General Rules

1. State Leaders are responsible for ensuring that all students meet the age requirements of the contest in which they are registered.

• All contestants must be 14-18 years old as of January 1 of the current year.
• All members must be current members of 4-H.
• Contestants must not have competed in post-secondary (college, university, etc.) competitive events in the same subject area.
• Contestants cannot compete in a contest in which he, or she, had participated previously.

2. WARNING !! Secure all valuables. A 4-H'er was lucky a few years ago; her garment bag was lost/picked up by mistake, but was returned.

3. If a contestant from your state has a disability and desire any assistance, devices, services or other accommodations to participate in this conference, please contact Dr. Ken Koelkebeck by October 20 at (217) 244-0195 during business hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (standard time) to discuss accommodations.

4. As of May 25, 2000, the National 4-H Leadership Council has established the following policy for national 4-H events. "Each state should provide proof of medical/accident coverage for all participating and non-participating contestants/members during travel to, while at Louisville, and travel from the contest." In order to conform to the above policy, please make sure you have made provisions for this coverage from your State 4-H Office. It is not necessary to send in a copy of this insurance coverage.

5. The address for the official web page of this conference is http://National4HPoultryandEgg.psu.edu This site includes general conference information such as the: Rules and Information for each contest area, Competition History, Schedule of Events, Maps to the Contest, Career Workshop, and Entry Forms.

6. Entry forms: These forms must be completed and returned by October 20, unless your state has a late contest that would prohibit submission of the applications. In this case, simply notify the Conference Superintendent.

Unless otherwise indicated on the entry form, return the completed forms to Dr. Ken Koelkebeck, Dept. of Animal Sciences, 282 Animal Sciences Laboratory, 1207 W. Gregory Dr., Urbana, IL 61801, (217) 244-0195 or fax (217) 333-7861.

It is important that the forms be reviewed and signed by the appropriate person in each State. Please provide the name and address of one person in each State to whom correspondence should be directed. This should be a Specialist (Poultry or Nutrition), and not a contestant. On the Non-Contestant Form, list all persons other than contestants who will be attending the Conference and Banquet including specialists. This information is essential to plan meal functions.

A) The Conference is comprised of five competitive events:

1) Poultry Judging Contest - Team Registration, Independent Individual

2) Egg Preparation Demonstration contest

3) Chicken Barbecue Demonstration contest

4) Turkey Barbecue Demonstration contest

5) Avian Bowl contest

B) Each state can also have a youth delegate apply as an Ambassador to the Specialist committee

C) Non-contestants

7. Decisions are final. Judge and class committee decisions in all contests are final.

8. Proper conduct of participants in the respective contests is important. Disorderly conduct prior to, during, or after each contest will result in a warning to the contestant, coach, or specialist involved. If abusive behavior continues, the contestant (or contestants) will be disqualified from the contest.

The score of the individual in the poultry judging contest will count toward the team score if not more than one person is disqualified from a State. Action concerning a Coach or Specialist will be decided by the Executive Committee of the National 4-H Poultry and Egg Conference.

At no time during the Poultry Judging Contest, Avian Bowl Contest, Chicken and Turkey BBQ Contest and Egg Preparation Demonstration may a contestant, contest monitor, or judge carry a cellular phone and have it on. If personal circumstances warrant the use of one, this needs to be cleared by each contest chairperson.

9. Computer generated graphics are acceptable in illustrated presentations.

10. Breaking Tie Scores: Ties will be handled according to procedures listed for each contest.

11. All contestants and coaches must be neat, clean, and appropriately attired (nice slacks and shirts for male contestants, similar attire or blouse/skirt or dress for female participants). 4-H uniforms will not be required.

12. Hotel Registration Card: A block of rooms has been reserved at the Executive Inn. Each State is responsible for making lodging arrangements for their participants. To avoid confusion and to ensure your participants have lodging, please communicate with other personnel in your State when making reservations. The Executive Inn will not hold reservations past 6:00 p.m. without a guarantee.

Room rates for this year are as follows:
Single or Double $110.00
Triple or Quad $110.00

Cutoff Date is October 19, 2008
NOTE: To reserve rooms, indicate that you are with the 4-H Poultry and Egg Conference. The block of rooms is for November 18-20. For reservation information, contact the Executive Inn:

Executive Inn, 978 Phillips Lane
Louisville, Kentucky 40213
(800) 626-2706 or 502-367-6161

13. Schedule of Events: Registration will be at the conference registration table in the lobby of the Executive Inn at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday. The Conference begins at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday with a Poultry Career Opportunities Workshop. Unless prior notification is given, all participants except Conference Committee members are expected to participate in all planned activities, including a tour and the get-acquainted party.

14. Contest Committee Chairpersons: General questions regarding the Conference may be directed to the Conference Superintendent. Specific questions regarding a contest should be directed to the appropriate Chairperson.

15. Awards: The list should be considered a "tentative list". The awards are based on the assumption that our sponsors will support the conference at the same level as in previous years.

NOTE: IF SPONSORSHIP DOES NOT MEET THE LEVEL FOR AWARDS, AWARDS MAY BE REDUCED OR ELIMINATED.

16. All Specialist Committee members are expected to assist in setting up the contest Wednesday afternoon. Only the Chaperones and 4-H contestants are allowed to attend the tour of Louisville.

17. There is a registration fee that allows participants to participate in the career workshop, tours, and pizza dinner on Wednesday as well as the awards banquet on Thursday. Submit the registration fee with the registration forms to the conference superintendent. Please make you check payable to: National 4-H Poultry and Egg Conference. The registration fee is $30.00 for everyone who attends this conference. If a contestant is registered for more than one contest event (i.e., Poultry Judging and Avian Bowl) it is still just a one time registration fee of $30.

This conference is for the benefit of the 4-H'ers, so if there is anything that we can do to make this a better learning experience, please let us know.