Awards in the 4-H Program

Awards (certificates, medals, educational trips, scholarships, etc.) are made available to 4-H members through Friends of 4-H or Donors who are interested in the development of club members.   All 4-H awards are made through the State 4-H Office. If in doubt concerning any 4-H award, write the State 4-H Office. Do not write the donor.

Purpose of Awards
The Cooperative Extension Service, since its beginning, has made an effort through an awards program to give recognition to 4-H members for "work well done." Awards should be used to inspire interest and enthusiasm in 4-H work and to encourage 4-H members to reach worthwhile goals in keeping with their own ability.

Community and County Awards
Only a very small percentage of 4-H members can receive District and State awards; therefore, the major emphasis should be on community and county recognition for work well done. To provide opportunities for the maximum number of 4-H members to receive recognition, each county should have community and/or county achievement meetings.

COMMUNITY AWARDS

Individual Recognition: Since the 4-H project is the foundation of 4-H work, recognition should be given on the basis of a 4-H member making progress according to his own abilities. The following awards are available for individual 4-H members: Demonstrations: As club members learn new methods in their 4-H project work, they should be encouraged to give demonstrations at 4-H meetings, civic club meetings and at community and county events.

Community Project Achievement Meetings: Every 4-H member should be given an opportunity to compete with other club members in their community for community honors and the privilege of representing their community at the County Project Achievement Meeting. Scoring should be on the basis of 4-H record (total 4-H activities including leadership and project work and demonstration or speech).

The community winners should then be given an opportunity to compete for county honors at a County 4-H Project Achievement Meeting.

COUNTY AWARDS

Plans should be made at the beginning of the year to recognize 4-H members on a county basis.

County 4-H Project Achievement Meeting - For the majority of 4-H members in the county, the County Project Achievement Meeting can be the most important 4-H event during the year. At this event, community winners in all projects and activities should be given an opportunity to compete for county honors. Scores again should be the total of the 4-H portfolio (total 4-H activities, which includes leadership as well as project work) and the demonstration or speech.

These county award cards may also be ordered from the print on demand process. County winners should be given an opportunity to compete for district honors at the District 4-H Project Achievement Meeting.

MEDALS
Medals are provided for projects and activities so that county Extension agents and local 4-H leaders may give county recognition to 4-H members who do outstanding work and make satisfactory progress in their 4-H activities. Selection of the boys and girls to receive these medals should be done on the basis of their 4-H portfolios, special 4-H reports and observation of their work. Medals are given to counties following district project achievement competitions.  Additional generic medals may be ordered as available from the state 4-H office.  Additionally, National 4-H Supply provides medals for several 4-H projects

Master 4-H'er Status
Master 4-H'er honors are presented to 4-H'ers who are state winners in several  projects and competitive events.  These events must senior 4-H club members and are open to 4-H'ers statewide. Georgia 4-H sends a list of state winners in projects and events with master status to the Master 4-H Club recommending the new winners for Master 4-H Club membership.  Not all activities and events include master status. For more information click here.


 
Return to 4-H Policy & Procedure Main Page
Return to 4-H Guidebook Main Page
Return to Main Georgia 4-H Webpage