Home & Country Show 2024

Saturday 14th September 2024

at the Village Valley Centre,
Cambridge Street, Ashhurst

Sections

Information
Timetable
Categories

Information

Please read all the information carefully to ensure success with your entries. Utilise the video (at the bottom of this page) showing examples of past entries.
Online Registrations will open on Wednesday 14th August 2024.
Registrations will close on Sunday 8th September 2024. NO entries will be received after this date. (However, minor tweaks can be emailed through until Tuesday 10th September 2024.)
Once you have completed your registration, an email will be sent to you which will contain a list of your entries and your individual Entry Code that will be used to keep all the judging anonymous. Please keep this email.
Each exhibit your child enters and any placings (1st, 2nd, 3rd) they receive earns them points. The child with the most points will receive the “Supreme Exhibitor” rosette. One is given to a Junior (up to 8 years) and the other to a Senior (9 years and over). It is important to note that if you register an exhibit but do not enter it on the day you will not receive any points for the exhibit.
Please DO NOT name your exhibits.
When you deliver your entries on Show Day you will be given a card to put with your exhibit that will have your individual Entry Code on one side (for judging) and your name on the other side (for viewing after the prizegiving).
The Age Category for each entry is set based on the child's age as of 14th September 2024.
All entries must have been completed during the 2024 school year.
Photography and Literature entries close on Monday 2nd September 2024.
Those entering Photography and Literature sections will need to ensure their individual Entry Code and Age Category is written/stuck on the back of their entry both of which can be found in your Registration email.
Deliver your Photography and Literature entries to Kirsten Edwards – 12 Balrickard Way, PN craftykje@gmail.com, 021-583234.
Both categories will be judged prior to the Show Day.

Remember, you do not have to attend on the day to enter or enter to attend the day!

Entry Fees: The entry fees are $10.00 per child, plus an additional $15.00 per family for non-MHE members. This cost covers the child’s entry of all exhibits, participation in the activities and games and the families entry to view the exhibits.
Payment: Please make all your payments into the MHE account (reference: HCShow-familyname) PRIOR to the Show Day.
Our bank account details are:
Manawatu Home Educators
BNZ 02 0719 0160638 00
Reference: HC Show-familyname
Parent Help: Without assistance, the Home & Country Show Day wouldn't go nearly as smoothly as it does. Please consider helping out this year by filling out the Parent Help Form which will be available on Wednesday 14th August 2024. Thank you!
Summary Form: The Home and Country Show Committee are aware there is a range of difficulties and abilities/disabilities that our children can have in regards to completing their entries including physical and non-physical. Our aim is that it is expected that each exhibit is the work of the child. Any guidance and encouragement should remain as verbal as possible. Where that is not possible we do not want this to be a hindrance to your child entering. Please use the Summary Form to communicate any extra assistance that your child received over and above what would be age and/or stage-appropriate.
Visitors on the Day: If you want to visit on the day and check out all the exhibits, come along and join us – you are very welcome! The Exhibit Viewing time is 12:30pm-1:30pm. Otherwise, there will be a brief exhibit viewing time between 3:00pm-3:30pm (after prizegiving prior to exhibits being dismantled/taken).
Children (not exhibiting in the show) participating in activities are asked to contribute a Gold Coin donation. Arrive anytime after 10:00am.

Timetable:

 8:30am – Registration of exhibits opens
 9:45am – Registration of exhibits closes
10:00am – Judging commences
        – Indoor & Outdoor (weather permitting) activities start
11:30am – Wheels Parade
12:30pm – LUNCH TIME and EXHIBIT VIEWING
             NO food in the Exhibition Hall
             Pre-schoolers must be accompanied by an adult
             NO touching of exhibits
(Tea and Coffee is available in the kitchen throughout the day)
 1:30pm – Exhibition Hall will close for final Prizegiving preparations
 2:00pm – Prizegiving
 3:00pm – Exhibit Viewing opens again
             Do not take your exhibits early
             End of viewing will be announced by Loudspeaker
 3:30pm – Clean up, Take exhibits, and Packdown commences.

ART

2D Art

Age Groups: 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13+

Judged on 3 criteria: Creativity and Originality, Technical Requirements, and Overall.
Overall criteria will focus on the Wow! factor – does the entry grab and keep your attention?

Technical Requirements

Give your art a title.
Use of space (Is the artwork balanced? Does it fill the page?)
Colours work well together.
Presentation (crease free, items stuck down, no rubbed out pencil lines).
Demonstrates a knowledge of the medium used.
Displayable on an upright, flat surface. Has no, or limited, physical depth. Eg collage, drawing, painting etc

3D Art

Age Groups: 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13+

Judged on 3 criteria: Creativity and Originality, Technical Requirements, and Overall.
Overall criteria will focus on the Wow! factor – does the entry grab and keep your attention?

Technical Requirements

Give your art a title.
Presentation (for example: finish, holding together, etc).
Demonstrates a knowledge of the medium used.
May be viewed from various angles, and may be freestanding. Eg sculpture

Recycled Creation Art

Age Groups: 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13+

Judged on 3 criteria: Creativity and Originality, Technical Requirements, and Overall.
Overall criteria will focus on the Wow! factor – does the entry grab and keep your attention?

Technical Requirements

Give your art a title.
Must be made of recycled material (sellotape, glue and other adhesives may be used to hold it together).

BAKING

Party Biscuit

Age Groups: 3-4

Judged on 3 criteria: Creativity and Originality, Technical Requirements, and Overall.

Technical Requirements

Biscuits must be covered in icing.
Biscuits must be decorated with edible items.
Up to 3 biscuits per entry.
Biscuits can be standard purchased biscuits or homemade. This will not impact judging. The focus is the decorating.
Must be labelled with the name of the Party Biscuit (not student's name).

Biscuit Creation

Age Groups: 5-6

Judged on 3 criteria: Creativity and Originality, Technical Requirements, and Overall.

Technical Requirements

Must use biscuits (as many as required) to create an object, structure or animal.
Must fit on a bread/butter plate.
May be held together with icing or toothpicks/skewers. Toothpicks/skewers must be hidden.
Must be labelled with the name of the Biscuit Creation (not student's name).

Muffins

Age Groups: 7-8

Judged on 3 criteria: Creativity and Originality, Technical Requirements, and Overall.

Technical Requirements

Must be un-iced.
Must provide three (3) of the same flavour of muffins.
Will be tasted for texture, moisture, mix of ingredients and how well it is cooked.
Must be labelled with the name of the type of muffins (not student's name).

Cooked Slice

Age Groups: 9-10

Judged on 3 criteria: Creativity and Originality, Technical Requirements, and Overall.

Technical Requirements

May be iced or un iced.
Must provide three (3) pieces.
Must be cooked.
Will be tasted for texture, mix of ingredients and how well it is cooked.
Must be labelled with the name of the slice (not student's name).

Pavlova

Age Groups: 11-12, 13+

Judged on 3 criteria: Creativity and Originality, Technical Requirements, and Overall.

Technical Requirements

Will be tasted for texture, mix of ingredients and how well it is cooked.
Round shape – 20-30 cm diameter.
Exterior crunch and marshmallow centre.
Must be decorated with whipped cream and fruit.

Novelty Cake

Age Groups: 9-10, 11-12, 13+

Judged on 3 criteria: Creativity and Originality, Technical Requirements, and Overall.
Entries will be judged on decoration only and so will not be tasted.
Royal Icing/Fondant and Butter Icing cakes will be judged separately.

Technical Requirements

Cakes can be stacked, tiered, or be unusually shaped.
Cake dummies (eg polystyrene) are allowed.
Edible ornaments and figurines will be shown favour over plastic/inedible ones.
Rolled icing should be smooth and free from finger marks.
Butter icing should be free from crumbs.
Piping should be uniform.
Board should be clean.

CONSTRUCTION

Lego/Knex/Duplo/or similar

Age Groups: 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10

Judged on 3 criteria: Creativity and Originality, Technical Requirements, and Overall.

Technical Requirements

Original creation / no kitsets.
No props.
Displayed on a base plate or secured to an oven tray with adhesive.
Maximum size – 55cm x 40cm.
Must be labelled with Title of the creation.

Lego/Knex/Duplo/or similar – Advanced

Age Groups: 11-12, 13+

Judged on 3 criteria: Creativity and Originality, Technical Requirements, and Overall.

Technical Requirements

Original creation / no kitsets.
No props.
Displayed on a base plate or secured to an oven tray with adhesive.
Maximum size – 55cm x 40cm.
Creation follows the theme of “Water".
Provide an image that has inspired your Lego creation (optional).
Must be labelled with Title of the creation.

Woodwork

Age Groups: 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13+

Judged on 3 criteria: Creativity and Originality, Technical Requirements, and Overall.

Technical Requirements

Summary Form included and completed to explain how the child made their entry.
Written instructions on how to operate their exhibit may be included.

Metalwork

Age Groups: 9-10, 11-12, 13+

Judged on 3 criteria: Creativity and Originality, Technical Requirements, and Overall.

Technical Requirements

Summary Form included and completed to explain how the child made their entry.
Written instructions on how to operate their exhibit may be included.

Electronics

Age Groups: 9-10, 11-12, 13+

Judged on 3 criteria: Creativity and Originality, Technical Requirements, and Overall.

Technical Requirements

Summary Form included and completed to explain how the child made their entry.
Exhibit must be battery powered only and must not be AC/mains powered.
Written instructions on how to operate their exhibit may be included.

FLORAL

Sand Saucer

Age Groups: 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13+

Fill a saucer with sand and arrange flowers and greenery.
Judged on 3 criteria: Creativity and Originality, Technical Requirements, and Overall.

Technical Requirements

Use non-artificial plant material only.
There must be no sand showing.
Maximum size of saucer – 15cm diameter and 3cm height.

Aqua Jar

Age Groups: 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13+

Arrange flowers and plant material(s) in a jar of water.
Judged on 3 criteria: Creativity and Originality, Technical Requirements, and Overall.

Technical Requirements

Only use non-artificial plant material.
Jar capacity must be one (1) litre or less.
Jar arrangement must be presented using the lid as the base (so upside down).
Plant material must be fixed to the (upside down) lid and must not be floating.
Preference will be given to jars with little-to-no air bubbles.

Scenic Tray

Age Groups: 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13+

Create a miniature outdoor scene. This may contain a variety of materials (eg. food, artificial plants, miniature toys, etc.).
Judged on 3 criteria: Creativity and Originality, Technical Requirements, and Overall.

Technical Requirements

Maximum size of container – standard oven roasting dish.
No cardboard boxes.
Must be labelled with Title of the creation.

Tea Cup Arrangement

Age Groups: 9-10, 11-12, 13+

Judged on 3 criteria: Creativity and Originality, Technical Requirements, and Overall.

Technical Requirements

Use non-artificial plant material only.
Height should be proportional to the size and height of your cup and saucer.
Ensure no oasis and/or wire netting is showing.
Needs to be viewable from all sides.
A balanced look is important. For example, its height could be as high as the width of the cup opening.

HANDCRAFT

Age Groups: 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13+

Some examples include cardmaking, needlework, knitting, sewing, embroidery, crochet, quilling, and quilting.
Judged on 3 criteria: Creativity and Originality, Technical Requirements, and Overall.

Technical Requirements

Kept to actual pattern (eg each stitch in place).
Up to 3 items of the same skill may be entered, but will be judged as a whole.
Summary Form included and completed to explain how the child made their entry.

LITERATURE

Poetry – Shape Poem

Age Groups: 5-6, 7-8

Shape poem needs to describe an object and be written in the shape of that object in some way.
Judged on 3 criteria: Creativity and Originality, Technical Requirements, and Overall.
Overall criteria may include visual impact and presentation.
* Literature entries close on Monday 2nd September 2024.

Technical Requirements

Poem is about an object.
Poem visually represents the object.
Uses descriptive language.
Correct spelling.
Fits on a single side of one A4 page.

Age Groups: 9-10, 11-12, 13+

Shape poem needs to describe an object related to the theme of “Water" and the poem visually represents that object.
Judged on 3 criteria: Creativity and Originality, Technical Requirements, and Overall.
Overall criteria may include visual impact and presentation.
* Literature entries close on Monday 2nd September 2024.

Technical Requirements

Reflects the theme of “Water".
Poem is about an object.
Poem visually represents the object.
Uses descriptive language.
Correct spelling.
Fits on a single side of one A4 page.

Creative Writing

Age Groups: 5-6, 7-8

Use the prompt “It was raining all day …" to write a story. Can be imaginary or based on real-life.

Judged on 3 criteria: Creativity and Originality, Technical Requirements, and Overall.
Overall criteria may include initial impact, presentation.
* Literature entries close on Monday 2nd September 2024.

Technical Requirements

Body of writing limit is 550 words.
Uses descriptive language.
Correct spelling and grammar.
Uses the writing prompt.
Must be labelled with Title of the writing.
Narrated work is acceptable but needs to be true to the childs work and “narration" indicated on the back of the entry.

Book Character Review

Age Groups: 9-10, 11-12, 13+

Choose a character (person, animal, thing) from a book you have read (this can be a novel, picture book, comic etc) and write what you found interesting about this character. Below are some questions to guide your writing. You may choose to answer any of the following questions:

Who is the character and what part did they play in the story?
What happened to the character at the end of the story?
Do you relate/identify with the character you chose? Why or why not?
Did the character you chose change/develop during the story? Can you give examples?
Did you like what happened to the character at the end of the story? Why or why not?
If you could jump into the story and become a part of it, how would you interact with the character you chose?

Technical Requirements

Body of writing limit is 750 words.
Communicates information and opinions about a character.
Uses descriptive language.
Correct spelling and grammar.
Must be labelled with Title of the writing.

PETS

Age Groups: 3-8, 9+

Pets must be in a secure container, cage, or leashed at all times.
The judge will question the child on the care of their pet e.g. gender, breed, who feeds it, what does it eat/how often and any special requirements.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Age Groups: 9-10, 11-12, 13+

This year's theme is “Water".
Photos may include identifiable persons. Original photos only.
You may: crop, make adjustments to exposure, colour and contrast etc.
You may not digitally enhance or alter you photographs beyond the basics needed to achieve realistic colour, balance and sharpness. Your goal is to make it real.
Judged on 3 criteria: Creativity and Originality, Technical Requirements, and Overall.
Overall criteria may include initial impact, level of skill.
* Photography entries close on Monday 2nd September 2024.

Technical Requirements

“Water" theme is reflected in the image.
In focus (sharp image, intentional blur is acceptable).
Composition including such things as the Rule of Thirds, etc.
Presentation including the quality of print and mounting.
A single photo only. No requirements on the size of the photo.
Mount on photo board or card.
Must be labelled with Title of the photo.

WHEELS PARADE

Age Groups: 3-4, 5-6, 7-8

Bring a bike/trike/scooter/skateboard etc already decorated. This is a fun category with Lucky Dip prizes.

Technical Requirements

Must be rideable.
Riders must wear a helmet.
Helmets must not be decorated.

Setting