2026 Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) Experience
NEW for 2026! The FCS Judging Contest will take place on the K-State Campus June 4th, 2026. The Judging Contest will also be offered as an optional session for Discovery Days participants.
WHAT TO EXPECT: The FCS Experience will include the Family and Consumer Sciences Judging Contest, lunch on campus, workshops, and a campus tour.
The FCS Judging Contest includes:
- Consumer Decision Placing classes and reasons (individual participants)
- Skill-a-thon identification (individual participants)
- Group Think – which is a presentation inviting the team's perspective in response to a situation presented on the day of competition. (Team presentation to a judge).
WHO: Open to all youth ages 9-18 (youth can participate as individuals or a team of 3-4 youth in the same age group). Intermediates are ages 9-13; Seniors are ages 14-18. There will not be a limit to the number of participants from a local unit.
HOW MUCH: Fee is $15 per participant (includes lunch at Kramer Dining Center); $10 for Discovery Days participants. No refunds (but substitutions will be allowed).
WHERE: Justin Hall at Kansas State University
WHEN: Thursday, June 4, 2026
TO DO: Local unit staff will register youth by May 8, 2026 . Local units can substitute youth names on the day of the contest in the same age group. REGISTRATION LINK COMING SOON.
AWARDS: Certificates will be mailed to the top three individuals and teams in each age division. The first-place Senior division team will qualify to participate in the 4-H FCS National Championship and Conference in 2027
PREPRATION RESOURCES: Contest classes will be selected from topics featured in the 4-H Family and Consumer Sciences National Competition and Conference Study Guide. Additional rule guidelines and what to expect documents will be available soon.
Sample contest classes and schedules will be emailed. A virtual Q&A orientation session will be recorded and posted on the 4-H website.
QUESTIONS: For more information, please contact your local extension office.