Top 5 winning strategies..

5. Expect Things to Go Wrong
That way when they do, you'll be prepared!

4. Allow Yourself More Time Than You Think You'll Need
This goes along with #5 - allow yourself enough time to repeat your entire procedure if something goes wrong, your computer crashes and your paper is lost, your plants all mysteriously die, etc.

3. Practice Giving Your Presentation Several Times Before the Fair
Present for your best friend, your teacher, your parents, in front of the mirror, in front of the dog, whatever - just practice!

2. Write Everything Down in Your Logbook
Keep meticulous notes - don't count on yourself to remember and don't record data on the back of your homework or loose sheets or napkins to transfer to your log later. You should never copy parts of your log - if you make a mistake cross it out and keep going.

1. Decide Before the Fair What Your Definition of Winning
Will Be
Obviously not everyone can win first place and we don't believe that a Best of Show ribbon necessarily means a project is winning or successful. What do you hope to gain from doing this project? Write down your tangible goals (like first place, a scholarship, etc.) and your intangible goals - (like being better at public speaking, learning about a possible career interest, etc.) You may find that you gain from your project something even more valuable than a first place ribbon!