Record Keeping and Record Books

"For the Record" is the Texas 4-H and Youth Development Program's record keeping program. It is a two part educational process that teaches basic record keeping skills and then allows a 4-H member to participate in the record book competition. 

Record Keeping and Record Book Objectives

The following objectives will be used for helping you determine your goal and process in a project. These objectives can be used for your record keeping and will be used as you prepare a recordbook. 

These objectives may be revised periodically to address issues affecting youth development. 

The objectives are to be used in setting goals for project experiences, leadership, community service and awards. They will be reflected throughout a 4-H members recordbook. 

  1. Attain a broad knowledge of 4-H projects and activities and the way they improve family and community life. 
  2. Acquire life skills essential for becoming an active, skilled, productive and responsible citizen. 
  3. Adopt and apply the latest practices and research findings to everyday living. 
  4. Use all 4-H training and experiences in choosing and preparing for a job. 
  5. Develop leadership skills that promote positive youth development. 

Record Book Categories

  • Aquatic Science 
  • Beef 
  • Citizenship & Civic Education 
  • Clothing & Textiles 
  • Communication and Expressive Arts Open Category 
  • Conservation of Natural Resources 
  • Consumer and Family Science Open 
  • Consumer Education 
  • Dairy 
  • Energy Management 
  • Entomology 
  • Environmental Science Open 
  • Family Life 
  • Food & Nutrition 
  • Forestry 
  • Gardening & Horticulture 
  • Goat 
  • Health Healthy Lifestyles Open Category 
  • Horse Housing & Home Environment 
  • Leadership Personal Development/ Leadership Open 
  • Photography 
  • Plant & Soil Science Plants & Animals Open 
  • Poultry 
  • Public Speaking 
  • Rabbit 
  • Range Management 
  • Recreation 
  • Safety 
  • Science & Technology 
  • Sheep 
  • Shooting Sports 
  • Sportfishing 
  • Swine 
  • Veterinary Science 
  • Wildlife & Fisheries

Record Keeping and Record Book Forms

The Texas 4-H Record keeping System has seven different forms. Some of these forms are used by 4-H members, some by leaders and parents, and some only by your County Extension Agent. Make sure that you have the correct forms when starting your recordkeeping experience. 

Each of these forms may be ordered, for a fee, through the Texas AgriLife Extension Service Bookstore at: http://tcebookstore.org . Additionally, your local County Extension Office may be able to supply you with copies. 

One of the new features of the recordkeeping system is that these forms will not be revised each year (except for the Texas 4-H Clover). Therefore it is not necessary for you to request instructions for completing a 4-H recordbook each year, just hang on to the one you get this year.

Forms

Member Achievement Plan (M.A.P.)
Used by 4-H members to keep track of project growth and development. 4-H Members will need to keep one of these forms for each project they participate in.

Word
Order

Record Improvement Guide
The Record Improvement Guide is designed to provide instruction on the development of a Texas 4-H Recordbook. This provides the guidelines and the "do's" and "don'ts" of completing a 4-H recordbook. Each family only needs one of this publication.		PDF
Order
Personal Information Page/Report Form&Checklist
In the past, these have been three separate publications. Now it is all in one! This is the form used in completing a competitive recordbook.		PDF
Word
WordPerfect
Order
Texas 4-H Clover
The Texas 4-H Clover is the catalog of opportunities provided and offered each year by the Texas 4-H and Youth Development program. Additionally, it has a section on the 4-H record keeping system that includes the recordbook categories and objectives for all of the projects.		PDF
Recordbook Score Sheet
This is the scoresheet that is used in the evaluation of a competitive 4-H recordbook. It provides guidelines for the placing system, however, counties and districts may choose to use different systems or methods for placing.		PDF

Teaching, Training, and Recognition Resources

Teaching Plans
This is a package of seven different lesson plans used by County Extension Agents and leaders to train 4-H members, leaders, and parents on recordkeeping.		PDF
Recordbook Judges Training Packet
The newest publication to the recordkeeping concept is a judges training packet to be utilized by County Extension Agents. County Extension Office Can Order Through Bookstore		PDF
order
"For The Record" Completion CertificatePDF

Other

Frequently Asked QuestionsPDF
Project Selection and Record KeepingPDF

Online Tutorial on Preparing Record Books

Prepared as an on-line instructional module to help 4-H members develop a competitive recordbook. Module is approximately 30 minutes long.

Results

State Contact Information

Mr. Kyle Merten
Extension Associate - 4-H
7607 Eastmark Drive, Suite 101
College Station, TX 77840
Phone: 979/845-6533
Fax: 979/845-6495
E-mail:  kjmerten@ag.tamu.edu