Source: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf64919589.tip.html

Trouble With 4H Projects

How do I handle this one? My younger daughters all sew and are in 4H. Our club does not have a sewing project leader, so they work their projects at home. We also homeschool, and we do sewing and other home ec projects as well. We also have Amish roots, and needlework is sort of in our blood. It is taught at a very early age. My girls projects are of the level of an Amish girls the same age, but not of an "Englishers". As a result, they are very good little seamstress, and have made numerous high quality outfits, better than many adults can sew.

Our problem is when they enter their projects in the fair, they are marked down with reasons of "outfit or project skills are not age appropriate" or projects are removed with a tag of "appears the parent made this project". We have tried putting photos of them making their projects in with the project, but that does not help.

The kids and the leaders of our group are not allowed to talk to the judges until after the project is judged. We have different judges each event, so they are not likely to remember that they are skilled little girls. Last fair a judge said at their age they should be making 2 piece pillows, not a dress and purse set.

My girls love sewing and don't want to drop it as a project, nor do I feel they should enter a 2 piece pillow instead of what they are really capable of. We have another fair next month and I am trying to look for a way to get a better grip on it, without discouraging the girls. FYI, in 4H, they are not judged against other kids projects. Instead all projects are judged against a checklist, so technically all entered projects could get a blue, red, white or yellow ribbon.

April from NW Missouri

Source: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf64919589.tip.html

Disclaimer: ThriftyFun.com cannot accept any responsibility for any injury or damage that you may cause to yourself, others, or property when following any advice given on this site. Read the full disclaimer: http://www.thriftyfun.comdisclaimer.ldml If you find any information on ThriftyFun.com or in our newsletters that is either erroneous and/or potentially harmful to others, please Contact Us, immediately.