You want to encourage youth to know what was well done, where improvements can be made, and how to make those improvements. Encouragement to continue to learn and to improve is important. As as a county judge you are asked to make decisions on the exhibits you feel should be sent to the state fair. The number eligible to be sent is generally based on established quotas and varies from one project area to another. The issue of sending enough items to fill the quota or sending just the very best items while not filling the quota is a philosophical point that varies from one county to another.
Many counties have variations in criteria.
If state fair criteria are not followed, a purple ribbon county exhibit may recieve a white, or even be disqualified at the state fair. Visit with the Cooperative Extension staff member in charage of the event or exhibits you are judging regarding the county policy of sending an exhibit with ar ed placing on to the state fair. You want to encourage youth by sending their work on to another level of recognition and, perhaps, competition. You want all involved to value the accomplishment.