Record Book Roundup
These forms are available online at https://www.kansas4-h.org/resources/awards-and-recognition/ProjectRecognition.html.
Record Books are due this month. Hopefully, you've been following along in the steps and have a good jump start.
If not, I wanted to share an article from last year:
Complete A Record Book in 10 Days
This article assumes you've not opened the green book with your new project report forms in it. The average 4-H member has 3 to 4 projects. This will be laid out with a four project time frame. You can adjust it to fit your number of projects and the time you have available.
It should be noted, this is not how Record Books were intended to work. But every year, some families share of their last minute struggles.
Day 1
Skip passed the permanent record and personal page. There is a large temptation to start at the beginning, but this method is going to work backwards.
Select your favorite project, the one you could talk about all day long.
Pull out the project report form for this project. Assuming it's still blank, you need to start by thinking back to what you hoped to accomplish this year. There will be a place to list goals or objectives. It is okay if you did not accomplish all of your goals.
For the adult or older 4-H member helping gather up the expenses associated with this project; hopefully, they are written down in a notebook or a pile of receipts.
Move right on in to telling about what you did in the project, what you exhibited at the fair, and other learning experiences like collecting insects or community service.
Now go to the sections that require financial information, or feeding details for livestock projects; hopefully, the adult helping you has gathered these records for you. Enter this data in the boxes provided.
Now you are ready for the fun part, photos and project reflections or a story. Make sure you read the directions.
Make a list of anything you need to finish the project report form. This could be printing color photos on Mom's computer, finding the weight records from the fair for your livestock, or adding ribbon placings from the State Fair.
Congratulations you've just finished one project record.
Days 2-4
Days two, three and four will be exactly like day one. Because the average enrollment tends to be four projects. If you have time left after completing any one of the project days, move ahead to start the next project sheet.
Day 5
The personal page is the very first page. One of the most missed items, is a photo on the personal page. This can be a school photo or a snapshot.
Adult helpers make sure the list of projects on this page matches the list of projects the extension office has on record for your enrollment on May 1. Just because you didn't end up buying an animal or making a clothing project for the fair, doesn't make it a dropped project. This is a great time to think about what happened to prevent you reaching your goals that you had when you entered the project. Sometimes these stories are the most memorable.
This might also be the day, you realize that you are missing project report forms. These are all available at https://www.kansas4-h.org/resources/awards-and-recognition/ProjectRecognition.html.
Day 6
A 4-H Story is today's goal. This is a chance for you to share everything you want to remember about the 4-H year. Some members like to write a little bit about each project. Some members like to write a little bit about each month and what happened. There is no right or wrong way to write a 4-H story.
For those members who are in their last couple of years, looking back at all you've learned from 4-H might make a very interesting story. Remember that in Barber County, we judge the 4-H stories and select winners in the junior and senior divisions. This is awarded at the Achievement Banquet. 4-H council sponsors the cash prizes.
Day 7
It's time to start the permanent records. Looking in your club program book, the online news updates, and even your family calendar will make this easier. These records can be typed on the ones from the previous year. Handwriting is also acceptable. Do whatever works best for your family. Doing the project records first, also provides a source of information for the permanent records. Updating the permanent records is a requirement to having a completed record book. Please do your best to include all of the different pieces.
Day 8
Remember that list you started making of things you needed for your project report forms? Today is a day to go back and add all of those pieces. Look over everything again, read all of the directions, and make sure you didn't miss anything.
Day 9
Your level achievement pin should have been included with your record book. Today go through and mark what you achieved this year. If you have questions about how things might count, ask your club leader or call the extension office. We are glad to help. These forms are available online at https://www.kansas4-h.org/resources/awards-and-recognition/index.html
Day 10
Today is your day to apply for county champion. The county champions recognized at Achievement Banquet are based solely on the records turned in with the record book. County champions are a junior and senior division. Starting in 2022, both the junior and senior will turn in copies of their project report forms. In place of copying the permanent records, we will supply the record books to the judges to reference the permanent records.
On this day, you will need to make sure you have access to a copy machine. Select your best projects to turn in for county champion. Details for this are available under record keeping on the Barber County web page. Also use this day to finish up any loose ends.
Remember that all record books must be turned in to a community leader. Please honor the deadlines they have set. Community leaders will bring the record books to the 4-H Council Meeting on September 26th. Record books will be screened by leaders following the council meeting.
Happy Record Keeping!