Keeping records, a journal, or portfolio of your 4-H experiences are ways of reflecting on and enhancing your learning. Reflection is a very important part of the Experiential Learning Model we use in 4-H. Reflection allows you to think about the how’s and why’s of an experience or
activity to identify what you learned through the experience, enabling you to then apply that learning in other situations.
4-H record keeping is helpful in teaching important life skills, such as self-discipline, decision making, goal setting, wise use of resources, communication, sharing, etc. Accurate and up-to date records and portfolios not only provide a history of your 4-H experience, they are also
helpful in successfully completing applications to colleges and universities, scholarships, awards, and employment.
4-H records and other tools used to help young people reflect on their learning are available from your County Extension Office or your Club Leader. Policies and procedures around 4-H records often vary from county to county.
Participation Summaries are intended to be used throughout the 4-H year; first for planning, then for keeping track of progress, and finally, for looking back to see how you did! Youth need to use this form to record which 4-H activities, events, and projects you participated in for the year. There is also room to write a story about favorite 4-H memories during the year. Youth are encouraged to included additional pages or pictures too! Cloverbuds have their own special Participation Summary form!
While Participation Summaries help to keep a record of overall participation in 4‑H, there are other project records to help keep track of involvement in individual projects throughout the year. Project records in Wright County are divided into several broad categories: Animal Science, Mechanical Science, Clothing Construction, Clothing Purchased, Expressive Arts & Communication, Family & Consumer Science, Natural Resources, Photography, Plant & Soil Sciences, Personal Growth & Development, and Quilting. These records are intended to help members reflect on what they learned in each project they competed. The questions on these forms are more project-specific, asking for information such as how much did the project cost, when was the member’s livestock project born, what equipment was used, how do they care for their garments, etc. Again, additional pages and photos are welcome and encouraged!
Project Record Categories:
**Projects will be judged on project record categories, not specific project areas.
Animal Science: Beef, Cat Dairy, Dog, Goat, Horse, Lama, Pets, Poultry, Rabbit, Sheep, Swine
Mechanical Science: Small Engines, Electric, Shop, Computer, Tractor, Aerospace, Robotics, & Geospatial
Expressive & Communication Arts: Demonstrations, Video, Crafts, Fine Arts, Performing Arts, and Scrapbooking
Family & Consumer Science: Child & Family Development, Consumer Education, Food & Nutrition, Home Environment, Needle Arts, Non-Garment, Fashion Revue, & Food Review
Natural Resources: Entomology, Exploring the Environment, Fishing Sports, Forest Resources, Geology, Shooting Sports/Wildlife, Water/Wetlands, Wildlife Biology, Vet Science, Horseless Horse, Horse Related, & Exploring Animals
Plant & Soil Sciences: Flower, Indoor, & Vegetable Gardening, Potato, Fruit, Lawn & Landscape, Crop Sciences, Plant & Soil Science
Personal Growth & Development: Bicycle, Citizenship, Community Pride, Global Connections, Health, Safety, Youth Leadership, Self Determined
Clothing Construction
Clothing Purchased
Photography
Quilting
Once records are complete, members can upload them in Fair Entry. Records can be word documents or scanned in as pdf or image files. If you do not have scanning capabilities at home, we can help you with that in the office. Records should be submitted to the office for judging by September 25th. We will have a judge review them shortly after submission, so late entries will not be excepted.
Scores are calculated based on a variety of criteria such as: completeness and accuracy of the records, neatness, spelling, grammar, and participation in leadership, education, and sharing opportunities. Winners for each age category and project record category are chosen and project discs are awarded at the Member and Volunteer Recognition Banquet in October. Members can collect the discs throughout their 4-H career and display them on special plaques!
Cloverbuds – K – 2nd graders who participated in the Cloverbud program
Jr. Division – 4-H’ers in grades 3-8
Sr. Division - 4-H'ers in grades 9 and up
A simple record using pictures, drawings, or a brief story telling about the member’s involvement in 4-H over the past year. Use the Cloverbud record form and attach one to two pages at most (if desired). All Cloverbuds submitting records will receive special recognition.
The following materials are recommended when preparing records for record judging for Junior Division members:
Participation Summary - This is the green-colored form that is the annual report of all 4-H activities, projects, and experiences. It should be accurate, brief, and up-to-date. Forms can be downloaded from the Wright County Extension Website at www.extension.umn.edu/county/wright or picked up at the County Extension Office.
4-H Records - Include the current year's project record or activity report for each area for which you are submitting records for judging. Records need to be up-to-date and accurate. Answer all questions that apply to each project or phase in which enrolled. In projects where no specific record is available, members should use the general record form "My 4‑H Project" and other support material. See the “Records Judging Criteria” section for information on what judges will be looking for when reviewing your records.
Note: While it is not required at the Junior level, members are welcome to also include a “portfolio” (explained in the senior division guidelines section) to go along with each project record.
4-H Story - The 4-H story is an essay of the member's 4-H experiences. The story should emphasize personal growth and development, leadership and community service experiences, and information about projects or activities completed throughout the 4-H year. It is important not only to tell what you did, but what you have learned and how you have grown from your experiences - both successes and failures. There is not a limit to the number of pages, however the story should be clear and to the point (quality, not quantity!): Members should write one story about general 4-H experiences (include in with the participation summary or on additional attached sheets) and individual stories written for each project in which you submit a record (attach to each project record). In the general story, begin by introducing yourself and telling something about your family, school and where you live. Tell why you are involved in 4-H and what it means to you. Also include in the general story, information about 4-H activities you have been involved in during the year. Tell how these activities have helped you grow and what you have learned from them. Explain how 4-H has made you a better leader and citizen. If you are a junior leader, tell what you have learned about working with other 4-Hers.
In each separate project story, begin by telling why you chose the project. Continue by telling how the project has grown in size and scope; describe things you have tried and found successful and not successful. Be sure to explain what you have learned from the project and how that may help you in the future.
It's important to include aspects of your leadership shown in the project area. For judging, your materials should include:
Junior Division Items – Senior level records should include all of the items mentioned in the Junior Division guidelines. In addition to the 4-H Story and photo pages, senior division participants should include a résumé and a portfolio (described below).
Portfolio – In addition to each project record sheet, members in the senior division are expected to include a “portfolio”. Portfolios are a showcase of a member’s best work in a project area. They should highlight a member’s growth and learning over the year. Members should include photos, newspaper clippings, written reflections, pieces of projects, etc. that best exemplify their work. Portfolios should be no more than 3 pages long per project record.
Résumé - A résumé is a more professional way to display yourself than the 4-H story. A résumé should be no longer then 2 pages, easy to read, and will just be a quick way to introduce yourself to the judge.
Suggested résumé headings:
Education - include formal and non-formal (workshops, etc.)
Special Skills and Accomplishments
Experience/Employment
Volunteer Leadership
Community Activities
What are your skills?
Self-management (your time, money, materials, personal skills)
Work well with others
Seeking or learning new information
Understand working with others
Understand and work with advance techniques/technology
Basic skills - reading, writing, math, listening, speaking
Creative thinking
Social skills - responsibility, self-esteem, integrity, honesty.
What special things have you learned and accomplished in the project?
Include information from the following in your résumé:
Awards, etc. you have received
4-H programs you have attended
School accomplishments and activities
Church and community activities
Other items of interest
Tips:
Instead of "did, was, am", use verbs like developed, initiated, supervised, coordinated, instructed, etc.
Always use short paragraphs, preferably no longer than five lines.
Always use conventional English. Stay away from multi-syllable words when a one or two syllable word is clearer.
Use proper grammar.
Have plenty of white space. The résumé should be attractive to the eye and easy to read. Allow plenty of space between paragraphs and allow for adequate margins (1").
Don't use a lot of dates or numbers. When you use a date, use the month and the year rather than the actual date. Example: 4/92 - 6/93 rather than 4/12/92 - 6/28/93.
Always make sure the résumé is free of errors and typos. Errors give the message the résumé was done in a hurry, or the person didn't care to take the time to check it. A résumé with errors will almost always get thrown out. Have someone else proofread the résumé. You know what the résumé should say but you can still miss an error.
The life expectancy of a résumé in the business world is 30 seconds. For this reason, it is essential the materials you use to market yourself project the image you want.