Judges contribute significantly to the growth and development of 4-H members through the judging process. Judges link the 4-H member with the outside world and standards of performance. The process of judging reinforces learning when applied positively, but if it becomes a search for demerits, judging can be destructive of self-esteem, causing loss of interest in the program and in 4-H.
4-H encourages all members to "make the best better." An essential role of volunteer judges is to provide feedback to exhibitors on how projects could or should be improved, allowing members to expand their knowledge in a project area.
Use this video as a resource to better understand the Danish system of judging, which compares an exhibit to the ideal standards.
