Every organization has it's own terms or "lingo" which have a special meaning to its members. It can be frustrating, however, when you're new to the group and feel like you're the only one there who doesn't know what everyone is talking about!
Lingo Links
Definitions
4-H'ers for 4-H Campaign
A combined effort by 4-H groups around Iowa to contribute to the Iowa 4-H Foundation. The campaign is coordinated and promoted by the State 4-H Council. Funds are used for (1) special Iowa 4-H youth program needs, (2) the State 4-H Council, (3) international 4-H programs, and (4) financial aid for participation in 4-H events.
Achievement Show
Some 4-H clubs have local achievement shows shortly before the county fair. These events are an opportunity for 4-H'ers to bring their 4-H exhibits to be evaluated by a knowledgeable adult who can give suggestions on how the exhibit could be improved or prepared to be judged at the county fair. It also gives the 4-H'er practice in the conference judging procedure used at the fair.
Awards
Awards are one form of recognition given to 4-H members. There are awards given on the club, county, area, and state levels. County award applications are submitted in September and an interview follows in October. Evaluations are made on both written and interview materials. An award ceremony takes place in November.
Camp
Going to camp can surely be a high point in a 4-H'ers year. There are opportunities for camping at the State 4-H Camp throughout the year, but most enjoy the extended summer camps.
Clothing Selection
4-H members model clothes they have selected (purchased). Two senior 4-H'ers may be selected for State Fair. These exhibits are usually judged prior to the fair in July. All entrants will be expected to model their garments at the County Fair's public show.
Club
A group of youth who meet on a regular basis throughout the year and are led by a volunteer general leader. Most clubs have officers (see below), committees and do fun things together.
Club Committee
This is a county committee made of youth and adults to help determine the 4-H and Youth programming needs. Committee members represent clubs from all parts of the county. This committee annual holds a BBQ at the Polk County Fair and the donations go towards the county awards night.
Club Officers
4-H clubs elect officers annually. 4-H offices include President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Historian, Reporter, Photographer, and Recreation Leader. Individual clubs may elect other others as the club finds necessary or helpful to their individual club. County-wide officer training is offered every fall. Officers provide leadership in the club and help plan and conduct the meetings.
Club Tour
A club many schedule a tour of all the members' homes before the county fair. The purpose is for each 4-H'er to show the rest of the group his/her projects that may be exhibited at the fair. This works especially well for clubs that have a lot of livestock projects.
Communications
There are three categories of 4-H Communication.
- Educational Presentations are talks or demonstrations, given in front of an audience, about some topic that interests the 4-H'er. They should contain three parts - an introduction, a body, and a conclusion.
- A Working Exhibit is less formal than an educational presentation. It involves a one-on-one type of demonstration technique. 4-H'ers usually work from a table in an area where people walk through and stop to see what a 4-H'er is showing. Sometimes 4-H'ers may choose to work in pairs when giving educational presentations or working exhibits.
- Finally, there is Share the Fun. These are entertaining acts and can include things such as music, dance, interpretive speech, or skits. They can involve any number of youth - from one 4-H'er to the whole club. 4-H'ers are expected to give educational presentations at their local club meetings. All types of 4-H Communications are judged at the county level where some are selected to advance to state level.
Conference Judging
This method of judging is used for the majority of classes at the county fair, with the exception of some livestock classes. The 4-H'er brings her/his exhibit to the judge and discusses the work with the judge. The judge uses this information, any written information required by the class rules, and the exhibit itself in determining the ribbon placing of the exhibit. A ribbon is awarded, the placing is recorded, and the 4-H'er takes the exhibit to be displayed in the club booth.
County Council
This group of 9-12th grade 4-H'ers help plan and carry out county-wide events and serve as a liaison between the local club and the county program.
County Fair
A fair is an annual county-wide event at which 4-H'ers have the opportunity to be evaluated on their exhibits and to receive recognition for what they have accomplished. The Polk County Fair is located on the Iowa State Fairgrounds in the 4-H Exhibit Building, Horse and Sheep Barns.
County Fair Board
A board of 21 members who are responsible for the county fair. The Polk County Fair Association is a totally separate entity from the Extension Office and its staff, although they work in cooperation on many projects. The Fair Board meets at the Extension Office the third Wednesday of every month at 7:30 p.m.
Exhibit
A 4-H exhibit is an item resulting from a project work that the 4-H'er has chose to exhibit at the fair and evaluated by a judge.
Extension Council
The Extension Council consists of nine elected representatives from all over the county. They oversee the County Extension program and approve all of the expenditures. The Council is the legal governing body of the County Extension program and meets monthly.The current list of council members is located on the About Us tab at the top of this page.
Extension Office
Each county in Iowa has an Iowa State University Extension office which provides research based information to the general public. The ISU Extension office is funded with county, state and federal taxes, contracts, grants, and fees. The four basic program areas are: Agriculture and Natural Resources, Families and Nutrition, 4-H and Youth, and Community Resource Development. The ISU Extension, Polk County office is located in Des Moines. See the Contact Us tab at the top of this page for phone number, office hours and directions to the office.
Extension Staff
Each Extension Office has staff who are qualified and trained to meet the needs of the county.
- The first person you see as you walk in the door at the front desk is Mary Farlow. Mary can help 4-H families check out teaching and E-SET science kits.
- You may also speak with Katie Dunn, 4-H Internal Program Coordinator when you call on the phone. Katie does a lot of the behind the scenes work for 4-H club, including processing enrollments, sending the newsletter, and helping parents find clubs for their kids that want to enroll.
- The person in charge of 4-H Clubs in the county is Andrea Nelson as County Youth Coordinator. Andrea coordinates leader trainings, project workshops, and serves as a liaison between the Extension Office and the Fair Board.
- Ann Pisarik is the 4-H Youth Development Specialist. Ann assists with volunteer management and does a lot of clinics and after school programs around the county.
- The County Extension Education Director is Barbara Hug. The director's job is to see that programming goes on in the county in all areas.
Fashion Revue
4-H members model clothes they have made. The top ten entrants among those ages 15-19 goes on to State Fair. These projects are usually judged in July before the county fair; however, the participants are required to model their garments at the public show during the fair.
Iowa 4-H Foundation
A private non-profit corporation formed to supplement the state 4-H program, primarily through the development and operation of the State 4-H Camping Center at Madrid and specialized programs that are conducted there. They also provide funding for innovative programs around the state and provide funds for youth who need financial assistance to participate in the 4-H youth program.
Leader
Organizational leaders are the "main" leaders in the 4-H club and handle the overall organization of the club. They may or may not have assistant leaders who help them carry out specific responsibilities. There are also project leaders who teach in a specific 4-H project area.
Life Skills
4-H in Iowa emphasizes the development of the following life skills:
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developing a positive self concept
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communication skills
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decision making skills
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learning how to learn
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ability to cope with change
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citizenship skills
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leadership skills
Livestock Identification Form
This is usually referred to as a "Livestock ID," and is how a 4-H'er identifies all of his/her livestock projects. This includes beef, sheep, swine, dairy, dairy goat, and dogs. Beef, sheep and swine must also be weighed-in at the county weigh-ins. Livestock IDs are due May 15, unless market animals have been weighed-in, where the ID has already been completed. IDs are required for livestock to show at the county and state fairs. It is NOT a fair entry, which are due July 1. The purpose of the ID is to insure that the animal has been the 4-H'ers project during the year and not purchased just before the fair.
Membership
In Iowa, a 4-H'er must be in the 4-12th grades and can become a member in three ways:
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As a part of a community club
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As a part of a special interest club
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Through 6-hours of instruction in school with material taught by 4-H staff members or adults trained by 4-H
Club members have three age levels for competition. They are:
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Junior 4-H'ers are youth in 4th - 6th grades.
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Intermediate 4-H'ers are youth in 7th and 8th grades.
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Senior 4-H'ers are youth in the 9th - 12th grades.
Newsletter
A 4-H newsletter is mailed at the beginning of most months to each 4-H family in the county. Some families prefer that the newsletter be emailed to them. Read your newsletter carefully for information and deadlines that pertain to you. This is your source of information and notification. You can view newsletters on this web site.
Parliamentary Procedure
4-H meetings are conducted using parliamentary procedure, a tool that allows each member to participate in the decision-making process. Proper use of parliamentary procedure is a skill that a 4-H'er will find useful throughout adulthood.
Projects
A 4-H project is an area of emphasis in which the 4-H'er enrolls, studies, learns, keeps records, and perhaps, exhibits. Examples are visual arts, food & nutrition, horticulture, and dog. A 4-H'er can complete the work in a project without exhibiting at the county fair. There are countless number of projects a 4-H'er can do.
Ribbons
4-H exhibits are divided into groups and are awarded blue, red and white ribbons with blue being the highest quality group. Purple ribbons are the top part of the blue group. Under this system, exhibits are evaluated individually and not ranked in comparison with each other.
Record Book
Each 4-H member is expected to record a summary and evaluation of his/her 4-H experiences each year. This record book is the basis for awards and recognition throughout the 4-H years and is a very special "memory" book for the rest of his/her lifetime.
State Fair
4-H'ers from across the state exhibit at the State Fair. Some projects and classes require that the exhibit be selected at the county level for state fair competition, others do not. The Iowa State Fair is held every August.
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