How to Complete Your 4 H Record Book

How to Complete Your 4 -H Record Book Equal Access/ Opportunity Program 1

About the Record Book l Your record book is your place to organize information, keep track of your 4 H accomplishments, and let other people know what you did and learned during the year. Record Book Cover 2

Title Page and Table of Contents Title Page your name your photo age address 4 -H club Table of Contents* Summary Record 4 -H Story 4 -H Project Records 4 -H Photographs News Clippings Correspondence *Note: Order of items may vary as long as they match your Table of Contents 3

4 -H Summary Record l This form is where you keep track of general 4 -H information that isn’t part of your individual project records. l TIP: If you fill out your project records first, all left over information usually goes in the summary record! 4

Club Attendance and Participation l Jan. x Mark which monthly meetings you attended and add any notes about your attendance Feb. x Mar. x Apr. May x Sickabsent June July x x Aug. Sept Oct. Nov. Dec. x No meeting x x x 5

Committees & Offices l Did you hold an office in your club or were you on a committee that worked on a service project or other project? Name Membership or Office Held Description of My Role Club President Led all of the meetings during the year Club Float Committee Helped put together the club float for the fair parade 6

4 -H Promotional Activities l What did you do to educate people about 4 -H and/or recruit new members during the year? Date 4 -H Promotional Activities July 15 Set up a table with information about 4 -H in the 4 -H Building at the County Fair November 12 Club Display that I helped make was exhibited at the Waterfowl Festival December 15 I went to my school open house and gave out 4 -H flyers to parents and kids who attended 7

Communication Activities l This is where you can list demonstrations, illustrated talks, talks to a community group, school talks, etc. that are NOT included in your individual project records. Date Type of Communication Event or Location February 15 Radio Spot – “ 4 -H is Great!” County Public Speaking Contest May 2 Talked to Lions Club about how 4 -H has helped me learn new things during the past three years Lions Club meeting held at Denny’s Restaurant 8

Awards and Honors Tell about any awards and honors you received that are NOT already mentioned in your project records. Examples include fair awards here for exhibits that were not part of your main 4 -H projects. Date Description of Award or Honor Received From/At July 16 Recycle craft entry in Fair County Fair July 16 Canned peaches entry in Fair County Fair October 1 Youth Service Award Certificate County Council gave it to me for my service work all over the county. 9

Miscellaneous Activities l This is a section where you can describe any important 4 -H or non-4 -H activities, events, and learning experiences that are not included in your project records. Examples include club field trips, service learning projects, after school activities, volunteer work etc. Date Description of Activity or Event Location January 14 Collected canned goods to donate to the food pantry. I learned that the pantry gives food to 120 families. St. Peter’s Catholic Church December 20 Participated in a record book training that taught me how to organize my record book 4 -H Office 10

The 4 -H STORY WHAT Do I Write about in My Story? This is the most important part of the record book. It gives you a chance to describe your experiences and things you have learned during the past year. HAVE FUN writing it! l l Information about you – family, age, school, hobbies, etc. How 4 -H helped you or your family How you helped others Your involvement in club activities l l l Good and Bad Experiences Things you learned form your projects and how they relate to head, heart, hands, and health Skills you have learned from being in 4 -H. 11

4 -H Story Reminders: l l You may receive help typing your story but YOU should write your 4 -H Story. The story should be in your own words. Spelling and grammar don’t have to be perfect. 12

Project Records l Fill out a project record for each project you completed during the year if you want to be recognized by the 4 -H office for your accomplishments in that area. 13

Communication Events l Record demonstrations, illustrated talks, exhibits public speaking, or talks to the community that are about this project. Date Communication Event Location Rating/How did you do? February 10 Demonstration on how to make cheese from goat milk 4 -H club meeting People liked it and asked lots of questions October 20 Illustrated Talk on how to fit your goat Harvest Festival Three people asked to join my club after the talk 14

Exhibits l This is where you list the things you exhibited in public about this project. Examples include fair exhibits, poster displays in a public place, and project handouts given to the public. Date Exhibit Location Rating/How did you do? February 10 Poster about the kinds of goats Winterfare in Salisbury People said they liked the poster. July 20 Showed my goat in the goat show County Fair Earned First Place 15

Learning Experiences List 4 -H activities, events, clinics, and workshops that helped you learn more about this project. Date Type of Activity/ Event What I Learned March 25 Goat Workshop at the Mason Dixon Farm How to properly groom my goat May 11 Club tour of Johnson’s Goat Farm How to prepare pens that keep goats safe 16

Financial Journal This is on page 3. l List your income and expenses for this project during the year. Date Description of Income or Expense Income Expense May 15 Vet Check $50. 00 All year total Feed for Goat $106. 00 July 15 County Fair Premium $96. 00 Total Income: $96. 00 Total Expense: $156. 00 Profit (+) or Loss (-) -$60. 00 17

Resources and Project Skills l Resources: What resources did you use this year? Include books, internet, volunteers, parents, other members, and profession l Project Skills: Did you accomplish your project goals this year? Why or why not? What are the most important things you have learned or results of your work on this project? The Life Skills section is optional, but it will help you organize your thoughts, prepare for writing your 4 H story, and allow you share extra information not in your story. l 18

4 -H Photographs: l Pictures should have a caption explaining what you are doing. l You may also add pictures of club activities or special 4 -H event participation. In this picture, my horse and I are waiting to compete at the Riders Fair. 19

News Clippings: l Tell where the clipping came from and the date that it was published. This clipping came from The Community Guide on November 1 st. 20

Correspondence l This would include any personal letter of congratulations or thanks to you or your club for your 4 -H or non-4 -H work. 21

Do You Have Questions? Call the Extension Office if you have any questions about putting your record book together. Record book forms (type-in and write-on) are available from the Extension Office 22