These regulations are also available in the current NC 4-H Awards Handbook.

1. Each county may enter two presentations per age category. 4-H members may compete in no more than one presentation program per year. “4-H Entertains” is not considered a presentation program. **Exceptions:
   • In Horse 8-10, 11-13 and 14-18, a county may enter one individual presentations and one team presentation. Please see Horse rules and regulations.
   • If 4-H’ers participate in Chicken and Turkey Grilling, Pork Char-Grill, Seafood Grilling and Beef Grilling, they should report to and complete the cooking presentation before participating in “4-H Entertains.” Someone should report early to the “4-H Entertains” contest that the     4-H’er will participate later due to their outdoor cooking contest.
   • Each county is limited to a maximum of 10 minutes in the “4-H Entertains” Program (Talent Contest) involving no more than two acts. Cloverbuds are not eligible to participate in 4-H Entertains. They can do their talent in the CloverBud Category.
   • A County Winner ribbon is given to each participant. A medallion is awarded to the district gold, silver, and bronze winner. One presentation in each category will be designated as the district winner and will be eligible to compete on the state level along with the silver winner in 11-13 and 14-18 age groups. 4-H Entertains” program receive a participation ribbon and selected acts will receive a blue ribbon. Some blue ribbon acts are invited to participate in the State “4-H Entertains” program.
   • The value of a scholarship to 4-H Congress varies for each award. Please note the specific scholarship values for each category. Other expenses are the responsibility of the recipient. To receive the scholarship the      4-H’er must register part or full-time and must present on Presentation Day.
   • Cash awards, either in full or in part, will not be given to the district winners in lieu of the scholarship to attend North Carolina 4-H Congress.
   • When any division winner cannot attend Congress or participate in the state presentation contest, the award will be given to the District silver winner in the 11-13 and 14-18 age group, if the District silver winner registers and attends Congress as a part or full-time delegate and participates in the Presentation Contest.
   • 11-13 and 14-18 level district silver winners in presentations will be invited to participate in the state contest at the 4-H Congress. There will be no scholarship available for silver winners to attend Congress unless the district winner decides not to participate in the appropriate age categories.
   • 4-H members may continue to compete in a particular presentation category until declared state winner. An exception is made when a silver winner is awarded a scholarship to replace the state winner; they are then no longer eligible to participate in the same program but may participate in others.
   • A team may be composed of no more than two individuals, except in    4-H Entertains. 4-H Entertains there is no limit. If the team giving a presentation is composed of individuals in two different age divisions (8-10, 11-13, 14-18), the team must compete in the older youths’ age division.
   • Some categories may not have a monetary award due to no sponsorship at the time of the presentation.
   • No live animals may be used in any presentation. No real handguns or firearms are allowed to be used during presentations.

Presentation Rules and Regulations from the 4-H Awards Handbook

Age Divisions: 8-10, 11-13 & 14-18

Each county may enter two participants per age division per category for District Competition.

District GOLD winners in all age categories are eligible to compete in State Presentation Finals. The 11-13 and 14-18 age category SILVER winners are eligible to compete as well.

1. Age eligibility is established on January 1. To participate, the 4-H member must be 8 years old on January 1 and not have had his/her 19^th birthday before January 1.
2. The same presentation may be repeated from one year to the next (exception: see #15). However, the individual’s personal development will be greater if the presentation is revised and improved.
3. Time Requirements: For all general presentation categories, the following time requirements are expected: a minimum of 5 minutes and a maximum of 12 minutes. Judges will use their discretion in ranking presentation length. Exceptions are as follows: Public Speaking (5-7 minutes); All Horse Categories (see #4); Chicken Barbecue (2 hours); Turkey Barbecue (2 hours); Pork Cookery (2 hours); Beef Char-Grill (2 hours). Turning baskets or cooking baskets are not permitted during Chicken and Turkey BBQ.
4. Horse Category Time Requirements: Horse, Individual 8-10, 11-13: 4-12 minutes; Horse, Individual 14-18: 9-12 minutes; Horse, Team 8-10, 11-13: 5-15 minutes; Horse, Team 14-18: 10-15 minutes; Horse Public Speaking 8-10, 11-13: 4-10 minutes; Horse Public Speaking, 14-18: 8-10 minutes. One point is deducted per judge for each minute under or over the time limits.
5. Youth competing in presentations compete against their room’s competition, not a standardized norm.
6. Each county may enter two participants in each age division in each category.
7. 4-H’ers may compete in no more than one presentation program per year. The “Talent Showcase” (4-H Entertains) is not considered a presentation program.
8. Horticulture, Fruit & Vegetable, Egg Cookery, and Peanut Foods categories must be a “demonstration” however these categories will NOT participate in NJHA anymore. Monetary awards will be given to these category gold winners. We have created a Horticulture Science Category to replace:  Artistic Arrangement, Horticultural Production & Marketing, Landscaping.
9. Presentation Awards: A participation ribbon is given to each district participant at District Activity Day. A medal is presented to the gold, silver, and bronze winners. One presentation in each category will be designated the district winner. The district gold winner in all age categories and the silver winner in the 11-13 and 14-18 categories will be eligible to compete on the state level. EXCEPTION: Talent Showcase/4-H Entertains awards blue ribbons and participation ribbons.
10. The decision of the judges in each category is final.
11. All award monies on the District level is a stipend to attend the State 4-H Presentation Finals/4-H Congress. A 4-H’er must present at State Finals to receive the stipend. The value of a stipend to 4-H Congress varies for each category. Please note the specific stipend values for each category. Other expenses are the responsibility of the recipient. If a winner elects to participate in presentation finals only, funds can only be applied to that youth’s on-site expenses for presentations.
12. District stipend, either in full or in part, will not be given to the district winners in lieu of the stipend to attend North Carolina 4-H Congress or State Presentation Finals. All must be used towards these events.
13. When a gold medal winner cannot compete in the state presentation contest, the award will be given to the district silver winner. See #11.
14. Ages 11-13 and 14-18 district silver presentation winners are invited to participate in the state contest at their expense. There will be no stipend available for silver winners to attend Congress unless the district gold winner decides not to participate.
15. 4-H members may continue to compete in a presentation category/division until declared a state gold winner. When the member reaches another age division, he/she may again participate in the same category.
16. A team is composed of two individuals except in 4-H Entertains, which has no limit. If team members are not in the same age division, they must compete in the older division. CloverBuds are not able to participate in 4-H Entertains.
17. No live animals may be used in any presentation. Firearms and/or weapons or anything resembling these is not allowed during any presentation.
18. Donor contacts and addresses can be obtained through the North Carolina 4-H Development Office.
19. 4-H members, age 14-18 will be asked to present a knowledge-based presentation. There should be no food preparation presented during the presentation; thus, no tasting by judges.
20. Presenters are not required to say “the question has been asked” and then repeat the question.
21. 4-H Entertains is for amateur performers only. Any 4-H members or groups who perform for pay are not eligible. Cecil & Leonard has been dropped as a 4-H Entertains category however it can be an entertains act.
22. Chicken and Turkey Grilling 14-18 Age Categories are required to do an oral presentation. See specific category descriptions above for more information. The meat will be provided for state-level competition for these categories provided funding is available.
23. Please avoid promoting any “brand” items in your presentations. If you use specific brands especially in your food presentations, just cover up the name labels.
24. Costumes or appropriate clothing can be worn in your presentations. All clothing must meet the 4-H Guidelines and must be 4-H appropriate.
25. 4-H Presentations MUST BE presented in person and cannot be pre-recorded except for VERY SHORT inserts to demonstrate something that can’t be shown during the presentation (ie. serving a volleyball; a robot driving over a course). *Note:  Method of delivery shall be determined by the State 4-H Staff in the event of a pandemic or other situations.

For specific suggestions on the use of visuals, see the Presentation Handbook.