The purpose of 4-H record keeping is to teach how to keep records, which is an important life skill. Record keeping is an ongoing process that does not end when the 4-H year ends.

Philosophy for 4-H Record Keeping

The purpose of 4-H record keeping is to teach how to keep records, which is an important life skill. Record keeping is an ongoing process that does not end when the 4-H year ends. Youth are encouraged to select from a variety of alternatives to meet their individual record keeping needs and learning styles.

In 4-H, using a record keeping system is a recommended practice for youth in grades 4-12 to track participation, goals, achievements, and reflections throughout your 4-H journey. This record keeping system can be referred to when writing award applications, resumes, scholarship applications, or preparing for meetings or speeches. You can find more information in our publication Iowa 4-H Record Keeping Overview 4H 5000.

Objectives for 4-H Record Keeping

• To learn how to set goals, how to make plans for action, and how to decide how well you did (evaluation).
• To learn the 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.

Guidelines for 4-H Record Keeping

All 4-H members are encouraged to develop a record keeping system that includes:

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Recordkeeping for one or more project areas.

• Project Area or Exhibit? 4H 5500 includes information on the difference between a project area and an exhibit.
• Setting goals for your project areas and exhibits.
  • Goal Setting: Writing Project Area and Exhibit Goals 4H 5511 can guide you.
  • You can use a Goal Calendar 4H 5001 if you wish.
• Summarize your learning annually
  • You can write a 4-H story.
  • You can use the Yearly Member Summary 4H 5011.
• Reflect and evaluate your journey.
  • You can use Yearly Self-Evaluation 4H 5012 as a self-evaluation or as a guide for a member-mentor discussion.
• Project records document your goals and achievements in a project area. Choose one for each project area you wish to record information on.
  • Basic 4-H Project Record (4H 0096A)
  • Experienced 4-H Project Record (4H 0096B)
  • Advanced 4-H Project Record (4H 0096C)
• Project Worksheets are an optional tool that can help you plan or track aspects of your project.

Winneshiek County's Suggested Layout 

1. Title Page with Photo Suggestions for your title page: current photo, name, 4-H club, years in 4-H, grade in school (last fall).
2. Expected Standards for Winneshiek County (green)
   1. *Goals are required for each project area.
   2. *Financial records are encouraged for all members. Intermediate and senior members are required to include some type of financial statement on their projects. 
   3. *Project related photos, clippings, and exhibit information should be placed after the forms.
3. Local 4-H Club Program (optional)
4. 4-H Yearly Summary – The summary helps you summarize your participation in 4-H projects, local group involvement and at community, county, area, and state levels.  Pictures and clippings related to club events may be placed here. Examples: club meetings, camps, float, county and state fair non-project activities
5. Project Records – One form is needed for each project in which you are enrolled.

Record Keeping Tips

Remember to organize your 4-H record book.

It is recommended that each project area should be separated with a “tab” divider, and arranged with the most recent material on top in each project area.

Record Keeping Tips:

Be Neat. Check spelling, grammar, and math.

 

Ask yourself: Do you have control over all 3 parts of the goal? 
Examples:  I want to learn how to make chocolate chips cookies to serve at the March  4-H meeting. I want to train my dog to sit before county fair time. NOT : I want to win a blue ribbon at fair.

• Be sure to tell what you learned in each project throughout the year.
• Please do not include the following items:  fair ribbons, feed tags, 4-H newsletter, club programs, or stall cards.
• Goals are what you want to learn in each project and includes three parts:
  1. ACTION - how you are going to do it.
  2. RESULT  - what you will do
  3. TIMETABLE - when you plan to have it completed. 

8 Record Book Tips

Can't find what you are looking for?

Visit the Iowa 4-H webpage

4-H record keeping should reflect the 4-H member's goals, accomplishments, and future plans.