4-H club members must have passed their eighth birthday, but not have passed their nineteenth birthday by January 1st of the current year.  Exhibitors must be 4-H members, carrying a project in the field in which they wish to make entry, and be under the supervision of the Pennsylvania State University Cooperative Extension Service by June 1st preceeding the fair.

Student enrolled in an accepted vocational school curriculum must be conducting a project in the class in which they wish to make entry.  Students enrolled in general home economics in a comprehensive high school are considered as qualifying.  All entries shall be approved prior to the Fair by a member of the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Agriculture or Home Economics staff or their desidgnated representative.