What is a Recordbook?

4-H recordbooks are a tool in learning record keeping skills that will last a lifetime.  In the 4-H record book, 4-H members record information about participation and accomplishments in all 4-H projects and activities.  There are many categories in which to enter a 4-H record book; from beef to breads; from fashion to foods; from poultry to public speaking.

Texas 4-H Recordbook Webpage: http://texas4-h.tamu.edu/recordbooks/

2015-2016 Updates and Family Guide to 4H Recordbooks – this document explains how to do the Recordbook project.

CHANGES FOR 2015-2016

Record Books submitted for judging in 2016 are to be completed using the Microsoft Word forms found at texas4-h.tamu.edu

Member categories

• Junior (grades 3-5)
• Intermediate (grades 6-8)
• Senior (grades 9-12)

Clarification on reporting of learning experiences. Activities that occur in non-4-H settings such as other community or youth organizations, or in a self-directed project may be reported in the Junior Diary, Intermediate Personal Journal or Senior Section I as learning experiences.

All competitive events outside of 4-H are to be reporteded as non-4-H.

4-H members winning first place in a record book category may enter that same category again.

NEW!!

• Livestock Judging can be reported as a 4-H project. Other judging contest activities will continue to be reported within the 4-H Project it supports. (Whereas Horse Judging supports the Horse Project, Livestock judging involves multiple species; thus it can be reported as a stand-alone project.)
• Recordkeeping Tool available  Please see Appendix F of the Family Guide to the Texas 4-H Recordbook to learn about an online recordkeeping system created by Claire Godwin, Williamson County 4-H member. This is a TOOL and is not an online Record Book.

CATEGORIES: 

ADDED:  Agriculture Sciences

REMOVED:  Dairy, Housing & Home Environment and Safety.
Please see category descriptions, efforts have been made to ensure the books in the eliminated categories have a place to enter.

Other items to note:

• Personal Information Page (required, but not judged) available as a fillable PDF
• Junior Books – current year’s report form only
• Intermediate books – include prior year’s report forms as part of the overall evaluation

Senior books – include three year’s prior report forms as part of the overall evaluation.

Competitive Recordbook Categories:

A description of information to include about the specific projects listed above can be found on this pdf document

2015-2016 Recordbook Category Descriptions (pdf)

Online 4-H Recordkeeping – uses Google docs, is a tool for recordkeeping and not an official recordbook

• online recordkeeping system (pdf)

Recordbook Report Forms

The Recordbook Checksheet – should be the first page of the recordbook for senior, intermediate, and junior 4H Members

2015-2016 Recordbook Checksheet (pdf)

Personal Information Page – this form should be the second page in each recordbook for juniors, intermediates, and seniors

2015-2016 Personal Information Page (pdf)

Texas 4-H  Age Categories:

• Junior: 3rd – 5th graders
• Intermediate: 6th-8th graders
• Senior: 9th – 12th graders

(Information below taken from the 2015-2016 Updates and Family Guide to 4H Recordbooks (pdf))

FOR ALL AGE DIVISIONS, ONLY INCLUDE ONE YEAR’S WORTH OF INFORMATION ON THE CURRENT YEAR’S FORM. 

Junior Report Form – 2015-2016 Junior Report Form (pdf)

A completed Junior level recordbook consists of:

• Check Sheet
• Personal Information Page
• Junior Report Form (consists of Goals, Diary, 4-H Story, and Awards/Community Service/Leadership sections)
• Up to 3 pages of photos
• Prior year’s report forms (not judged)
• Additional Photo Pages (for those entering photography category only; up to 6 pages maximum)

For Juniors, the report form consists of 4 main sections:

• Goals (main project; current year only)
• Diary (all projects; current year only; no page limit; summarize as much as possible)
• 4-H Story (all projects; all years)
• Awards/Community Service/Leadership (all projects; current year only)

Intermediate Report Form – 2015-2016 Intermediate Report Form (pdf)

A completed Intermediate level recordbook consists of:

• Check Sheet
• Personal Information Page
• Story and Photo Portfolio (10 page max.; 3-page min. text; 3-page min. photos)
• Intermediate Report Form (consists of Goals, Personal Journal, Summary of Accomplishments, & Community Service, Leadership, and Project Summary sections)
• Prior year’s report forms (prior year to be judged)
• Additional Photo Pages (for those entering photography category only; up to 6 pages maximum)

Intermediate report forms include:

• Goals (main project; current year)
• Personal Journal (all projects; current year; no page limit; summarize as much as possible)
• Summary of Accomplishments (all projects; current year)
• Community Service, Leadership, and Project Summary (all projects; current year only)

Senior Report Form – 2015-2016 Senior Report Form (pdf)

A completed Senior level recordbook consists of:

• Check Sheet
• Personal Information Page
• Story and Photo Portfolio (10 page max.; 3-page min. text; 3-page min. photos)
• Senior Report Forms I-VII (sections are listed below)
• Prior year’s report forms (previous 3 years to be judged)
• Additional Photo Pages (for those entering photography category only; up to 6 pages maximum)

The Senior report forms consist of the following sections (current year’s information only):

• Section I:  4-H Project Experiences
• Section II:  4-H Leadership Experiences
• Section III:  4-H Community Service
• Section IV:  Other 4-H Projects
• Section V:  4-H Recognition and Awards
• Section VI:  Non 4-H Activities
• Section VII:  College and Career Exploration

Keep in mind, the following rules will apply for judging:

• Juniors will only be judged for the current year
• Intermediates will be judged for the current and previous year
• Seniors will be judged for the current and previous 3 years