4-H Record Books

A 4-H Record Book is a standard record of your activities in 4-H - your projects, activities, events, skills development and learning experiences. The 4-H Record Book helps you improve your skills in record keeping, goal management and reflection on your achievements and growth in 4-H. You can submit your record book for evaluation at the club, county and state levels.

Record Book Template 

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County Competition

Members may submit their 4-H Record Books for county competition. Books are evaluated on the member’s 4-H work, leadership and citizenship development, and personal growth. County-level evaluation should be based on the Danish system with all books judged against a standard. Evaluators provide a critique and suggestions for future growth and involvement. 

Instructions for how to administer the County Record Book evaluation are available from the county UCCE 4-H office. 

State Record Book Competition

The State Record Book competition recognizes senior 4-H members who have demonstrated a well-rounded 4-H experience. Books are evaluated against standard criteria. Record Books that record the most outstanding 4-H work, goal management skills, and leadership and civic development are selected as state medalists and/or state winners.

More information

Purpose - Why you should enter

• Incentive for you to keep accurate records in your 4-H Record Books

• Receive feedback and encouragement on your 4-H skill development, leadership and citizenship development, and record-keeping skills.

• Recognition for your outstanding work in 4-H.

Eligibility for State Competition

If the criteria for eligibility are not met, a member's book will be disqualified from the competition. Disqualifications do occur, and are typically a consequence of using the wrong years' forms, missing sections, and ineligible age. 

Age Eligibility

Senior 4-H members (at least 14 years of age and no older than 19 years old by December 31 of the program year for which the book is being entered) are eligible to enter state competition.

Use of Correct Forms

Members who are planning to submit their Record Book to state competition must download and use the most current forms. One way to be sure to do this is to always download the latest version of the Record Book Manual and forms from the State 4-H Resource Center website. 

Intent to Submit

Members who are planning to submit their Record Book to the state competition must complete this form by the deadline to receive full points for this item. Intent to Submit forms received after this date results in the loss of three points on Record Book scoring.

State 4-H Cover Page

To enter State Record Book Competition, members must complete the online state competition cover page form. This form asks for basic contact information and verifications. It asks you to provide the url link(s) to your Record Book. Only submit this form when your book is competition-ready! This is the final step to submit your Record Book to State Competition. Books submitted after the deadline will not be evaluated. 

Awards 

All 4-H members entering a Record Book at the state competition will receive constructive feedback and their total averaged score. See the scoring criteria (PDF).

• State participation and merit recognition members receive a certificate.

• State winners and medalists receive a certificate and hat pin.

Books that are disqualified will not be scored, however, comments for improvement may be provided.