What the Harnett County 4-H Art Showcase Is
The 4-H Art Showcase is the arts and crafts contest of Farm City Week in Harnett County. Registered 4-H members bring in what they have made, entries are judged, and the work is put on display during Harnett County Ag Day on November 14, 2026 at the Harnett County Resource Center and Library in Lillington. The Harnett County Center of N.C. Cooperative Extension runs it.
Who Can Enter and Rules
- Only registered Harnett County 4-H members may enter, and articles must be made by members currently enrolled in 4-H.
- Items must have been made since the 2025 Farm City Week. Any dates on an item must fall between November 1, 2025 and October 31, 2026.
- Each exhibitor may enter only once per class.
- A product cannot be shared by more than one person. Violators are disqualified.
- Controversial items are not allowed, including anything depicting cruelty, weapons or sexual content.
- The general size limit is 10 x 13 inches unless the item can be folded. Exceptions are at the contest coordinator's discretion.
- The coordinator may move an entry to a better-suited class, so ask before submitting if you are unsure. Coordinator decisions are final.
- Items judged not worthy will not be exhibited. Organizers are not responsible for broken, damaged or missing items.
Classes
About 50 classes are offered in these groups.
| Group | Classes include |
|---|---|
| Art | Drawing, painting, digital art, black-and-white and color photography |
| Textiles and fiber | Basketry, braided textiles, crocheted or knitted items, cross-stitch and needlework, fabric painting, hand weaving or spinning, latch hook, quilting, tie-dye or batik |
| Crafts | Candle making, block printing, jewelry, leather, LEGO (original or kit), mechanical crafts such as robots and rockets, metalwork, mosaics, natural materials, paper crafts, recycled items, soap making, stained or leaded glass, stenciling, stuffed articles, miscellaneous |
| Pottery and woodworking | Coil, slab, wheel-thrown and mold-formed pottery; woodworking projects and kit wood objects |
| Organization | A separate class |
How It Works: The Timeline
- By Friday, November 6, 2026, 5 p.m.: pre-register online through the Google form linked on the Extension page. Online pre-registration is required.
- November 13, 2026, 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.: drop off entries at the Harnett County Resource Center and Library. Entry tags are in the hallway outside the large meeting rooms.
- November 14, 2026: entries are displayed during Ag Day.
- November 14, 2026, 2:00 p.m.: entries are released. Do not pick up early. Entries left after 2:30 p.m. are discarded.
Judging and Awards
Entries are scored out of 100 points: craftsmanship 40, originality and creativeness 30, and practicality and usefulness 30. The points guide the judges but are not the only factor in awarding ribbons.
- Cloverbud division (ages 5 to 7 as of January 1, 2026): a Cloverbud ribbon for each entry.
- Junior and Senior divisions: ribbons for 1st through 3rd place.
Where
Harnett County Resource Center and Library, Lillington, NC. Questions can go to the Harnett County Center, 126 Alexander Drive, Lillington, NC 27546, at (910) 893-7530. Office hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; the office is closed Wednesdays.
Questions
Can a non-member enter?
No. Only registered Harnett County 4-H members may enter.
Can two kids enter one project?
No. A product cannot be shared by more than one person.
Is there an entry fee?
No fee is published for this contest.
What if my piece is bigger than 10 x 13 inches?
Unless it folds, ask the contest coordinator, who decides exceptions.
Official Links
- Farm City Week 4-H Arts and Crafts Competition, Harnett County Extension: rules, classes and registration form
North Carolina Cooperative Extension: The Essentials
North Carolina Cooperative Extension serves all 100 counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee through 101 local centers, per the Extension overview. It is a partnership of N.C. State, N.C. A&T, USDA and local governments.
Programs
Program areas include agriculture, food and nutrition, 4-H youth development, environmental and natural resources, home and families, and community and rural development.
Find your center
The county centers list links each county name to its own site.
4-H and gardens
The 2022 annual report counted 188,255 youth in 4-H activities and Master Gardener programs in 83 counties.
Soil tests
Soil testing is free for residents until samples reach the Raleigh lab by 5:00 p.m. on November 30, then $5 per sample, per the NCDA&CS notice.
N.C. A&T
Cooperative Extension at N.C. A&T focuses on small farms, food safety, families and 4-H, with special attention to small, beginning and limited-resource farmers.
Next steps
Call your county center before you visit, and bring a sample or photo.
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- Harnett County Ag Day
Farm City Week Ag Day in Lillington at the Harnett County Resource Center and Library, set for November 14, 2026 and held each year in mid-November.
Lillington, NC | Organizer: Harnett County Center, N.C. Cooperative Extension Official event details - Johnston County Youth Livestock Festival Supper
Festival supper on Friday, November 20, 2026 that leads into the Johnston County Youth Livestock Show & Sale held the following March in Smithfield.
2736 NC 210 Highway, Ste A, Smithfield, NC 27577 | Organizer: Johnston County Cooperative Extension Official event details - NC Youth Cattle Working Contest, Ashe County Regional
Regional round of the NC Youth Cattle Working Contest for youth from Ashe, Alleghany, Avery, Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba and nearby counties, at the Ashe County Agriculture Center on November 23, 2026.
162 Agriculture Way, Jefferson, NC 28640 | Organizer: N.C. Cooperative Extension Official event details - Catawba County 4-H Livestock Club
Monthly evening meeting of the Catawba County 4-H Livestock Club for youth ages 5 and older, hosted by the Catawba County Center in Newton; next meeting Monday, January 4, 2027.
1175 S Brady Ave, Newton, NC 28658 | (828) 465-8240 | Organizer: N.C. Cooperative Extension, Catawba County Center Official event details - Johnston County Youth Livestock Show and Sale
Youth market animals are shown and sold at the Johnston County Livestock Arena in Smithfield; the 2027 show is set for March 29-30.
All North Carolina events by date
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.