4-H RECORD KEEPING 

    Oklahoma 4-H encourages members to set and accomplish goals for themselves through project work.  4-H'ers learn how they have accomplished their goals through record keeping.  Even though most 4-H members are not fond of keeping records, the process helps develop valuable life skills needed for success.  Record keeping portrays a picture of a 4-H  member's project work, community service and leadership skills.  By keeping a 4-H record book, 4-H members will know what they have accomplished throughout their 4-H career.

    4-H record keeping starts at the beginning of the 4-H year, which is July 1 and ends June 30 of the following calendar year.  4-H'ers should begin the record-keeping process by setting personal goals for his or her 4-H project or activity.  A well-developed 4-H record book should be an outgrowth of stated personal goals for the project or activity.  A successful 4-H project or activity takes advanced planning and accurate, continual record keeping.  It is important for the 4-H member to remember that a quality program will take time.

    There are several ways for members to keep up with what they do in 4-H.  4-H'ers can use a county record book or medal form to record what is done in the project, write in a diary each day or use a calendar to record what is done each day.  Don't wait longer than one week to record project work because the important details or simple things are forgotten quickly.

    Items that need to be written down while keeping records on a 4-H project or activity include what was completed; what was learned; the learning and leadership experiences, as well as the citizenship activities that the member participated in; and the awards and recognition received.

    Many record books come up short because the record keeping shows a lack of good, solid project work.  Other common problems with record books are failure to show personal growth and application of project skills, the lack of true citizenship and too much repetition.  Another challenge of 4-H record keeping is developing an adequate vocabulary for describing the 4-H work.  The language in the record book needs to be clear and concise and it should tell the reader exactly what was accomplished and why the activity was important.  Have someone unfamiliar with the project read through the record book to analyze for clarity and completeness.

    The most successful 4-H projects are still those in which what is learned is more important than what was won.  The "I did and I won" stories communicate lack of growth and maturity on the part of the member.

    4-H record books are due May 1 each year.  After the record books are judged, the top three individuals in each project are interviewed before State 4-H Roundup.  The awards are presented at the Honor Night Banquet during 4-H Roundup.