1. The Answers to: WHY? WHAT FOR? & HOW?

2. 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

3. 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

4. What For? Gives accurate record of what you’ve learned
Head start on how to keep records!
Scholarships
Resumes
Job Applications
FUN to see how far you’ve come over the years!

5. HOW? Carefully! Section 1 & Section 6, 7– Year to Year
Sections Ongoing!
NOT LAST MINUTE!

6. Options for doing a portfolio
Downloadable documents from State Website
Poster
PowerPoint
Make sure you have all the sections represented in the format you choose!
My 4-H Project!

7. Section 1 – Project record
Print 1 for each project each year
Goals should be SMART:
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?

8. 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.

9. 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…)

10. 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?

11. 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

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

13. 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.

14. 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

15. 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.

16. Section 5 – Participation & Non 4-H Activities
On Going – Add to it each year!
4-H Activities
Non 4-H Activities
County Opportunities
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

17. 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
Tell about your future plans in 4-H and beyond!

18. 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 newspaper for pictures of you!
Don’t:
Use only pictures from Fair
Use only posed shots
Treat these 2 pages like a scrapbook

19. Portfolio Judging Portfolios should be completed by September 30
Judging completed by October at club level, November in County 4-H Office
Portfolios are used to attain Silver and Gold Achievement points for the Wyoming 4-H Honors club membership.

20. Parting Thoughts Powerpoints & Posters – Start Early!
Not as valuable when you are competing for State 4-H scholarships – they will want a paper copy of the cumulative portfolio
Acceptable at the county level or within clubs
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!