Cotton Boll and Consumer Judging Objectives, Rules, and Awards

Objectives

• To understand the importance of cotton as an agricultural commodity

• To promote cotton in communities

• To make knowledgeable, rational decisions when purchasing goods and services

• To select, use, maintain and dispose of goods and services in ways that maximize resources

• To obtain clothing, goods and services to meet needs and reflect lifestyles, personal values and goals

• To act as responsible consumer-citizen with an understanding of the rights and responsibilities of the consumer, business and government

• To learn to communicate reasons for choices made

Competition Guidelines

1. All participants must participate in a county 4-H Cotton Boll and Consumer Judging program.

2. The Junior Competition is for 4th – 8th grade youth. The Senior Competition is for 9th – 12th grade youth. A county may compete with a maximum of 20 youth for each competition level. The top four scoring participants in each competition level will be considered a team, with the top 3 scores counting, unless teams are designated prior to the contest. Counties have the option of competing with up to 2 teams per competition level. If a county has less than three contestants, they may participate as individuals.

3. The Consumer Judging portion of the contest will occur live and in-person at designated area contest locations.

4. Junior cotton presentations consist of a 30 second commercial and a poster that promotes cotton and its use. Juniors will prepare the poster to be no larger than 14” x 22” – half of a large size poster board. Junior Commercials are judged on appearance (5%), delivery (20%), creativity (20%), overall quality (20%), poster (30%) and length (5%). Use of notes is discouraged.

5. Senior cotton presentations consist of a 90 second advertisement about cotton. Seniors are not graded on posters, but limited props and costumes may be used. Seniors are judged on appearance (5%), delivery (20%), creativity (20%), accuracy of information (20%) organization of contents (15%), overall quality (15%), and length (5%).

6. For both reasons and commercials/PSAs, judges will come together to judge the first five 4-H’ers collectively in order to create a consist scoring pattern. Once the consistent scoring pattern has been established, judges will divide into their individual stations for judging. The number of judges for each station (1 or 2) will depend on the availability of screened volunteers and staff at the district contest.

7. Teams will judge 4 classes of consumer items and give oral reasons on one class. Use of notes is discouraged, and a penalty will be given if notes are used. Youth will have a maximum of 7 minutes for each class and a maximum of 7 minutes for reasons preparation.

8. Youth are judged based on 4 judging classes (50 points each for 200 points total), oral reasons (50 points), and a cotton presentation (100 points).

9. While blank paper is allowed as well as pre-printed blank product comparison forms. Notes and reasons template forms are prohibited during the consumer judging portion of the contest. Use of presentation notes, including cue cards and other prompts, are discouraged in the Cotton Boll portion of the contest.

10. The top 4 participants in a county in each competition level will be named the winning team, with the top three scores counting.

11. Ties will be broken using: Judging Total (1st), Oral Reasons (2nd), and Class 3 (3rd).

12. Cell phones/electronic devices are prohibited from being used during the contest.

Awards and Recognition

• Each participant will receive a special events pin.

• Award Certificates may be printed by the county and will be available in Canva.

• The district winning team will be the county team with the highest total team score (sum of the 3 highest individual scores per county).

• The district winning team will consist of the 3 highest scoring individuals and the 4th place alternate.

• The highest scoring Junior and Senior team at each contest will be recognized. Each team member (total of 4) will receive a prize.

 

• The 2 Senior teams with the highest score at each contest will be eligible to compete in the State 4-H Cotton Boll and Consumer Judging Contest.

• The high overall individual in the Senior Division (9th – 12th grade) at each contest will be invited to compete at the State Cotton Boll and Consumer Judging Contest for the High Overall Individual Award. This individual may also be a member of the 1st or 2nd place Senior team or may just compete as an individual.

• Special recognition will be awarded to the high individuals at each area contest. We will continue to recognize individuals in the categories of overall, individual, high judging score, and high advertisement/commercial in the age divisions of Cloverleaf (4th-6th), Junior (7th and 8th), and Senior (9th-12th). However, for the purposes of team recognition, 4th-6th graders will still be included in the Junior division. The purpose of this is to encourage some of our youngest participants in the program!

State Contest Awards and Recognition

• The 2 Senior teams with the highest score at each contest will be eligible to compete in the State 4-H Cotton Boll and Consumer Judging Contest.

• There will be NO Commercials/Advertisements at State Cotton Boll and Consumer Judging contest. At the State Contest a Group Think component will be implemented to reflect what competitors will see at the national level. Seniors will judge 2 additional classes (for a total of 6 classes) that are provided in the study guide/preparation materials. Seniors will give 2 sets of reasons at the State Contest.

• Group Think scoring will be broken down into two sections (team participation and team process). In team participation you can receive up to 40 points (Participation 1-10, Reading 1-10, Discussing 1-10, and Summarizing 1-10). In the team process category you can receive up to 60 points (Alternative solutions 1-10 points, Definitions 1-10, Solution 1-20 points, and Presentation (Effort shown 1-10 and Clear statement of Group Decision is presented 1-10). Refer to the Group Think rubric in the study guide.

• The high overall individual in the Senior Division (9th – 12th grade) at each contest will be invited to compete at the State Cotton Boll and Consumer Judging Contest for the High Overall Individual Award. This individual may also be a member of the 1st or 2nd place Senior team or may just compete as an individual.

• The State Winning Senior Team will be the county team with the highest total team score (sum of the 3 highest individual scores per county). The winning team will consist of the 3 highest scoring individuals and the 4th place alternate.

• The High Overall Individual Winner is the Senior 4-H’er with the highest total score at the state contest.

• The State Winning Senior Team and High Overall Senior Individual will be eligible for Master 4-H’er status; will receive a medal; and will participate in the recognition of Special Events Winners at State 4-H Congress. The banquet meal and lodging expenses will be paid for the team and coach; however, travel costs are not covered.

• The State Winning Senior Team of four members will be invited to participate in the National Consumer Decision Making Contest. Registration fees will be paid for 4 members and one team coach.

• State Winning Team Members may compete in future years as individuals. State Winning Team Members cannot compete again as a team. State High Individuals may compete in future years and if placing first, gain Master status until Georgia 4-H eligibility is completed.

• The Second Place State Winning Team of four members will be invited to participate in either the National FCS Skill-A-Thon or the National FCS Bowl. Travel costs will not be provided. This team will not receive Master 4-H’er status and may compete in the state competition again.

 

If an individual with a disability may require assistance or accommodation in order to participate in
this program, please contact us at least two weeks prior to the event.

For more information, contact your local UGA Extension office at
1-800-ASK-UGA1.