Florida 4-H

4-H AVIAN BOWL

Avian Bowl encourages youth to expand their knowledge of avian facts and develop strong skills in poultry management and related subjects, serving as both an educational experience and an award activity. The program recognizes young people who excel in state competitions, motivating them to continue learning with enthusiasm. It also supports career exploration and promotes the poultry industry by sparking interest in poultry and other avian species - all while keeping learning fun and engaging.

Through Avian Bowl, 4‑H members can test their poultry knowledge alongside peers in their age division. Any county may enter individuals or teams, with separate competitions for juniors, intermediates, and seniors; teams must consist of youth from the same age group. Counties may collaborate to form teams, or teams can be organized during registration. Prizes will be awarded to both individuals and teams, and the top senior team will earn the opportunity to compete at the National Contest in November in Louisville, Kentucky.

Key Questions	Information
Who	Junior, Intermediate, and Senior 4-H Members (ages 8-18 as of September 1 of current membership year)
When	June 12, 2026
Where	Alachua County Extension Office 22712 W. Newberry Road, Newberry, FL 32669
Cost	Free
Registration	Open February 1 - June 1, 2026 via 4-H Online (direct link)
Contact	Program Content \| Dr. Chris Decubellis, cdecube@ufle.edu Registration \| 4Hevents@ifas.ufl.edu

Study Packet
All questions and answers will come from the following material in the 2023/24 version of the Avian Bowl Manual:
- - - Prologue to the Avian Bowl Manual
    - Raising waterfowl (Sources through Exhibiting Waterfowl) .... pages 26-33
    - Breeds, varieties, and strains (Breeds, Varieties, and Strains through Asiatic) .... pages 69-73
    - Eggcyclopedia (Decorating Eggs through Marketing) ... pages 119-131
    - Biosecurity .... pages 179-180
    - Embryology (Introduction through Day 8) .... pages 191-197
    - Poultry Genetics (Economically Important Factors of Poultry Genetics through Terminology) .... pages 209-211
    - Contributions of individuals from industry, academia, and the government to the advancement of poultry science (1971 through 1974 inductees only) ... pages 218-220
Note: The above study material came from the National 4-H Avian Bowl Manual revised in 2023/24.

If you wish to purchase a printed copy of the revised avian bowl manual, you may do so through Clemson University at $9 per copy plus shipping costs: 4-H Manual 161. To order the printed copy, the link is National 4-H Avian Bowl Manual. An ADA-complaint downloaded version (pdf) is available for $20. The link is Avian Bowl Manual PDF - They do not accept checks.

Note: The above study material came from the National 4-H Avian Bowl Manual:

https://national4hpoultry.ca.uky.edu/files/2017_national_4-h_avian_bowl_manual_complete.pdf

Order an updated manual here: https://secure.touchnet.net/C20569_ustores/web/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCTID=1587

Rules and Information
All contestants must be bona fide 4‐H Club Members in a Florida 4-H Club.

There will be three (3) judging divisions:
- - - Senior Division: Contestants MUST be 14 years old on or before September 1st of the current 4‐H program year and MUST NOT have passed their 19th birthday on or before September 1st of the current 4‐H program year. A Contestant CANNOT have competed in the National 4‐H Avian Bowl Contest.
    - Intermediate Division: Contestants must be between 11 and 13 years old as of September 1st of the current 4‐H program year.
    - Junior Division: Contestants must be between 8 and 10 years old as of September 1st of the current 4‐H program year.
Each county may enter teams of not less than two (2), and not more than four (4) members for each age division. Counties can enter multiple teams for each age division. Counties not entering a full team can send individuals, and two or more counties may mix individuals to form a 2, 3, or 4 person team.

First round heats will be determined randomly based on registration. Questions will be prepared from the National Avian Bowl Study Packet by the Avian Bowl Committee. Sale price and ordering information are available from Clemson University Bulletin Room -- Room 82, Poole Agricultural Bldg., Clemson, SC 29634 -- $15.00 per copy. Questions will be fill-in-the-blank (short answer), multiple-choice, and spelling. State representatives will be determined by the State 4-H Office or designated representative.

The audience is always required to refrain from providing answers to any team member. Disciplinary action for violations will be at the discretion of the Avian Bowl Contest judges.

In the event an odd number of teams register, a "bye" will be awarded, as necessary, in order to allow all teams to participate.

No pictures will be allowed during the contest. No recording of any kind (tape recorders, videos or written transcription) will be allowed.

Officials
- - - Moderator - Assumes complete direction of the contest, asks all questions, designates contestants to answer questions, acts as the referee judge and is IN CHARGE at all times.
    - Referee Judge - May rule on the acceptability of an answer.
    - Time Keeper - Records total elapsed time for each contest and indicate to the moderator the expiration of total time or the expiration of the time allowed in which to answer questions.
    - Score Keepers - Two individuals shall keep scores on each contest. One score should be kept so that all points awarded or taken away in penalties may be checked. The second score is kept to maintain scores visible to the moderator, the contestants, and, in so far as possible, the viewing audience.
Please note adults might have more than one role in the state competition (example both moderator and judge).

Questions
The degree of difficulty and choice of questions will depend upon the contestants’ level of knowledge and age division. Questions may be oral or in the form of written words.
- - Number of Questions.
    - Each set of teams within a single round will have the same number of questions. Bonus questions will have the same point value in each game within a single round.
- - Types of Questions.
    - There are three types of questions:
      
      Regular Questions.
      
      Bonus Questions - A bonus question is usually a question requiring a several-part answer or a difficult answer. See point system summary for point values. Bonus questions WILL NOT be passed on to the other team in the event of an incorrect answer. When a team member answers a regular question correctly, a colored card in front of that team member will be turned over by the moderator. Regardless of the number of members on a team, four (4) questions must be answered correctly by the team before a Bonus Question is earned. There will only be one bonus question per team per game.
      
      Tie-breaker Questions - A tie-breaker question is used to replace a question thrown out by the judges. It is also used for the extra questions needed to break a tie between teams.

Point System

Correct Answer ------------------------------------------------ plus 5 points

Incorrect Answer----------------------------------------------- MINUS 5 points

Acknowledgment Penalty------------------------------------ MINUS 5 points

Bonus Question ----------------------------------------------- up to plus 10 points

5 points per correct answer on multi-answer questions or bonus value on regular answers. NO loss of points for an incorrect answer on bonus questions. The value of the bonus questions will be announced by the moderator before the question is read.

Tied Games. In the event that two teams have a tied score in games involving placings, the tie will be broken by asking an additional five (5) questions. The running score will be maintained through the tiebreaker. Questions answered correctly during the tie-breaker can go toward the awarding of a bonus question if the team has not already received a bonus question during that game.

Reference Material

Competing teams should know well in advance the specific sources from which questions are taken. Questions will be taken from the National 4-H Avian Bowl Manual, 4-H Manual 161, Clemson University: https://secure.touchnet.net/C20569_ustores/web/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCTID=1587 .

Study sections will be listed in the Conference Cover letter which accompanies the Conference rules.

Mechanics of Play
FORMAT

A double-elimination tournament-style format will be followed. Any team which loses two games will be eliminated from the contest. The contest will continue until only one team remains with less than two losses.

PAIRINGS, BYES, ORDER OF PLAY AND PLACING
- - - Seedings will be randomly assigned to teams.
    - The contest will be a classic double-elimination contest and will run as such by an individual versed in contest organization.
    - The written scores will not be added at the end of the oral competition.
    - The moderator will ask a question. The first person whose light flashes must start to answer the question within five (5) seconds after being acknowledged, or LOSE five (5) points.
    - Any member answering a question without being acknowledged will LOSE five (5) points at the discretion of the judge.
    - It will be the responsibility of the judges to determine that an answer was started within the five (5) seconds allowed. It should be noted that repeating the question does not constitute the initiation of an answer.
    - If an incorrect answer is given, the team will LOSE five (5) points.
    - If the question has been completely read, the moderator will not repeat the question, but the other team will have the opportunity to ring in within five (5) seconds.
    - Timing will begin when the question is complete and when a signal is activated.
    - Once a contestant starts spelling a word the contestant may stop and begin again, but can only re-trace the spelling previously given. The same holds true for a contestant with a fill in the blank question. The contestant can re-start, but not change what has already been said.
    - When a signal is activated before the question is completely read, the moderator shall stop reading the question, then the contestant has five (5) seconds to start the answer based on that portion of the question.
    - If the answer is correct, the team will receive five (5) points.
    - If the answer is incorrect or incomplete, the team will LOSE five (5) points.
    - If the question was interrupted, the judge may NOT ask the contestant to be more specific, expand, or explain in any way their answer.
    - If an interrupted question is answered incorrectly--the question shall then be completely reread and the other team will have the opportunity to answer it.
    - If neither team can offer an answer to the question within 10 seconds, the moderator will give the answer and the question will be dropped and neither team will forfeit points.
    - The ONLY discussion allowed between team members will be on BONUS questions. The answers MUST come from the team captain.
    - Only the number of answers required by the bonus question will be accepted. Example: If the bonus has a four-part answer--the first four answers given by the team captain will be accepted.
    - On a bonus question, the team may have ten (10) seconds to consult. Time will be called at the end of ten (10) seconds--the Captain must start the answer within five (5) seconds.
    - Once the Captain starts the answers, he/she will have thirty (30) seconds to complete the answers required.

Decisions and Interpretations
- - Answers and interpretations of questions will be the sole responsibility and final recall of the judge. All decisions of the judge, scorekeepers, and referee-timers are FINAL.
  - A team member will have the privilege to ask the judge to verify an answer that he/she feels is correct.
  - If a coach challenges the judge's decision--the coach must call "time out" immediately (before the next question is read). A decision made by the judge after the answer is verified will be FINAL.
  - Only answers contained in the Avian Bowl Manual will be acceptable to the Judge.
  - Based on the availability of funds, the first place Senior Team will receive a grant for partial support of travel to Louisville, KY in November where they will represent Florida in the National 4‐H Avian Bowl Contest, if the contest occurs and if travel is approved by the University of Florida. There is no contest beyond the State Contest for the first place Junior and Intermediate Teams.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

Avian Bowl Rules

Avian Bowl | National 4-H Poultry and Egg Conference (uky.edu)

Clemson University Avian Bowl Manual

- - All of our questions will come from this manual. There is a $20 fee to purchase this manual. You purchase it directly from Clemson University.

Florida 4-H

Florida 4-H

FORMAT

PAIRINGS, BYES, ORDER OF PLAY AND PLACING