MSU Extension 4-H

The following list of questions can be used by youth judges to pull out life skills within 4-H non-livestock project experiences. Each area of the Iowa State University “Targeting Life skills” wheel are encompassed through Head, Hands, Heart & Health questions.

Head

• What goals did you have in this project area this year?
• In what ways have you improved or grown in this project area since last year?
• How do you make sure you have enough time to finish your projects during the year?
• What is the most important thing you have learned in this project?
• How did you plan out your project? How did it work out?
• At any point did you have to re-think your project? What changes did you have to make?
• How did you solve problems you faced?
• If you discovered in the middle of your project that you do not have all the supplies you need, what would you do?

Heart

• If someone asked you what young people learn in 4-H, what would your response be?
• How would you respond if someone doesn’t see/get/understand the point in your work?
• How did your leader or other members in your club help you with your project? How did you help other members?
• How will you share what you learned with others?
• How do you draw others into the group?
• When you are communicating, how do you ensure you hear what others are saying?
• Why is community service an important aspect in this 4-H project? 

Hands

• How have you demonstrated leadership in this project area?
• When working on a team, how do you ensure that everyone is contributing and successful?
• What motivates you to do this project?
• Describe the tools that you used to complete this project. When in your future might you use these tools again?
• What careers stem from this project area?

Health

• When speaking to a group, how do you control your nervousness?
• What options in this project could you use to improve health?

Helpful Hints for Evaluators

• The judging experience is an evaluation of the youth’s development as well as the final project.
• Youth may be nervous or anxious during evaluation; ask questions in a conversational way so that the youth can be at ease about the experience.
• Use these questions to enter into and build conversation during the evaluation.
• Always provide positive feedback.
• Approach suggestions with delicacy and tact. This is a learning process.
• Familiarize yourself with the Experiential Learning Model.
• These questions can be used for non-livestock and livestock projects.