Record Books
The 4-H program has a long history of record keeping. The focus reflects the importance of this life skill in our daily lives. Completing a 4-H Record Book is a process where you record project and club work using a standard format.
Why have 4-H Record Books?
Completing the Personal Development Report in the Record Book provides you an incentive for participation, learning, and achievement.
Benefits of completing a 4-H Record Book:
- Practice Records Management - Track your activities, events, profits and losses, skill development and learning experiences. In this competency skill you identify, create, classify, archive and preserve records.
- Reflect on your yearly work - Document your skill development and learning experiences in a written report.
- Measure your achievements and growth throughout your years in 4-H.
- Set goals, pursue strategies to meet those goals, and record how you may have had to shift gears in the face of challenges and obstacles.
Do I have to do a Record Book?
We encourage all our 4-H youth to do a Record Book to record their project information and reflections, but 4-H Record Books are not required for membership or participation in 4-H activities such as club events, 4-H camps, or conferences.
A 4-H Record Book may be required to receive participation awards (such as star ranking, medals, or pins based on 4-H Record Book achievements).
The 2023-24 Record Book Manual and Record Book Forms
Record Book State Website
Record Book Manual (Star Rank Path) 2023-24 - This manual outlines all the parts of the Record Book and includes instructions for completing each form.
Record Book Forms 2023-24 (doc)
New Achievements Record Book Manual 2023-24
For Primary Members
We now have forms for Primary Members to start learning the skill of Record Management.
Note: Primary Members are not required to complete reports forms to receive their annual stripe and pin.
Primary Member Report Form (iSprout) (DOC) - for iSprout Primary Project Members
Primary Member - Personal Development Report-basic (DOC) - for all other Primary Members
State Record Book Competition Information
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.
The Purpose of the State 4-H Record Book Competition:
- Provides an incentive to members to keep accurate records in their 4-H Record Book.
- Members receive feedback and encouragement on their 4-H skill development, leadership and citizenship development, and record-keeping skills.
- Members are recognized for outstanding 4-H work.
Eligibility for State Competition
If the criteria for eligibility are not met, a member's book will be disqualified from the competition.
- 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, found on this website. 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 website.
All members planning to submit their book to State Competition must complete the Intent to Submit Form by October 1, 2023, 11:59 pm.
Once your book is ready to submit, please complete the State Record Book Competition Cover Sheet form by October 15, 2023, 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.