http://www.uwyo.edu/4-h/publications/portfolio/index.html

Character COUnts Trustworthiness Responsibility Respect Fairness Caring Citizenship Trustworthy – telling the truth about what you’ve done – being honest about what you’ve learned Responsibility – should know about the project you’ve taken part of – should show you’ve done your own work Respect – Showing courtesy to those that helped you, showing gratefulness for the opportunity provided, Fairness – Doing your own work, participating according to the guidelines Caring – not only about yourself but about the projects you have completed Citizenship – participating beyond the club – what did you do for your community to help it the way they help you

Why? Responsible Record Keeping To see where you’ve been, so you can decide where you’re going Gives you a place to start with projects Compare beginning to end

What For? Gives accurate record of what you’ve learned Dates Returning Members: September 1st to August 31st New Members: 4-H Start Date to September 1st. Benefits you in the future! Scholarships Resumes Job Applications FUN to see how far you’ve come over the years!

HOW? Carefully! Section 1, Section 6, & Section 7– Year to Year Sections 2-5 - Ongoing! START EARLY!

Section 1 – Project record Print 1 for each project each year Goals should be SMART and age appropriate: Specific What exactly are you going to do? Measurable How do you know you’ve achieved it? Actionable/Attainable Do you have control over the outcome? Realistic Is it reasonable to accomplish? Time Bound When do you want to do it by?

GOAL Examples “I want to win showmanship” vs. “I want to learn the cuts of my animal so I can better answer questions during the showmanship competition.” “I want to go to State Fair.” vs. “I want to learn many stitching techniques to be able to sew an apron for the Fabric & Fashion Contest to earn a ribbon to qualify for State Fair.”

Section 1 - Size & Scope What was your Income? What did you bring in or start with? Sale Price Value of previously owned equipment What were your expenses? What did you have to pay for? Cost of Project item (steer, pottery, fabric, notions, frosting, etc…) Feed Supplies Fuel Participation Fees (contest fees, enrollment fees, etc…)

Section 1 - Market Summary (livestock projects) Shows you the value of your animal outside of 4-H – TRUE Market Value (MV) if you had taken it to the local auction. Things to think about: If you sold at a non-4-H auction on a different day would the MV be different? Do 4-H animals receive more value than “home-grown” ranch animals? Why or why not? Did you show gratitude to your buyer for purchasing your animal above market value? What is a proper Thank You?

Section 1 - Knowledge & Skills Acquired What did you learn? If you set SMART goals before you started your project this should be easy! Think about… What you did to achieve your goals What skills someone may have taught you Where you got the information you needed to succeed

Section 1 - SUMMARY How did your project do at each level of competition? What ribbons or placings did you receive for that project?

Section 2 – Awards & Recognition Ongoing – Add to it each year! What have you accomplished in your 4-H career? Date Award or Honor Description / Activity or Event Level 1998 Medal 3rd Place Junior .22 Air Pistol at County Shoot. CO Certificate Most Improved Beginner Sewer in Wrangler 4-H Club CL Trophy Champion Junior Dog Showman 1999 Trip Denver Roundup winner in Style Review S 6/15/00 Scholarship Livestock Judging to Northwest College.

Description of Leadership Responsibilities Section 3 - Leadership On-Going – Add to it each year! Date   Type Description of Leadership Responsibilities Include the office held, activity in which you were involved, or committee to which you were assigned. Level 02/23/2001 E Song Leader for County Teen Council CL 2001 P Organized and made PSA’s for 4-H Week with club members CL, CO

Section 4 – Community Service On-Going – Add to it each year! Date Description of Activity Level 1999 Bake and Take Week, delivered cookies to seven widows with my club. CL 2000 Food for the Homeless Shelter, designed and distributed 30 ads/fliers for placement on the bulletin boards in local businesses. CO Helped our Junior Leader Club paint the fence at the Senior Citizens Center for 10 hours over the space of 2 weeks. CL,CO 2001 Helped with County Wide Koats-for-Kids drive during November and December.

Section 5 – Participation & Non 4-H Activities On Going – Add to it each year! 4-H Activities Non 4-H Activities County Opportunities   2 0 0 2 2 0 0 3 2 0 0 4 2 0 0 5 County Fair X Achievement Night Presentation Contest 4-H Camp YEAR GROUP or ACTIVITY  Level 2000 Boy Scouts C Little League Baseball T 2001 6th Grade Wrestling S Marching Band

Section 6 - Story Introduce yourself Highlight all your 4-H projects and activities, not just the Fair. Explain how 4-H helped you become a better leader and citizen Describe how 4-H participation made you feel Did something not go well? Describe what happened, why it happened, and what you would do different or change for the future. Stories should be age appropriate and in the voice of the 4-H member!

Section 7 – Photographs & News Clippings Do: Use Action Shots – you working with your animal, in the middle of creating your project Add captions! Tell us what’s happening! Look in the newsletter for pictures or mentions of you! Ask your leaders or the Extension Office if they have photos from events if you are short pictures. Don’t: Use only pictures from Fair Use only posed shots Include information that isn’t 4-H related Treat these 2 pages like a scrapbook Include ribbons or bulky items

Set-Up Put your portfolio in a hard cover. Preferred Covers: 4-H Member’s Record Book Cover http://www.4-hmall.org/Product/officesupplies-recordbookcovers/B- 49.aspx 3-Ring Binders - Accepted but take up more room and don’t stack flat List your name and club name on the front of the cover Page protectors are acceptable but not required Use page dividers to clearly separate sections

Order Place sections in order: 1-7 Past Books Sections 1, 6, & 7 can be put behind the entire current year’s book and should be divided by a divider from all current information. It is not necessary to include past year’s information for judging. (Keep past year’s info for your records)

Tips Empty Sections - If you have no information for a section write N/A in that box or line to show that you saw the section and didn’t miss it. This indicates to the judges that you did not skip that part, but instead didn’t have anything to put in there. Many judges will give a zero if nothing is found in a section. However, before entering N/A, be sure you have thought of every possible thing you could enter. Remember: Record book scores are based on your record keeping ability and how much you learned. Hand Written vs. Typed: Either is acceptable. Whichever you choose, be consistent through the whole book. Make sure your hand writing is readable. Please double check grammar, spelling, etc. Have a parent or leader read over your books before turning them in. Use complete sentences.

Tips, Continued Expenses - If you are in projects where materials were provided to you, show the cost of those items and note that you didn’t pay for them. This shows that you acknowledge the cost and value of materials. Club Work - Elaborate on how you helped or exactly what you did to contribute to club or community work. Think of Everything - Sometimes small things we don’t think about can be used for record books. Did you attend club tours or achievement night? Give a club presentation? Help a younger member with their project at fair or their record book? Give credit to people who helped you!

More Tips Community Service– An activity you or your club did that benefits others and does not make your club or yourself any money. Ex: If your club plans your Mardi Gras booth to make money it isn’t a community service activity, it is a fundraiser. Be Detailed - The more you explain, the more the judge will know. Be mindful of your goals: SMART & Age Appropriate! Adult Assistance – parents may help guide the youth. Parents should not tell the kids exactly what to say or complete any sections for the child. It is better to leave a section blank than have a parent fill it out. If parents help with wording or typing that should be noted so the judge’s is aware.

Portfolio Judging Portfolios are to be turned in by September 15 Judging will be completed in September & October Portfolios are used to attain Silver and Gold Achievement points for the Wyoming 4-H Honors club membership.

State Achievement Program Over continued years of involvement in 4-H, a youth earn recognition that reflects their efforts in participation. The achievement program applies only to youth ages 8-19. Membership Recognition Member has turned in all required enrollment materials Member has behaved in an appropriate manner at all 4-H activities, events, and meetings Member is enrolled in at least one project Member is enrolled in at least one club or has approval of county 4-H Educator. Silver Recognition Member meets Membership Recognition criteria. Member has exhibited what he/she learned at some point in the current 4-H year Member provides documentation of setting goals, knowledge/skills gained, and participation in project. (Most likely via the portfolio)

State Achievement Program Gold Recognition Member meets Membership Recognition criteria. Member has exhibited what he/she learned at some point in the current 4-H year Member provides documentation of participation in all essential elements of positive youth development: setting goals, knowledge/skills gained, recognition, leadership, community service, and participation. (Most likely via the portfolio) Wyoming 4-H Honors Club The ultimate achievement that a 4-H member can obtain is inclusion in the Wyoming 4-H Honors Club. It is based on the principle of providing recognition for youth that maximize their opportunities to foster positive youth development elements of belonging, independence, generosity, and mastery over their time as a member in the program. Nineteen (19) points must be accumulated to obtain the status. Annual efforts are accumulated based on receiving three (3) points for a gold effort and one (1) point for a silver effort.

Portfolio Judging Score Sheet

Parting Thoughts Start Early! Review often and update the ongoing sections Use the Story to tell us about your overall 4-H experience, not just your Fair experience. It’s YOUR record above all else. Make sure you document what you might forget and need to know later! Read the instructions at the beginning of the sections

Don’t wait until the last minute!! Laramie County Extension Questions? Please contact the Extension Office or your club leader if you have questions. How to fill out a section. Where to include information. Why something is required. Help setting goals. What you need to submit for judging. There are no stupid questions! Don’t wait until the last minute!! Laramie County Extension Hours: 8:00-5:00 Mon-Fri 310 West 19th St., Suite 100 (County Courthouse) Phone: (307) 633-4383 Email: sussex@uwyo.edu