4-H Table Setting Contest Manual The Table Setting Contest is open to all Clover Kids and to any 4-H member enrolled in family and consumer sciences projects. This includes all foods, clothing, and home environment projects. Age divisions will be prior to Jan. 1 of current year - Clover Kid (5-7 years old); Junior (8-10 years old); Intermediate (11-13 years old) and Senior (14 and over). The Table Setting Contest is a fun way to learn how to properly set a table; plan nutritious meals; express originality and creativity in choosing a theme; express knowledge of food, nutrition and food safety and present to a judge. Entry Rules - Each exhibit must fit on a standard size card table and include the following: Clover Kids will place the theme table cloth on the table with the decoration and the table setting (example: plate, napkin, fork, spoon, knife, glass) for the judge. The judge may ask very simple questions about MYPLATE.gov. No menu or food is required. A card with your name is also needed to turn over after judging. A theme A menu – either handwritten or printed on any size card. Be sure to check your spelling. One place setting for the menu featured. Use tableware (dishes, silverware, etc.) appropriate for the planned occasion. You DO NOT need to bring accessories such as salt and pepper shakers, sugars, creamers, etc. No live animals allowed on or by the table settings. No alcohol allowed in the menu or in the food. All decoration needs to be on the table. No decorations on the floor or walls. A centerpiece appropriate for the planned occasion. Table covering appropriate for the occasion, if desired. Napkin folding is optional. Overall setting must show coordination of dishes, glassware, flatware, linens and centerpiece. Creativity must meet the basic table setting criteria; for example, follow proper flatware placement, etc. One food item from your menu along with the recipe either handwritten or printed on any size card. No kitchen facilities will be available, so try to include a food that can be kept at room temperature or in a cooler without spoilage. Your food may be served on the plate or in the serving dish. BE CREATIVE! Remember the judge may taste the food. Your name on a card to turn over after your table was been judged. Tables remain up until the conclusion of the Style Revue for the public to view. Exhibitors will receive a schedule. In Holt County - You may set up your display early but the display must be set up at least 10 minutes before your schedule judging time. In Boyd County – You will be given a schedule with your set-up and interview time and the tables cannot be set up early. Exhibitors must bring their own standard size folding card table. Do not bring a chair. Parents can only help carry in the items and unfold and set upright the table. Dress Code: 4-H members and Clover Kids must wear 4-H dress or dress appropriate for their theme. The judge will talk to each exhibitor as she/he judges their entry. The food, menu, table setting and individual are all important part of the judging. During judging, you PRESENT your table setting to the judge by telling about your ideas and why you chose this particular theme. Do not be afraid to explain why you did something. You should view yourself as a host and the judge as your guest. You should extend a welcome to your guest and present your ideas behind your theme, choice of menu, food preparation and food handling. You should also demonstrate an understanding of table setting techniques. You should be able to describe the ingredients and preparation required for all menu items, as well as food safety. Following your presentation, ask the judge if they have any questions. After your table has been judged, return to the exhibitor waiting area. Remember that the judge may be watching while you set your table and while you are waiting to interview with the judge so act accordingly. Clover Kids will receive a participation ribbon. 4-H’ers will be awarded a purple, blue, red, or white ribbon according to the judge’s discretion. A Champion and Reserve Champion will be selected in each division to receive special prizes. Special Recognition Certificates may also be given according to the judge’s discretion in Boyd County. Champion and Reserve Champion tables must be displayed at their respective County Fair in August. The 4-Hers name needs to be on the table along with a photo of the 4-H’er and a photo of the food item. Irreplaceable items can be swapped with another item for the display at the fair. Table settings will be dropped one ribbon placing if the above criteria is not met. 1 tablecloths may be used. Sometimes the table is left Guidelines for Creating Your bare. Choose a covering which is appropriate for the Table Setting occasion and the other table appointments. You may match or blend colors and textures in the dishes — or Do you know that you can be a designer each time you use something quite different for contrast. set the table? A designer chooses and arranges things according to a plan for beauty and order. A neat, — Allow at least 20 inches of space for interesting, clean and attractive table setting makes any Place Setting meal more enjoyable. each person’s dishes. This is called a cover and each cover is set exactly the same. A cover contains the Actually, there is more than one way to set a table. The dinnerware and flatware for the meal. usual way to set a table is to put all the dishes, flatware, and food on the table before anyone sits down. When The following rules for setting a table correspond to the there is company or for a special meal, part of the food numbers seen in the table setting illustration shown and dishes may be left in the kitchen and served later. here. Diners at a buffet or a picnic may fill their plates and 1. The flatware, plate, and napkin should be one inch glasses before they are seated. The way to set your table from the edge of the table. depends upon the way the meal is to be served. Be 2. The plate is always in the center of the place creative and have fun! Color texture, design and creativity are important. For the Table Setting Contest, one place setting is to be displayed. Include table covering, dinnerware, stemware, flatware, centerpiece and menu. Select and make one food from your menu. You MUST bring a standard size card table for the display. Select a Theme - What is the occasion...a family din- ner, a holiday, or lunch with friends? Is this a casual or formal occasion? Select a theme which fits the occasion. Possibilities can run from a casual fishing party sack lunch to a formal Mother’s Day dinner. Formal — use candles (lit only while being judged), setting. more than three pieces of flatware, china (no 3. The dinner fork is placed at the left of the plate. stoneware), tablecloth and/or mats are acceptable 4. If a salad fork is used, it is placed to the left of the and cloth napkins. dinner fork. Casual — be creative! Theme can be indoors or 5. The napkin is placed to the left of the fork, with outdoors. Use any type of cover (tablecloth, paper, the fold on the left (unless a decorative/creative etc.) and any type of table service. Overall place fold is used). The napkin may also go under a fork setting should be an expression of your creativity; or on top of the plate. homemade touches are encouraged. 6. The knife is placed to the right of the plate with the sharp blade facing in towards the plate. 7. The teaspoon is placed to the right of the knife. Table Appointments - These include any item used to 8. If a soup spoon is needed, it is placed to the right set a table: tablecloth, placemats, dinnerware, of the teaspoon. glassware, flatware, and centerpiece. Choose table 9. The soup bowl may be placed on the dinner plate. appointments to fit the occasion and carry out the 10. The drinking glass is placed at the tip of the knife. theme. Paper plates, plasticware, and paper napkins 11. If salad, bread and/or dessert plate(s) — or may be used for a picnic but they would not be bowl(s) — is used, place at the top of the fork(s). appropriate for a formal dinner. Flatware and dishware 12. If coffee or tea is served, the cup is placed on the must be safe to eat from i.e., no glitter, glue, etc. is to be saucer and set to the right of the spoon. Have the used on eating surfaces. handle pointing to the right. Note: Only the utensils needed are placed on the table. Table Covering - This is the background for the food and table appointments placed on it. It protects the table and makes for less noise. Placemats and/or 2 Centerpiece - The centerpiece should be coordinated When planning a menu, first decide on the main dish. with the table appointment and be appropriate for the Select appropriate vegetables, appetizer, soup or salad. occasion. Even though a single place setting is set, the Add a bread, dessert and beverage, if desired. Breakfast, centerpiece should be visible to all as if the entire table party, and picnic menus should contain two or three food was set and should not obstruct anyone’s view of each groups.