Judging electric projects at some of the surrounding 4-H fairs is something I have been doing since I started at Fulton County REMC. These fairs showcase young participants’ ingenuity and hard work, providing them with a platform to demonstrate their skills and creativity. The last few weeks of June, extending into early July, usually involve one visit to a fairground each week. This is something that Fulton County REMC has done with other cooperatives for many years. When I started judging these projects, I was the only one in our group; I was the “new” person because everyone else had at least five years of experience. Now, I’m the “old” person.

All the fairs we help at have open judging, meaning that the child brings up the project and explains a little about it as we give it a close look to make sure everything is done correctly, neatly, and without any safety concerns. I used to not like open judging because, at first, it was hard to take the wind out of the children’s sails if I had to give them any negative marks. That is no longer the case.

When I started, my group to judge was the 1-year (circuit board). This was a pretty good spot for me to be put in because I had already done the circuit board projects with about 300 4th graders that year. I probably was a little too soft judging those projects that year. I’m sure I gave a blue ribbon to some that should have gotten a red. I remember that first year, watching the projects in the higher divisions and being glad I was not judging those projects. Until I got to fair number two for the year, someone could not make it, so I got Division 4 with lamps. I really liked judging the lamps. Luckily, I had some great help from the other judges if I had a question about what the rules say.

Now, at every fair for the past few years, I seem to be the advanced judge. The projects in this division make me put my thinking cap on. Everything from a Rubik’s Cube solver to a generator installed at a home. This is the kitchen sink of the projects category. One of the best parts about this group is the information you can get from them. The younger groups tend to be very timid and do not want to say much. For the older kids, by this point in their 4-H careers, they will explain everything.

After that first year, when I gave out only blue ribbons, I realized it was not doing them any favors. This is a time to tell them what they did wrong and explain what they could have done to make it complete or safe. The problem I seem to have with advanced projects is they all do such a great job. This makes it very hard to determine the champions; usually, the smallest detail separates them. Sometimes, like with anything, the parents take it harder than the kids.

Before every judging, we go around and introduce ourselves and the cooperative we represent. I have been using this time to give my “everyone doesn’t get a trophy” speech. I explain that I might give them a red ribbon, but I promise to explain why. This usually gets them a little nervous, and I’m not going to lie, that is why I do it. I then explained that I had heard that a past judge used to cut off lamp cords if they were wired incorrectly. It was not because that judge just loved giving red ribbons, it was because he cared about the children and their safety, but also it was not done correctly. I guess that after a cord gets cut on a project in front of you, you will remember how to wire it up the next time. I have yet to pull out my side cuts.

Judging at the 4-H fairs has been an incredibly fulfilling part of my role at Fulton County REMC. It’s awesome to witness young minds’ creativity and dedication and contribute to their learning journey. As I look forward to future fairs, I remain committed to providing constructive feedback to help them along the way.