Completing the 4-H Year

Program Contact

Amy Alder, 4-H Program Manager
509-962-7565 • amy.alder@wsu.edu

The 4-H Year runs from October 1^st to September 30^th of each year. To complete the program year and receive a program year pin, 4-H youth members meet these requirements.

Attend 4-H Meetings

Members may not miss more than three business meetings per year, per club they participate in. Most clubs hold between 6-10 business meetings per year. Members should work with their Club Leader if they need to be excused from more than three meetings (e.g., health considerations, family emergency, or other circumstances out of the member’s control).

Record Books

Member must complete their 4-H Record Book and project(s) with accuracy. Record Books are due to the Club Leader in mid-July, and must include a completion checklist signed by the member, parent, and leader in order for the member to exhibit at the county fair in 4-H classes. Leaders must turn the record books into the 4-H Office by the last Monday in July to be checked for completion. Books will be returned to members before county fair.

Demonstrations

Members must give at least one demonstration or presentation during the 4-H year. It is suggested, but not required, that members give one in each project area in which they are enrolled. Demonstrations or presentations may take place in various settings (e.g., club meetings, project meetings, county contests).

Showmanship

Members must participate in at least one showmanship contest. If no showmanship contest is offered within their project/s, they can participate in another county contest or event.

Livestock Judging

Members enrolled in a livestock project must participate in the Livestock Judging Contest at the Kittitas County Fair.

Horse Judging

Members enrolled in a horse project must participate in at least one county horse judging contest.

Loss of Project

While unfortunate, the loss of a project (animal, garden, etc.) does not mean incompletion for the project. The member should write about the project in their Record Book as far as possible.

Non-Completion

Members do not have to complete the 4-H year requirements in order to reenroll the following year. However, members who do not complete the 4-H year requirements will not receive a pin or credit for that year.

Reasonable Accommodations

4-H supports members who need reasonable accommodation and/or developmentally appropriate assistance to meet their 4-H project completion requirements. Our goal is to support members in completing their own work while providing the environment and assistance needed to get as complete an experience as possible. Parents/Caregivers of a member with significant physical, mental, and/or sensory needs should complete a Reasonable Accommodation form. 4-H Staff, Parents/Caregivers, and Club Leaders will work together to identify the needed supports or adaptations. Parents/Caregivers of members who needs developmentally appropriate assistance to complete their 4-H work (e.g., supporting reading/writing for 5-year-old member’s project book; helping young members with project expenses math) are encouraged to assist the members without completing the work for them—we love to see Cloverbud handwriting in Record Books!