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:
Beef Citizenship & Civic Education Clothing & Textiles Communication and Expressive Arts Open Companion Animals Consumer Education Agricultural Sciences Entomology Family Life Food & Nutrition Gardening & Horticulture Goat Health Horse Leadership |
Natural Resources Personal Development Photography Plant & Soil Science Poultry Public Speaking Rabbit Recreation Safety Science, Engineering & Technology Sheep Shooting Sports Swine Veterinary Science Wildlife & Fisheries |
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
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