The Golden Clover Awards recognize outstanding achievements of members, volunteers, program staff, and groups within the University of California 4-H Youth Development Program.
The Golden Clover award nominations is open to the following University of California 4-H Youth Development Program groups:
Youth members
Adult volunteers
Program & Academic* staff
Groups of two or more members/volunteers/staff
Individuals and groups may only win once in a category every three years.
Individuals and groups may win in only one category per year, although individuals are eligible to win as an individual and as part of a group in the same year.
Individuals and groups may apply or be nominated in multiple categories.
Group applications comprising youth and adults need to show strong youth-adult partnerships.
*4-H academic staff are not eligible for individual Golden Clover Awards; they can only qualify as part of a group award.
We evaluate applications on how well the applicant meets the description of the category and overall participation within 4-H. The selection committee reserves the option of moving applications to another category if they feel it would be a better match.
We award Golden Clover Award winners a small cash award, and lapel pin (group recipients will be awarded lapel pins for every group member). We will recognize award winners on the state 4-H website and through social media.
Nominations must be completed in one sitting. Please include the following:
The nominee's contact information
Description of their 4-H involvement
How they meet the objectives of the applicable category.
Tip: Create the narrative in a Word document first and then copy and paste it into the nomination form.
Nominators may upload up to three (3) URLs to supporting documents, video or audio files.
Please have these materials ready before you fill out the nomination form.
Eligibility: Youth
This category may be awarded to a member for personal achievement and improvement, setting goals and completing them, excelling beyond expectations and overcoming hardships, and for outstanding and long-term contributions to the 4-H Youth Development Program.
Eligibility: Youth
This category may be awarded to a member for changing the life of another youth in a positive manner.
Eligibility: Youth, Adult Volunteers, Groups, Program Staff
This category may be awarded to a member, volunteer, group and/or staff member for contributions that demonstrate living the definition of civic engagement; "Civic engagement means working to make a difference in the civic life of our communities and developing the combination of knowledge, skills, values and motivation to make that difference."
Eligibility: Youth, Groups
One member award or one group award may be given in this category for project work or special events related to beekeeping. The goals include:
Educate the public about the beneficial aspects of honey bees,
Advance research beneficial to beekeeping practices,
Provide a forum for cooperation among beekeepers, and
Support the economic and political viability of the beekeeping industry.
Learn more about the California State Beekeepers Association.
Eligibility: Youth, Adult Volunteers, Groups
This category may be awarded to a member, volunteer and/or group for increased public awareness of the University of California 4-H Youth Development Program, involving new youth and adults in 4-H, reaching out to communities that have historically not benefited from 4-H, and creating partnerships with other youth development organizations.
Eligibility: Youth, Adult Volunteers, Groups
This category may be awarded to a member, volunteer and/or group for efforts in fundraising for both financial and in-kind donations generated for local, county, and state levels. Recipients share methods and processes to raise funds and educate others in the fundraising process.
Eligibility: Youth, Adult Volunteers, Groups
This category may be awarded to a member, volunteer and/or group for new, fresh and creative 4-H work at the local, county and state levels. Innovative 4-H work includes inventive educational activities, research ideas, service-learning projects and other activities.
Eligibility: Youth, Adult Volunteers, Groups
This category may be awarded to a member and/or volunteer for individual leadership roles within 4-H camps, conferences, and trainings. This category is awarded to a group for outstanding educational events or activities that involve youth-adult partnerships in planning and delivery, reach a wide array of youth, and strive to meet local needs.
Eligibility: Adult Volunteers
This category may be awarded to an adult volunteer who has dedicated a significant portion of their adult life to the 4-H program. Those awarded are outstanding volunteers who demonstrate significant, statewide, positive impact for 4-H youth. This award specifically recognizes volunteer contributions at the statewide level.
Eligibility: Adult Volunteers
This category may be awarded to a volunteer for being a trusted friend, counselor, or leader and changing the life of a peer or youth in a positive manner.
Eligibility: Adult Volunteers
This category may be awarded to a volunteer with five or fewer years of excellent 4-H volunteer service in the University of California 4-H Youth Development Program.
Eligibility: Youth and Adult Volunteers
This category may be awarded to either a member or a volunteer for 4-H work in camping and outdoor adventures including camping, fishing, hiking, shooting sports, rafting, climbing, GIS/GPS, snow skiing, and others. This category also includes outstanding achievement, leadership, and promotion of outdoor adventures.
Jack Clay and his son, Robert, were enthusiastically involved in the 4-H camping and outdoor adventure projects as leader and junior leader in Alameda County. Following their tragic accidental death in September 1987, family and friends established this memorial.
Eligibility: Youth and Adult Volunteers
This category may be awarded to two members and one volunteer for utilizing science inquiry and experiential learning in 4-H work to help youth increase knowledge, skills and competencies and improve their attitudes about science. This category includes increasing science awareness and use in 4-H projects by testing predictions and making sense of observations.
The Robert Brownlee Foundation was established in 1987 to provide financial awards for creating and maintaining innovative programs for youth. Robert Brownlee (1942-1991) was a visionary, whose practical inventions were elegant solutions to complicated technical problems, and whose generosity continues to extend that vision to science education for young people.
Eligibility: Youth
The Ironstone Concours Foundation is proud that over the last decade it has contributed more than $500,000 to youth programs, which include state and local 4-H organizations This category may be awarded to 4-H members who have shown commitment, patience and outstanding work with service and guide dogs through 4-H.
Eligibility: Program Staff & 4-H Academics
This category is awarded to 4-H staff and academics who have worked in a staff team (2 or more people) to create a 4-H program, activity or event that has impact in multiple counties as evidenced by evaluation data and has potential for duplication throughout 4-H in California.
Eligibility: 4-H Staff
This category is awarded to 4-H staff who have created successful partnerships with 4-H volunteers, 4-H members and other community organizations.