The Pierce County 4-H Leaders Council and the Fruitland Grange are once again holding a Record Book Contest beginning in the 2025/2026 4-H Program Year. The 4-H Record Books will be collected at the Fall Leaders Meeting on October 8, 2026 or they can be turned into the 4-H Office no later than October 15th. The Record Books will then be turned over to the Fruitland Grange Members for judging. Results will be available by the middle of November. Record Books will be available for pick up at Teen Rally on November 14th at WSU Puyallup Research and Extension Center. Prizes will be presented by the Fruitland Grange.
Why Keep Record Books
(Courtesy of Oregon 4-H)
Record Books
4-H’ers keep records and record books because they teach essential life and career skills, help record growth and learning over time, and prepare 4-H’ers for successful job, college, and scholarship applications in the future.
Why do 4-H’ers keep records?
- Career Readiness: 4-H’ers get organized, manage time, and pay attention to details—skills that are useful in almost any career path they choose.
- Setting and Reaching Goals: 4-H’ers track their goals and see their progress, keeping them motivated and on track.
- Reflecting on Growth: 4-H’ers regularly update their records and think about what they’ve learned and how they can improve.
What do 4-H’ers learn from record keeping?
- Financial Savvy: Tracking expenses and income teaches money management basics and prepares crafters, farmers, and entrepreneurs for pricing and revenue tracking.
- Problem-Solving: Overcoming challenges, documented in the record book, builds critical thinking skills.
- Skillful Communication: Writing summaries and reports sharpens communication abilities for future endeavors.
How can 4-H’ers use their Record books and Résumés?
- Project Success: Leaders and judges use record books to assess projects, offering feedback and recognition. For livestock projects, record books are used to market and sell high-quality animals at a profitable price.
- Self Confidence: Reviewing records shows 4-H’ers how far they’ve come and helps plan future projects.
- Resume Building: Record books are a great resource for creating resumes and applying for scholarships.
In short, record books are more than just paperwork—they’re a tool for success in 4-H and beyond!
Record Book Contest Resources
4-H Record Book Application
Record Books must be submitted to the 4-H Office by October 15th to be eligible for the contest
You will receive a confirmation e-mail after you submit your Record Book Contest Application form. Attach this e-mailed confirmation to your record book before you submit. You can submit your record book to the 4-H Office before October 15th or to your Club Leader to bring to the Fall Leaders Meeting on October 8th.