NC 4-H Awards Programs

North Carolina 4-H hosts competitive and incentive programs that are "staples" to 4-H Club membership and goals. See the NC 4-H Awards Handbook for more information.

4-H Project Records are a summary of a project area over a one-year span where you learned and gained new skills within your 4-H work, as well as in other parts of your life.

4-H Project Records for 2026 will be due at the office on Monday, January 4, 2027.

Why do a 4-H Project Record? 

• Over a period of years, your records will show how you have grown.
• The information on your 4-H records will be useful as you fill out other forms in your life, such as 4-H portfolios, resumes, job applications, and college applications.
• Helps a youth set and attain certain set goals.
• Monetary rewards $50 -up depending on if you place with your project record or portfolio.

NC 4-H Project Record Forms: (Forms differ based on age category). **Official Project Record Forms must be used.**

• Cloverbud (5-7 years old) Google Doc *Cloverbud project records only go to the County level
• 8-10 and 11-12 years old (Word Document) 
• 8-10 and 11-12 years old (Fillable PDF)
• 8-10 and 11-12 years old (Google Doc WITHOUT examples) 
• 13-15 and 16-18 years old (Word Document)
• 13-15 and 16-18 years old (Fillable PDF)
• 13-15 and 16-18 years old (Google Doc WITHOUT examples)

What should a project record look like once it is completed? Click below for an example of a completed project record.

(8-12 Age) Sample Project Record #1

(13-18 Age) Sample Project Record #2

NC 4-H Sample Records (2024)

See the 4-H NC Awards Handbook for Project Record categories!

Where Does My Project Category Fit?

"How to" create a project record! videos below:

• Section 1 - Personal Information and Folders
• Section 2  - 4-H Story
• Section 3  - 4-H Project Focus 
• Section(s) 4 (8-12), 4-6 (13-18)  - Leadership, Citizenship, Community Service
• Section(s) 5 (8-12), 7-8 (13-18) - Awards and Recognition
• Section(s) 6 (8-12), 9 (13-18)  - Photos and Supporting Materials
• Section(s) 7 (8-12), 10 (13-18)  - 4-H Goals

Information at a glance:

• Project Records can be typed or written neatly by hand. There are instructions on the forms that explain how to format your project record. Make sure you carefully read the directions and follow them closely.
• Listing your community service, citizenship, and leadership activities are all important parts of 4-H! You can list activities that you have done as a Club, County, individually, or with an outside organization.
• Only two project record books can advance to District from one individual in one year.
• A 4-Her can only place gold once in the same category / age for project records. For example, if you are 9 years old and place gold in 8-10 aged Animal Science, the next year, if you submit an Animal Science record you could only place silver. However, once you turn 11 and are competing in the 11-13 aged Animal Science, you could place gold again.
• Break up the sections to complete over time rather then all in one sitting.
• Reach out to your Club leaders/fellow members to see if they have suggestions or records for community service, citizenship, and leadership completion over the year.

4-H Achievement Program

The purpose of the 4-H Achievement Program is to highlight the 4-H member experiences through activities, leadership, citizenship, and service!

This program will encompass a 4-H'er's career and their non-4-H work over consecutive years. With each level of accomplishment, 4-H'ers will receive recognition!

AND The Achievement Program, Honor Club Application, and AIRE applications coincide with one another in terms of 4-H achievements and experiences, streamlining a 4-H'er's work.

**More details coming**

4-H Honor Club

Often a defining moment for many 4-H’ers, induction into the NC 4-H Honor Club is one of the highest and most prestigious forms of recognition that one can receive during their 4-H career.

Why be a part of Honor Club?

Being a North Carolina 4-H Honor Club member is more than just an honor. It is the chance to give back to the 4-H program using the knowledge and skills that 4-H helped you to gain. Honor Club seeks members who want the opportunity to contribute to the club’s motto – Service – by continuing their involvement even after aging out of the 4-H program.

How do I join the NC 4-H Honor Club?

Submit an NC 4-H Honor Club Application.

Membership in the North Carolina 4-H Honor Club is bestowed upon 4-H’ers who have exhibited outstanding 4-H citizenship, leadership, and service throughout their 4-H career. An Honor Club member continues to provide leadership and service to the total 4-H program throughout life.

• Honor Club applicants must have completed three (3) or more years of 4-H club work, must be at least sixteen (16) years of age and not more than twenty (20) years of age as of January 1 of the year of their application.
• The total number of applicants inducted into the NC 4-H Honor Club each year shall be limited to one-half of one percent (0.5%) of the current enrollment of North Carolina 4-H members, or forty (40) members, whichever is greater.
• To become a member, selected applicants must be in attendance during the Tapping Ceremony at the evening assembly at 4-H Congress.