WHY SHOULD I APPLY FOR AWARDS?
Recognition will encourage and challenge you to work hard, increase your interest, and will help
you learn more. It will help you to become more capable, competent, and confident young adults.
Members can be recognized at county and state levels. Scholarships are also available for
members who strive to achieve in the 4-H program. 4-H members competing at the state level
can win trips to National 4-H Congress or National 4-H Dairy Conference.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR 4-H AWARD APPLICATIONS
Please read all directions and score sheet prior to filling in the award application.
This form can be used for all members (ages 8-19) who are applying for Jefferson County Awards.
Members 15 and older have the option of using the Jefferson County Award Application or the Illinois State 4-H Award Application (those
wishing to have their award applications submitted for State Awards must use the Illinois State 4-H Award Application.)
Competing for county and state awards is strictly optional and is not required of any 4-H member.
The decision is completely yours.
1.
The application may be handwritten, typed or completed on a computer(preferred). Make your application
as legible as possible.
2.
The application should include 4-H and non-4-H activities and consists of 2 parts: Summary of
Accomplishments and your 4-H Story.
3. If typing the application use
Times New Roman – 12 pt.
White, standard 8 ½ by 11 inch paper
Margin of 1 inch on all 4 sides
4.
Summary of Accomplishments: Maximum of 8 pages (print on 1 side only) Single or double space
Worth 75 points
Should relate to activities during your 4-H year and include these 3 parts

4-H Accomplishments in the award area in which you are applying
 Additional Accomplishments in 4-H/Extension
 Community/School/Other Accomplishments
5.
4-H Story: Maximum of 2 pages (print on 1 side only) Single or double space
Worth 25 points
Should relate to your 4-H activities in the specific award area
6. No personal names, counties, social security numbers, herdnames or family names should be in the
application.
7. Mark your level of participation:
L – Local Community
C – County
S – State
N – National
8.
M – Multi-County
I – International
R – Regional
If you do not have access to a computer; we have computers available in the office. Call and set up
a time to use our computers. Please bring your CD, flash drive, and any records of information you
have.
JEFFERSON COUNTY AWARD APPLICATION COVER PAGE
Submit one completed copy of the award application for each award category.
First 8 pages of Summary of Accomplishments should be the same, but the story must be
different for each award category.
Achievement
Community Inv. & Global Awareness
Plants & Soils
Citizenship
Public Adventures
Service Learning
Community Service
Intercultural
Food, Nutrition, & Health
4-H Cooking
Food Preservation
Microwave Meals
Health & Fitness
Animal Science
Beef
Cat
Dairy
Dog
Goat
Poultry
Sheep
Small Pets/Animals
Swine
Rabbit
Horse
Animal/Vet Science
Personal Development
Communications
Journalism
Theater & Performing Arts
Photography
Filmmaking/Video
Visual Arts
Home & Family
Child Development
Intergenerational
Clothing & Textiles
Consumer Education
Financial Champions
Consumer Savvy
Be the E!
Fashion Revue
Interior Design
Crops
Floriculture
Horticulture
Plant & Soil Science
Environment & Natural Res.
Natural Resources
Wildlife
Outdoor Adventures
Sportfishing
Shooting Sports
Forestry
Entomology
Geology
Engineering & Technology
Aerospace
Bicycles
Computer Science
Geospatial
Robotics
Small Engines
Tractor
Welding
Woodworking
Electricity
Statement by Member
I personally have prepared this application and certify that it accurately reflects my work.
Signature of 4-H Member_______________________________
Approval of This Report
We have reviewed this application and believe it to be correct.
Signed (Parent)___________________________________
Signed (Leader)___________________________________
Date Received________
SUMMARY OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Size and Growth of Project (4-H related)
Example
Year
2010
Project Name
Clothing
Explanation or Number and Value of Livestock
Made a 9 patch pillow; took 2 hours to complete.
Example
2010
Dairy
Bull Calf under 6 months of age worth $312
SUMMARY OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Knowledge and Skills (4-H related)
Example
Year
2010
Project Name
Clothing
Example
2010
Dairy
What You Learned
I learned how to use a cutting board and wheel, how
to sew on the machine and do a reverse stitch, and
how to whip stitch the edge after stuffing my
pillow.
I learned it costs a lot of money to purchase my
calf with my own money, to properly measure the
milk replacer and teach it to drink from a bottle;
how to train my calf to lead and stand correctly for
show.
SUMMARY OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS
L (Local)
S (State)
Example
Example
Year
2010
2010
Participation in Activities (4-H related)
C (County)
M (Multi-County)
R (Regional)
N (National)
I (International)
Project
Clothing
Dairy
Participation
Showed my pillow in the county 4-H fair and
then I showed my pillow at the state level.
Attended the National 4-H Dairy
Conference.
Level
C and S
N
SUMMARY OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Leadership Exhibited (4-H related)
Example
Year
2010
Project
Club Secretary
Example
2010
Dairy
Description of Leadership
I took minutes and recorded our club notes in
the Secretary’s book.
Was committee leader for setting up a petting
zoo at our local Tractor Supply Company.
SUMMARY OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Community Service (4-H related)
Example
Year
2010
Project Area
Food & Nutrition
Description of Community Service
Worked at the local Food Pantry collecting and
sorting donated items
COMMUNITY SERVICE/SCHOOL/OTHER
Participation and Activity
(non-4-H Activity)
Example
Year
2010
Participation and Activity
Member of the school band; played the clarinet
Example
2010
Boy Scout
COMMUNITY SERVICE/SCHOOL/OTHER
Leadership
(non-4-H Leadership)
Example
Year
2010
Role
Captain of the school soccer team
Example
2010
Lector at Church
COMMUNITY SERVICE/SCHOOL/OTHER
Community Service/Citizenship
(non-4-H related)
Example
Year
2010
Example
2010
Example
2010
Activity
Planted flowers at the Community Center with our Boy Scout
Troop
Can drive at our School
Our FFA collected coats for the less fortunate
4-H STORY
The 4-H story is worth 25 points. Your story should relate to your 4-H activities in the
specific award program area. (See next page for the award program areas.) If you are
filling out an application for Animal Sciences only relate your experiences about animal
science projects. Single or double space; 1 inch margin on all 4 sides; Times New Roman
size 12 point; use standard white 8 ½ by 11 inch paper.
Include the project area and years in the project:
Things learned
Successes and failures
Impact this project has had on your life:
Leadership examples
Citizenship examples
Your Career Choice
Impact on your family
Make your 4-H story personable!!!
EXAMPLE: 4-H was one of the first words I remember hearing as a small child. I cannot remember
the first fair I went to, but I know I was in a diaper derby because my grandma has a picture. I also
know that I am a fifth generation 4-H’er. I could not wait to be in 4-h and start my career as a Clover
Bud.
I have always loved animals, and one of my first memories is playing with a huge Saint Bernard
who was a member of our family. It seemed natural that I would want some type of animal for one of
my first 4-H projects. I chose rabbits because we live in town and I could not have sheep, pigs, or cows
and my mother raised rabbits in 4-H.
My parents thought one rabbit was enough for me to start with. We later added a buck and I
stayed up half the night waiting for my first bunnies to be born. I soon found that wanting rabbits and
actually caring for them were very different things. Keeping them watered in hot and cold months,
feeding, cleaning cages, deciding which ones I would breed, and keeping breeding records all helped me
face up to lots of responsibility. My little furry friends depended on me, and I could not let them
down. I also studied health issues through my veterinary science project. (include other projects
related to animal science.) This experience has helped me in planning my rabbit’s health program.
As my three younger siblings became Cloverbuds and 4-H’ers, they started helping take care of
and showing some of our 32 rabbits. My little brother just showed rabbits for his fourth year in 4-H and
took a first place. My little sister showed rabbits for her first year in 4-H and received Reserve
Champion. I was happy to pass on what I have learned in my seven years in the project. Now my
youngest sister is a Cloverbud and looks forward to showing rabbits. She already has her “special”
bunny to take care of.
I have learned much from the rabbit judges at the fair. I picked a rabbit that I knew had perfect
markings, but I had forgotten to check her teeth. They were crooked and the judge moved her down in
placing. Now, I know she will not be good breeding stock and I will check teeth the next time I choose
rabbits for show. (Judges like to see the growth from a small project to a bigger project.)
Watching the llama show at our county fair six years ago was fun. I decided it was time to move
on to that bigger animal I had been wanting. With my mom’s help, I found a leader who leases llamas.
4-H’ers go to her farm two or three times a week, work with their llamas, and show at the fairs.
In April 2006, I met my llama. It was a long journey to the farm and my entire family helped get
me there, so I could work and learn about llamas. I went to “Llama Land”, as we called it, and learned
about body parts, caring, and feeding and disease information. My favorite part of training my llama
was to do obstacle courses, including pack and public relations. My first year was pretty shaky and I
had to use lots of patience and determination, because llama’s can be difficult! (Talk about the
problems that you encountered. Not every project will be perfect. We learn from our mistakes)
However, I think the most important thing is that I bonded with my intelligent llama and she seemed to
want to perform for me. I have graduated to entering the costume contest, and my llama seemed to love
to dress up.
I showed the same llama 2 years in a row. We did very well at the state llama show and won
Junior Performance Champion. Since my llama was being bred, I had to use a different llama my third
year.
In 2008 I was paired with a 7 month old male who hadn’t been halter trained. I worked
extremely hard and had to take everything one step at a time. Training started with a halter over logs to
climbing up …. (Continue talking about your progress through the years showing in this particular
class)
Talk about showing in other county fairs if you have done so. Have you encouraged siblings to
show in the same class?
To round out my love for animals, I have continued in the dog care project. My favorite part of
dog care is training my little sheltie in obedience. I have spent many happy hours working and playing
with my puppy, and the entire family enjoyed the rewards that come with a trained pet. My brother
showed in the costume contest twice, and I taught him how to lead her. I was proud of my puppy and
my brother when they won Best of Class in the costume contest.
I have learned through 4-H that one needs to set goals. 3 years ago I set a goal for dog obedience
to qualify for the Illinois State Fair. After many hours of practice and working with her, I qualified that
year and again this year. (Talk about other goals you have set.)
Now being an older 4-H member, I help at the llama farm assisting with chores. I also lead
young 4-H’ers in training. (Show your leadership skills in that project area. Talk about goals you have
for the future with that project.) I am hoping with more hard work a Senior Performance Champion
award may be in the future.
Another goal I will work on is to promote the llama project in our county. Many 4-H’ers who
live in the city don’t believe there are opportunities for them to work with large animals. The skills they
will learn from the project will help them all their lives.
4-H offers a wide variety of activities and leadership opportunities. The skills I have learned
from the 4-h program are already helping me in school and to serve my community. I know when I get
to college and start training for my career; I will greatly benefit from my 4-H experiences and have
more career choices. Obviously, all the animal sciences experience has me looking hard at becoming a
veterinarian, but it is a hard choice when I know the skills I’ve learned could go further into the medical
field as well. I’m thankful to have 4-H prepare me for so many possibilities and I still have 4 more years
to go. I know someday that I will get my chance to be one of the many wonderful volunteers that make
4-H possible for youth like me and get to return some of what it has given me.
This is an excellent example of a 4-H story. Note the comments in italics I have made that make
this a great story. Younger 4-H members will not be able to make their stories as detailed, but
when they begin recording their projects and activities, it gets them started thinking to the future.