Howard County 4-H Fair.
6. All acts will use the sound system and sound operator provided by the Howard County 4-HFair. Instrumentalists may bring their own amplifier if needed. All music must be either on a CD (one song, good quality, scratch free) and/or an Apple or Android device. Howard County 4-HFair will provide an 1/8-inch plug to connect the headphone jack on an Apple or Android device. Contestants must provide a person to operate these devices and the device may need to be removed from its’ case to insure proper connection. CDs will be collected, and devices will be tested during the registration time on the contestant’s performance day. Each CD should be labeled with the contestant’s name and county. Howard County 4-H Fair is not responsible for lost or damaged CDs or devices.
7. No one other than the contestant(s) will be allowed backstage. This includes all parents and teachers. Failure to comply with these terms & conditions my result in disqualification.
8. Videotaping will be allowed only in areas specified for that purpose.
JUDGING
1. A panel of three or more judges will serve at all competitions during the Indiana State Fair Youth Talent Contest.
2. Judging will include, but is not limited to the following criteria:
I. PERSONALITY & POISE
(Confidence – Smile – Showmanship)
II. EXECUTION & ORIGINALITY
(Body Lines – Correct Technique – Balance – Projection)
III. RHYTHM & SOUND
(Timing – Style – Musical Range – Choice of Music)
IV. COSTUME
(Appropriate – Fit – Appearance)
V. GENERAL IMPRESSION
(Difficulty – Effect)
3. Any ties will be broken by the judges & Youth Talent Contest Coordinator.
4. All awards will be presented at the end of the competition