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

Who? Youth ages 8-18 All project areas No Cloverbuds

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 Awards and Achievement Program

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? Section 1, Section 6, & Section 7– Year to Year Sections 2-5 - Ongoing! START EARLY! Portfolios are used to track your 4-H experiences. Be sure to include ALL 4-H activities and ask your club leader if you have questions.

Entering information There are 2 methods available for entering information: Typeable pdf forms Write-in pdf forms

Entering information Typeable pdf forms: These allow for information to be typed and saved. In sections when you need more lines, press the + button to add To remove a line, press the – button.

Entering information… Write-in pdf forms: These allow the form to be printed and then information wrote-in. Several lines and larger spaces have already been established for information.

Cover Page “My 4-H Portfolio” A new page EACH year Input/write the 4-H year, 4-H member name, 4-H Club List the projects the 4-H member was involved in All books and sections will be judged for Achievement Points. Up to 20 projects can be listed on the cover page. NOTE: the “Judged? Yes or No” is NOT applicable to Laramie County

Section 1 – 4-H Project record Complete 1 for each project each year 2 report templates: 1 for Juniors, 1 for Intermediates & Seniors 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? This powerpoint will use examples from multiple project areas; note that EACH project will have a complete 4-H Project Record to complete.

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 – Your 4-H Project Plan: What’s your plan to accomplish your goals? Complete this at the beginning of the 4-H Year. If you set SMART goals before you started your project this should be easy! Think about… What your plan is to accomplish your goals Who might be able to help you (Juniors Only) What materials, equipment, supplies might you need Sect. 1-“Equipment on Hand-” What equipment did you already own or borrow for your project?

Section 1- 4-H Project Summary: Enter who your leader was or other adults who helped you, attendance at project meetings and workshops, clinics, jackpots, etc. Description of your project (Exhibit or Animal) Project Meetings-put NA if none were held for your project area. This Section 1 example is for the Archery Project. Each project would have it’s own summary.

Section 1 – purchase and Expense What were your expenses? What did you have to pay for? Cost of Project item (steer, pottery, fabric, notions, frosting, etc…) Feed Supplies, equipment, material Fuel Participation Fees (contest fees, enrollment fees, etc…) Were any expenses covered? Ex: bows/ammo for county shoot is provided by the county 4-H Shooting Sports Committee. This expense is valued at $30.

Section 1 – purchase and Expense Cont. What was your Income? What did you bring in or start with? Sale Price-did you sell your animal, equipment, supplies? Value of previously owned equipment

income What was your Income? What did you bring in or start with? Sale Price-did you sell your animal, equipment, supplies? Value of previously owned equipment In typeable forms, add rows if you sold multiple items In write-in forms, additional rows have been provided if you sold multiple items

Section 1 – what did you learn? What is something new you have learned? How will you apply or use what you’ve learned? Look back at your goals and explain how you accomplished the goals. Note: Differences in forms for age groups Juniors: 3 separate questions to answer (questions above) Intermediate & Seniors: Questions are combined in one section. Additional question of “What will you do different in the future?”

Section 1 – 4-H exhibition How did your project do at each level of competition? What ribbons, awards or placings did you receive for that project?

Section 2 – Awards & Recognition Ongoing – Add to it each year! Same form for all ages What have you accomplished in your 4-H career? Annual Achievement points Based on your score from previous year’s Portfolio

Section 2 – 4-H awards & recognition Any other 4-H awards or recognition. DO NOT include ribbons from fair unless it was given an additional award such as “Overall Champion” or “Best of Show.” + and – buttons allow you to add or subtract another line in the typeable form. Write-in form has several blank lines in the form. This member was 4-H club secretary for the 2014 4-H year and received the award at county Achievement Night in November 2014.

Section 3 - Leadership On-Going – Add to it each year! Include any 4-H leadership role you held. Do NOT put experiences outside of 4-H in this section. To add lines to the typeable form, use the + button. Write-in forms have multiple lines to fill-in.

Section 4 – 4-H Community Service On-Going – Add to it each year! Include any 4-H community service activity you have done as a 4-H member. To add lines to the typeable form, use the + button. Write-in forms have multiple lines to fill-in.

Section 5 – 4-H Participation On Going – Add to it each year! Typeable form: add or subtract lines with + or – buttons Write-in form has several blank lines listed in Club Opportunities and County Opportunities.

Section 5 – 4-H Participation cont.

Section 5 – 4-H Participation cont.

Section 6 – 4-H Story Different forms for Juniors and Intermediate/Senior Questions for Juniors: What did you do this year in 4-H that you enjoyed the most? Why? What did you think was the most successful part of your 4-H year? Why? What id you learn in 4-H this year? Tell about any problems you may have had this year in 4-H? Stories should be age appropriate and in the voice of the 4-H member!

Section 6 – 4-H story Intermediate/Senior Describe your year in 4-H. What did you like? What went well? What did you learn? What will you apply to your life? What challenges did you experience? How was your year important to you?)

Section 7 – 4-H pictures & 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

Section 7- 4-h Pictures & Clippings Typeable form: limited to front and back of paper (2 pieces) Allows you to attach/input an image electronically (from computer) into each blank box Allows you to type a caption in the blue box

Section 7: 4-h pictures and clippings Write-in forms: limited to front and back (2 pieces) Add a caption and the date photo was taken or clipping published to each image. Form provides blank space for pictures/clippings to be pasted.

Section 8 – other participation Information about participation in any organization outside of 4- H can be entered here. Include organization name and applicable information: Leadership role Community service Awards

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 Only the current year’s book should be submitted for portfolio judging. Sections that build on each other (Sections 2-5) will have older information, but Sections 1, 6 & 7 should only be from the current 4-H year. Past Books Keep past year’s books at home so you have them for future awards, scholarships, etc.

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. 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 4-H Carnival 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 wording for the child. If parents help with wording or typing that should be noted so the judges is aware. If a parent helps with typing, the words should be directly from the youth. Younger members may be more comfortable hand writing their books.

Portfolio Judging Portfolios are to be turned in by September 15 or the Friday before if the 15th is on a weekend. Judging will be completed in September & October Portfolios are used to attain Silver and Gold Achievement points for the Wyoming 4-H Honors club.

State Achievement Program Over continued years of involvement in 4-H, a youth can earn recognition that reflects their efforts in participation at a state level. 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 through the year and need to know later! Read the instructions at the beginning of the sections. Ask for help if you have any questions!

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