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.

Two steps to enter

Intent to Submit form

All members planning to submit their book to State Competition must complete the Intent to Submit Form by October 5, 2025, 11:59 pm.

State Record Book Competition Cover Sheet form

Once your book is ready to submit, please complete the State Record Book Competition Cover Sheet form by October 19, 2025, 11:59 pm. You will provide the url link(s) to your Record Book on this form, at which point we will submit it to State Competition.

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 scoring benchmarks for State Competition here.

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.

State Record Book Competition Evaluators

Evaluator Responsibilities

Access and comfort with reading materials on a computer or other electronic device.
Work at a distance as a member of an evaluation team. Communicate effectively with two other volunteers assigned to each team.
Evaluate approximately 20 4-H Record Books from late November through December.
Collaborate as a member of a team to provide written feedback on 4-H Record Books by the deadline.

Evaluator Eligibility

Enrolled and in good standing as a 4-H Adult Volunteer or a senior 4-H member who is at least 16 years old. (Member may not have a book in the current competition).
Able to communicate by phone, email and other electronic means.
Ability to compromise with fellow evaluators.
Openness and flexibility in evaluation procedures.
Parents/guardians and relatives of current applicants, and applicants themselves are not eligible to evaluate.

Selection of Evaluators

Evaluators for the state competition are by invitation of the Coordinator of the event.
Teams ideally will represent adults and youth from all areas in the state.
Evaluators must be enrolled and in good standing as a 4-H Adult Volunteer or senior 4-H member.

Apply to be an Evaluator!

Applications will be accepted until November 2, 2025. Record Books will be reviewed virtually but an all day in-person meeting is required on December 6th in Davis. Travel expenses are reimbursed.

State 4-H Record Book Evaluator application

Timeline

By October 5, 2025: Member completes Intent to Submit Form.

By October 19, 2025: Member completes online State 4-H Cover Page. The Cover Page will ask the member to provide a url link to the Record Book. The Record Book MUST be converted to a PDF and saved in your own location with a shareable/viewable url.

By November 2, 2025: Evaluator’s application deadline.

November 3, 2025: UCCE personnel submit online County Check Sheet for each member.

TBD - Evaluator Orientation

November 10 - December 10, 2024: State 4-H Record Book Competition

Late January 2025: Results released; members notified

Still have questions?

Please contact Brenda Vales at bcvales@ucanr.edu

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