4-H Awards

Skagit County 4-H Awards

All award applications and record books are due the first Monday of October by 4:00 p.m. to be eligible for judging and awards.

Exception: Letterman applications and Honor Cord applications are due the first Monday of April by 4:00 p.m.

Friend of 4-H Award

Recognizes an individual, business, or service club for outstanding support of the Skagit County 4-H program.

Eligibility: Nominee must not have received this award within the past five years.

Community Service Award

Recognizes a 4-H club for outstanding service to the community. Club members nominate their club by answering questions regarding their projects. The recipient is selected by the Leaders’ Council.

Leader of the Year

Recognizes a 4-H leader for exceptional dedication, conduct, and positive impact within the 4-H program. Members, parents, and leaders may submit nominations, with the recipient selected by the Leaders’ Council Executive Board.

Eligibility: Nominee must not have received this award within the past five years.

Danforth Award

Recognizes a Senior 4-H member who demonstrates outstanding leadership, citizenship, determination, and service throughout their 4-H experience. Selection considers club participation, fair involvement, mentoring, community service, and commitment to achieving goals that benefit themselves and others.

Eligibility & Requirements: Senior member enrolled in the Leadership Project; complete a county record book; submit three sealed letters of recommendation (one each from a leader, community member, and educational advisor); and complete an interview with the Skagit County 4-H Council Executive Committee.

Outstanding 4-H Member

Recognizes 4-H members in each age division for outstanding county-level participation in leadership, citizenship, personal development, project work, club involvement, public presentations, and community service.

Requirements: Complete a county record book and online application; submit a written essay and sealed recommendation letter from the member’s primary club leader; and complete an interview with the Skagit County 4-H Council Executive Committee.

Most Inspirational 4-H Member

Recognizes a 4-H member who inspires and encourages others through their positive attitude, kindness, and example.

Requirement: An online nomination form must be submitted by a 4-H member or leader.

Top Record Book

Recognizes one 4-H member in each age division for outstanding completion of their record book. Each project may nominate a maximum of one record book per age division. Recipients are selected by the Top Record Book Committee based on established evaluation criteria, including project involvement, growth, and personality.

Requirements: A complete current record book, including the calendar, project sections, permanent record, 4-H story, and supplemental information.
4-H Clover

Top Secretary’s Book

Recognizes one 4-H club secretary for the most complete and accurate Secretary’s Book, based on completeness, accuracy, spelling, grammar, and meeting summaries.

Requirement: The main club leader must sign and date the back of the book, under the year, by the first Monday in October, verifying that the information is accurate and the work was completed by the 4-H member.
4-H Clover

Top Treasurer’s Book

Recognizes one 4-H club treasurer for the most complete and accurate Treasurer’s Book, based on completeness, accuracy, and monthly balancing.

Requirement: The main club leader must sign and date the back of the book, under the year, by the first Monday in October, verifying that the information is accurate and the work was completed by the 4-H member.
4-H Clover

Top Club Reporter

Recognizes one 4-H club reporter for outstanding documentation and reporting of club news and special events throughout the 4-H year. Selection is based on submitted media articles, completeness, spelling, and grammar.

Requirement: Reports must be submitted to the 4-H Office throughout the year. The main club leader must sign and date the back of the book, under the year, by the first Monday in October, verifying that the information is accurate and the work was completed by the 4-H member.

Skagit County 4-H Leaders’ Council sponsors the following pins for members enrolled in the Skagit County 4-H program who meet the eligibility requirements. 

Member Year Pin

Recognizes 4-H members who have actively participated in the Skagit County 4-H program throughout the year.

Requirements: Youth must be enrolled in Skagit County 4-H, attend at least 2/3 of club meetings, participate in a community service project, and submit a completed record book for the county contest.

Junior and Teen Leadership Pins

Recognize 4-H members who demonstrate leadership within their club and/or county. Junior Leaders are 12 and under, and Teen Leaders are 13 and older, based on age as of October 1.

First-year Junior or Teen Leaders receive a leadership pin and #1 marker, with consecutive number markers available for each additional year of active leadership. Junior Leaders advancing to Teen Leader are eligible for a Teen Leader pin and corresponding number marker.

Requirements:
Youth must be enrolled in the Leadership Project and demonstrate leadership within their club and/or county.
4-h sheep gold medal pin

Gold Medal Project Pin

Recognizes outstanding achievement in a 4-H project. Youth earn a Gold Medal Project Pin for each project in which they score 95 points or higher on their record book in the county contest.

Letterman Award or Honor Cord

Recognizes 4-H members in grades 9–12 for achievement, leadership, and active participation. First-year recipients earn a 4-H Varsity Letter, with a year rocker available for each consecutive year requirements are met.

Graduating seniors who have been enrolled in 4-H for at least two years may also earn a 4-H Honor Cord and may receive both awards in the same year.

Requirements: Meet 4-H Member Year Pin requirements; earn a blue ribbon on the county record book; serve in a leadership role (such as Teen Leader, club officer, or committee chair); and maintain a 3.0 GPA.

Applications are due by the first Monday in April. Awards are presented at the May Leaders’ Council meeting.

4-h dog members showing their dogs

Mt. Baker Kennel Club Award

Recognizes the 4-H member in each Washington State 4-H Fair obedience class with the highest combined Skagit County scores across obedience, showmanship, judging, skill-a-thon, quiz bowl, public presentations, educational poster, and the county record book contest.

Sponsored by the Mt. Baker Kennel Club.
4-h dog members receiving awards

Skagit County 4-H High Combined Agility Award

Recognizes one Junior, Intermediate, and Senior 4-H member with the highest combined first-run scores in Agility Standard and Jumpers at the Skagit County Agility Trial.

Eligibility: Members must compete with the same dog in Obedience and Showmanship at the Skagit County Fair.

Sponsored by the former Tails Up 4-H Club.
4-h dog member showing his dog

4-H Dog State Fair Achievement Award

Recognizes 4-H members who qualify for and participate in all Washington State 4-H Fair Dog events offered for their age division.

Requirements: Juniors must participate in seven events; Intermediates and Seniors must participate in eight events.

Sponsored by the former Tails Up 4-H Club.
4-h dog members posing with their dogs

4-H Dog Judging Excellence Award

Recognizes Skagit County 4-H members who place among the top 10 individuals in the Washington State 4-H Fair Dog Judging Contest.

Sponsored by the former Tails Up 4-H Club.
4-h dog members participating in dog bowl

4-H Dog Judging Top Oral Reasons Award

Recognizes a Skagit County 4-H Dog Project member who earns the Intermediate or Senior Top Oral Reasons Award at the Washington State 4-H Fair Dog Judging Contest.

Sponsored by the former Tails Up 4-H Club.

4-H members posing with awards

First Year Horse Member Award

Recognizes the most improved first-year 4-H Horse Project member, selected by the Horse Leaders Committee.

Requirements: Submit a letter of recommendation and completed record book.
4-h horse members showing their horses at fair

Tom Bassett Award

Recognizes a Senior 4-H Horse Project member who demonstrates exceptional and inspirational leadership. This is a one-time award, with the recipient selected through an independent review by Bassett associates.

Requirements: Submit a completed record book and a letter of recommendation from the main club leader.
4-h horse members showing their horses at fair

Dave Hunter Memorial Outstanding Games Horse Project Award

Recognizes one member in each age division for outstanding all-around participation in the Skagit County 4-H Horse Project.

Selection is based on scores from the record book, public presentations, Horse Bowl, Horse Judging, and Fair Fitting & Showing.
4-h horse members receiving an award

Mary Masonholder Outstanding Performance Horse Project Award

Recognizes a 4-H member for outstanding all-around participation in the Horse Project.

Selection is based on scores from Public Presentations, Horse Bowl, Horse Judging, Skagit County Fair Fitting & Showing, and the county record book contest.
4-h horse bowl team receiving an award

Equine Educational Excellence

Recognizes a Senior Horse or Horseless Project member for outstanding participation and achievement in 4-H equine educational opportunities, including Horse Bowl, Hippology, Horse Judging, and Equine Communications at the county and state levels.

Eligibility: Must be nominated by a club leader. Members may receive this award a maximum of twice.

Perpetual trophy donated by Cheryl & Warren Lee.

4-h member showing cow

Archie Nelson Inspirational Award

Recognizes a 4-H Dairy member, age 14–19, for outstanding leadership, mentorship, and citizenship in dairy cattle fitting and showing.

Eligibility & Requirements: Must have completed at least two years of Dairy 4-H and currently show a dairy cow or heifer.

Requires a leader and/or 4H Coordinator recommendation. Leaders may nominate more than one member.
4-H members showing swine at fair

Exceptional Livestock Member Award

Recognizes an outstanding member in each age division and livestock project area (Beef, Dairy, Sheep, and Swine) who demonstrates leadership, good sportsmanship, teamwork, and a positive attitude.

Requirements: Must be nominated by a leader or parent. No record book required.

4-h member holding her cat

Cathy Hammack Top Cat Award

Recognizes the 4-H Cat Project member with the highest combined score across nine activities. Ties are determined by public presentation score, presentation merit, then record book score, in that order.
Rabbit on agility course

Rabbit Excellence Award

Recognizes the 4-H Rabbit Project member with the highest combined score based on meeting attendance, Skagit County Fair participation, Judging (Knowledge Test), Herdsmanship, and record book.

Requirements: At least 70% meeting attendance and a completed record book. Tie-breaker: Public Presentation.
Rabbit on agility course

Rabbit Development Award

Recognizes a 4-H Rabbit Project member who demonstrates significant personal growth throughout their project.
Requirement: Nomination may be submitted by the youth, a parent, or a leader.
Two kids and a mom with cavy at the fair

Cavy Inspirational

Recognizes the 4-H Cavy Project member with the highest combined score across nine activities. Ties are determined by public presentation score, presentation merit, then record book score, in that order.

None available at this time.

4-h member participating in shooting sports

Sharp Shooter Award

Recognizes the 4-H Shooting Sports member with the highest combined score in archery and firearms.

WA State 4-H Awards

Scholarship Opportunities

Washington State Volunteer Recognition

4-H Grant Opportunities