Did you do a lot in one specific area this year, and you’d really like to create a 4-H Project Record about it? Now’s the time to start a 4-H Project Record!

4-H Project Records are a summary about 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.

Project Records for the project year 2025 are due to the Henderson County office by 5:00 p.m.
on Friday, January 2, 2026.

**2024 Project Record Results Coming Soon**

**Click here to see 2023 Project Record District Results!**

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 advance 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

What are the project record categories? 

NC Awards Handbook

By clicking on the above link, scrolling down to 4-H project records section, you can read the different categories offered. If you have a project you would like to complete but are unsure if their is a correct category, don’t worry! Reach out to your 4-H agent Hannah Worrell if you are unsure. There is always somewhere to list your record. 

How to begin? 

4-H project records can seem daunting at first. We are here to help! If you are unsure of how to begin a project record, what you could complete a record on, or just have general questions while going through sections, do not hesitate to reach out! 

Check out this general resource to begin!

“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.

Are you interested in a 4-H Project Record book workshop with the county?

Click here to register!

Animal Science

• Objective: Allows youth to explore the world of animal science. Records in this category should include any project related to animal science. Animal science is described as the study of the biology of animals that are under the control of mankind. Typically, you will include, but not limited to, cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, poultry, and horses.

Citizenship & Civic Education

• Objective: Allows youth to explore the world of citizenship and civic education. Civic means relating to the community and connecting with the duties and obligations of belonging to a community. Citizenship is about understanding certain duties, rights, and privileges and solving real problems in a community. Youth discover the possibilities of democratic citizenship and build a commitment to take action in new and exciting ways. Service learning is engaging youth in actively giving back to the community and reflecting thoughtfully on the implications of service, all to make their communities a better place.

Communication Arts

• Objective: Allows youth to explore topics that emphasize artistic expression and communication. Topics range from photography, crafts, dance, music, media, creative writing, poetry, clowning, theater, acting, speech, language, etc.

Environmental Science

• Objective: Allows youth to explore through fields, forests, wetlands, and urban areas to discover the wonders of the environment. Through 4-H projects in this area, youth learn about the interconnection of people and nature.

Family & Consumer Sciences

• Objective: To increase the level of knowledge regarding child and family relationships, parenting, family/home management, financial management, and consumer science. 

Healthy Lifestyles

• Objective: Allows youth to explore the world of healthy lifestyle programs that include food and nutrition, health, and safety projects. Youth learn to make healthy food choices, gain knowledge of nutrition, and improve physical, intellectual, emotional, and social health.

Plant Science

• Objective: Allows youth to explore the world of plant science. Youth can investigate soils, plants, crop production, and more.

Personal Development & Leadership

• Objective: To encourage youth to develop themselves in the area of leadership. Focus on what they have done in 4-H as it relates to career readiness and leadership.

Science & Technology

• Objective: To allow youth to demonstrate their knowledge of basic electricity, electric energy, conservation of energy, as well as the technology that is used to help understand science. Science is defined as the study of the world around us. It’s the theory that lies behind all of our 4-H projects. Technology is defined as the tools and applications of science that help individuals advance.