Describe the Issue or Situation
 The Kentucky State Fair, held annually in Louisville each August, features Cloverville, a showcase for 4-H members from across the state to exhibit projects they have completed over the past year. Within Cloverville, the Horticulture and Plant Science Division highlights entries such as vegetables, houseplants, annual container gardens, and plant science projects, just to name a few. While vegetable entries are judged and ribbons awarded, space limitations prevent all vegetables from being displayed to the public. This left many exhibitors without visible recognition for their achievements and created a surplus of unused but good-quality produce. In addition, the judging process, while thorough, was slowed by an outdated rubric that made efficiency challenging.

Describe the Outreach or Educational Program Response (and Partners, if applicable)
 In response to the display limitations, the Cloverville Horticulture Committee developed a new vegetable display board in 2024 to showcase all exhibitors and their placings, even if their produce could not be physically displayed. This board was implemented again in 2025 and will remain a permanent feature. To address food waste, in 2023 a committee member began collecting the vegetable exhibits that were high-quality, but unable to display, for donation to a local food pantry, ensuring the produce benefits the community. Additionally, after the 2024 fair, the Cloverville Horticulture Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent redesigned the horticulture judging score sheet to allow for thorough, consistent, and more efficient judging while still providing constructive feedback to youth participants. This new sheet was reviewed and approved by the State 4-H Office and used successfully for the first time in 2025.

Provide the Number and Description(s) of Participants/Target Audience
 The program engaged 4-H youth exhibitors from across Kentucky, Horticulture Extension Agents, Ag and Natural Resources Extension Agents, 4-H Extension Agents, and Horticulture Program Assistants. In 2025, the vegetable donation effort provided 84.2 pounds of fresh produce to a local food pantry, directly benefiting community members experiencing food insecurity. The new score sheet impacted all 607 horticulture and plant science entries at the 2025 fair, improving the experience for both judges and participants.

Provide a Statement of Outcomes or Program Impact
 The vegetable display boards have increased visibility and recognition for all horticulture exhibitors, resulting in positive feedback from spectators, Extension personnel, and participants. The vegetable donation initiative has diverted high-quality produce from waste to community use, providing 84.2 pounds of fresh vegetables to those in need during the 2025 fair. The introduction of the redesigned score sheet improved judging efficiency while maintaining quality feedback, allowing the judging process to run more smoothly and enabling judges to offer meaningful, encouraging comments. Collectively, these changes have enhanced exhibitor recognition, reduced food waste, supported local hunger relief, and improved operational efficiency within Cloverville’s Horticulture and Plant Science Division.