Why Complete a 4-H Record Book?
The purpose of 4-H record keeping is to teach an important life skill. 4-H is not just doing - but learning by doing, sharing it, understanding it, relating it, and using it. Record keeping encourages reflection so that 4-H members can apply their learning to other situations.
What do we want to learn?
- To learn how to set goals, how to make plans of action, and how to decide how well you did (evaluation).
- To learn skills of record keeping and organization to use now and in the future.
- To learn to communicate and summarize.
- To learn responsibility by completing a task.
- To evaluate information that will market personal skills through future resumes and application forms.
Record Book Guidelines and Forms
Officer Information
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Learn about ALL officer positions on Iowa 4-H Officer Resources
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Officer Induction Ceremony Guidelines - coming soon
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Conducting a 4-H Business Meeting (Parliamentary Procedure)
Record Books are due to your club leaders by September 15!
4-H Member Record Keeping
- FRONT COVER PAGE: These can be picked up at the office or you can purchase your own 4-H record book from the 4H Mall
- INSIDE FRONT COVER: Attach the “4-H Awards I have received” form.
- This will show all the awards that you have won each year. Form
- FIRST PAGE: In the front of your book you will have the “Wapello County 4-H Awards Form”
- This will show the awards that you and your leader would like you to be considered for this 4-H year. Form
- TITLE PAGE: This should include your name, club, grade completed, number of years in 4-H, and a photo of yourself.
- Yearly 4-H Summary (4H 0096) or a 4-H Story
- 4-H Member Self Evaluation
- New for 2024 – Expected Standards Form
- Project Areas (in order alphabetically)
- Additional Project Area Forms
- Support Materials
- Have fun with this! Use your imagination, but keep it simple. Use the most important items, such as newspaper clippings, photos, special awards received that relate to each project area. It is preferred that you keep your pictures and clippings all at the end of your record book. Ribbons should not be kept in your record book.
Important Items to Remember!
- This is a record book, not a scrapbook.
- One large, three ring binder is recommended. Usually 2” or 3” Green, Black or White.
- Standard 4-H forms are available at the Extension office and recordkeeping forms found on the Wapello 4-H website: https://www.extension.iastate.edu/wapello/4h
- NO HOMEMADE FORMS!
- Organize your record book in the proper order.
- Do not include reference material in your record book.
- If the specific 4-H Project Record allows space for a project picture, it may be attached on that project record.
- Do not add ribbons or Project Pins to your Record Book
Livestock Record Book Forms
- Market Animal
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Record Keeping Worksheet 4H-228JR (4-6 grades)
Record Keeping Worksheet 4H-228WS (7-12 grades)
Be sure to include a 4-H Project Record Sheet suitable for your grade level - Breeding Animal
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Breeding Worksheet 4H-0229JR (4-6 grades)
Ewe Lifetime Record(4H 0229DWS) Swine Lifetime Record (4H 0229FWS)
Breeding Animal Project Worksheet 4H-229WS (7-12 grades)Be sure to include a 4-H Project Record Sheet suitable for your grade level
- Beef Lifetime Record (4H 0229BWS)
- Dairy/Dairy Goat
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Dairy Record Keeping Worksheet 4H 392 WS (ALL grades)
Be sure to include a 4-H Project Record Sheet suitable for your grade level - Horse & Pony
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4H 512WS Horse/Pony Worksheet (ALL grades)
- Dog
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Record Keeping Lifetime Record Dog 4H 202 WS (ALL grades)
Dog Record Keeping Worksheet (ALL grades)
Be sure to include a 4-H Project Record Sheet suitable for your grade level - Pet & Cat
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Cat & Pet Project Worksheet
- Poultry
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Poultry Project Worksheet 4H 371 (ALL grades)
Laying Flock Worksheet Laying Flock Worksheet (4H 0653WS)Be sure to include a 4-H Project Record Sheet suitable for your grade level
- Rabbit
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Rabbit Project Worksheet 4H 372 (ALL grades)
Be sure to include a 4-H Project Record Sheet suitable for your grade level