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.

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:


Recordkeeping for one or more project areas.

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.

Livestock Record Book Forms

Lifetime Records
Worksheets
Forms: Beef, Meat Goat, Sheep, Swine

Market Animals

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 Animals

Breeding Worksheet 4H-0229JR (4-6 grades)
Breeding Animal Project Worksheet 4H-229WS (7-12 grades)
Be sure to include a 4-H Project Record Sheet suitable for your grade level

Dairy/Dairy Goat

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

4H 512WS Horse/Pony Worksheet (ALL grades)

Dog

Record Keeping Lifetime Record Dog 4H 202 WS (ALL grades)
Be sure to include a 4-H Project Record Sheet suitable for your grade level

Poultry

Poultry Project Worksheet 4H 371 (ALL grades)
Be sure to include a 4-H Project Record Sheet suitable for your grade level

Rabbit

Rabbit Project Worksheet 4H 372 (ALL grades)
Be sure to include a 4-H Project Record Sheet suitable for your grade level

 

Clover Kids & Juniors - DUE DATE

Clover Kid/Junior member books are due to your club leader by September 15th. 

Afterschool Clover Kids Clubs should turn books into the Extension Office by September 15th

Intermediate/Senior - DUE DATE

Intermediate/Senior member books are due to the Extension Office by September 15th.