Awards

Winners at the Pickens County 2004 Award Program
Photo by Stephanie Johnson - 4-H'er

Recognition is an important aspect of any 4-H youth development program. From 4-H ribbons and project medals at the county level to trips and scholarships at the state level, recognizing individual and team accomplishments are an integral part of the 4-H program in Pickens and South Carolina.

During the year, 4-H’ers have many opportunities to win county 4-H awards.  They may earn these when they complete 4-H Project(s), compete in county 4-H competition(s) and/or enter fair exhibits in the SC Upper-State Fair.  Major awards are presented at the 4-H Awards Ceremony that takes place in spring.  Specific award opportunities are listed below:

Award Opportunities:
 

County Contests:
 

• Most county contests are divided into cloverbud, cloverleaf, junior, and senior age divisions (except where noted).

•  Ribbon placement is based on the final ranking of the contestant’s score, according to the score scale of the contest.  A blue, red, or white ribbon is given to each participant on the day of the event.

• A trophies are awarded  first and second place winners in each age division at the 4-H Awards Ceremony, provided that the participant’s score placed in the blue ribbon grouping.

• Participating in certain county contests are often prerequisite to participating in corresponding state level competitions. The number of spots open in each age division per county at a state contest will be filled by 4-H’ers based on their scores in a preceding county contest. The top scoring blue ribbon county winners will be selected in descending order to fill the slots available at the state contest.

• Only blue ribbon victors will be eligible for state competitions. If there is not a 4-H’er eligible from the county to fill an opening at a state contest, the spot will not be represented.

Project Report Records:

Each 4-H club should select a project book(s) or other curriculum to work on for the year from the 4-H Project Selection Sheet appropriate to the consensus age group of the club.  Club programs should be geared towards the selected club project(s) and 4-H club members are expected to complete assignments from the project book(s), either in the setting of a small group or individually at home. 

4-H’ers that are members of a club and individual 4-H members may select projects to work on independently if they wish.  However, if a youth is a member of an active 4-H club, he or she is expected to make club selected project assignments first priority. 

Once a 4-H club or individual 4-H’er is finished working through a project book, each he/she needs to complete a Project Report Record Form (Record Book) for that book. After satisfactorily completing a Project Report Record Form, that 4-H’er could win a pin or certificate in that project area, provided they received a blue ribbon.

When a project book is completed, the club or individual member can start working on the next project book in the series or start working in a project book from a new project area.  4-H’ers can earn a project pin for each project book in a series for which they complete a Project Report Record Form.  Project books are ordered at the 4-H member’s expense.

For more information on Record Books as they relate to Projects, see the Record Book section.

There are Special Awards that can be one based on a 4-H'ers over all achievement.