4-H Terminology
Colorado Clover Guide >> 4-H Terminology
It is important to understand some of the unique terminology related to 4-H in order to better communicate about 4-H items. When asking questions, or visiting about 4-H events or activities, you may hear a variety of new terms to you. The items below will help you make better sense of the language of 4-H!
4-H Club – A 4-H group of at least five youth, one or more adults, and elected officers. The club should have a monthly business meeting to discuss upcoming club and county events. Clubs may also choose to do community service projects, have project meetings, or enjoy other fun activities.
4-H Club Officers – Members of a local club elected by the membership to serve a one-year term. Elected officers most commonly consist of a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, reporter and county council representatives. Other offices that can be included in the club are parliamentarian, historian, activity director, etc.
4-H Emblem and Colors – The 4-H emblem is a green four-leafed clover with the letter “H” in white on each leaf. The four “H’s” stand for Head, Heart, Hands and Health. White is for purity. Green is for nature’s most common color and is symbolic of youth, life and growth.
4-H Member – Any youth between the ages of 5 and 18 who belongs to a club or participates in a special-interest or school-enrichment project. There are four 4-H age divisions:
Cloverbuds – Ages 5 to 7. They are encouraged to participate in most events, but there is no competition in Cloverbuds.
Juniors – Ages 8-10 (must be 8 by January 1 of the current year). If intermediates are lumped into this age division, then juniors are between the ages of 8 and 13.
Intermediates – Ages 11-13 (must be 11 by January 1 of the current year). The Intermediate age division is sometimes lumped into the Junior division. Some projects will break them out into their own age division.
Senior – Ages 14-18 (must be 14 by January 1 of the current year). Anyone turning 19 by January 1 of the current year has aged out of the 4-H program and is encouraged to continue as an adult 4-H volunteer leader.
4-H Parent/Guardian – Parents or guardians are very important to the success children will have in the 4-H program. Parents or guardians are encouraged to attend monthly meetings and project meetings with their child(ren). All countywide events are open to everyone in the program and families are encouraged to attend. The most important role adults play in 4-H is the support they give to their child(ren). Support your 4-H child with his/her commitment to projects, thinking through decisions and reaching goals.
In summary, there are several ways for you, as a 4-H parent, to help:
- Attend 4-H meetings and other special events
- Guide your child’s project work and encourage completion without doing the work yourself
- Support the local 4-H club leader and offer your services
- Be an example of a good sport so your child will learn to appreciate the successes of others
- Make others in the community more aware of 4-H
4-H Project – A 4-H project is a series of learning experiences for 4-H members to learn new skills or a new subject. Most projects have volunteer leaders who have knowledge of the project and are willing to assist members though their experiences. See your project selection guide for the projects offered.
4-H Year – October 1 to September 31. Club members and volunteers re-enroll each year to remain active.
Horse Rule Book – Provides uniform regulations and procedures for conducting 4-H horse activities in Colorado. The rules encourage judging and competition that reflect the standards of skills and abilities in horsemanship emphasized by the Colorado 4-H Horse Program.
Junior Leader – A member with at least one year of 4-H experience. He/she assists leaders with teaching projects and assisting younger members.
Life Skills – Abilities useful for day-to-day living. Through 4-H projects, members develop life skills from experiential training in areas such as: Learning to Learn; Understanding Self; Communication Skills; Decision Making; Getting Along with Others; Time Management; and Working with Groups.
Medical Release – A form each 4-H member is required to fill out annually. This gives medical information to the 4-H office in case of an emergency.
National 4-H Center – An educational facility operated by the 4-H Council in Chevy Chase, Maryland, near Washington, D.C., with lodging for over 700 people.
National 4-H Council – A chartered nonprofit organization with the sole purpose of complementing the 4-H program and Extension Service activities.
National 4-H Supply Service – A service of the National 4-H Council that supplies clubs and members with all types of 4-H items. Copies of this catalog are available from the Extension Office.
National 4-H Week – The first full week in October. It is designed to increase public awareness and understanding of 4-H.
Parliamentary Procedure – Parliamentary Procedure provides the rules of order that clubs use in conducting their business. These rules encourage courtesy and justice for each member. They bring order to the meeting and help the club make decisions.
Photo Release Form – This form allows the Extension Office the ability to use any pictures taken at 4-H events with specific members or leaders in them. Pictures may be used for 4-H promotion, event results, etc. On the photo release, the parents/members/leaders have the ability to accept or decline the use of their pictures.
Project Literature (Manuals) – 4-H member and leader guides and other support materials are available to assist leaders and members in their project work and studies.
Project Selection Guide – updated annually. Lists all the state projects with objectives, suggested goals and learning experiences associated with the projects. The guide assists members in selecting 4-H projects.
Record Book – A record of the 4-H member’s activities and projects completed during the year. A project leader or organizational leader from the club is required to sign all record books.
Volunteer Leader – Adults who volunteer to work with 4-H clubs and special interest groups. Volunteers are required to complete a 4-H Volunteer Application Form and take leader training before being involved with a club or the members. The types of leaders are:
Organizational Leader – Responsible for the organization and management of the club
Project Leader – An adult who helps 4-H members in their club learn about their specific project
Resource Leader – An adult who helps 4-H members countywide with specific projects (the resource leader is not connected to any specific club)
Danish System - This is one of the systems by which placings are decided. There is no magic formula for the number of blue, red or white ribbons to be given. Quality is measured against product standards and fulfillment of exhibit requirements, which determines the rankings.
BLUE = meets or exceeds product standards and meets exhibit requirements; overall, the work is of high quality.
RED = meets minimum product standards and exhibit requirements; overall, the work is of average quality.
WHITE = serious or considerable deficiencies in meeting product standards/ exhibit requirements.
American System - This is a rank-order system in which exhibits are placed 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc. There may also be special categories, such as Top of Class, Best of Show, Grand Champion, etc. While the American system uses product standards and fulfillment of exhibit requirements, it also uses the idea of competition among exhibitors to establish the ranking.
Champion – The champion project is determined from all of the blue ribbon projects in each unit. The projects are then compared and the top exhibit receives the Champion ranking (top exhibit in project unit). Depending on the project, the champion exhibit may be eligible to compete at the State Fair.
Reserve Champion – The Reserve Champion project is determined from the remaining blue ribbon projects, after the Champion has been decided. The second top exhibit in the project unit will be designated the Reserve Champion.
Grand Champion – The highest honor given to a project exhibited at the fair. It indicates that the project displayed is outstanding and that the members showed a superior command of knowledge in the area. The Grand Champion is chosen from all of the Champion exhibits in the project. Some projects may have more than one Grand Champion, if there is a grand designation for the different age categories. The champions in that project are then compared and the best one is designated the Grand Champion.
Reserve Grand Champion – The Reserve Grand Champion is chosen from the remaining champions, plus the reserve champion of the unit from which the Grand Champion came, these then compared for the second best overall, which is awarded Reserve Grand Champion.
State and National Trip Opportunities
4-H Congress – A leadership conference for 4-H members 14 and older, as of January 1 of the current year, from across the nation. Members are selected by their state on the basis of leadership, community service, and project development. The selection process includes a written application and an interview. This process takes place in the spring of the year. Congress focuses on teaching leadership and the value of community service.
Colorado Leadership Camp – Sometimes referred to as CLC, this camp is for members 14 and older as of the January 1 of the current year. The camp includes workshops that focus on personal growth, helping members develop skills that will make them a better leader in their club and other activities.
Colorado State Fair – Held in Pueblo each year. Some areas/projects require the member to qualify at the county level before advancing to the state level. Other areas/projects do not require any qualification at the county level. For specifics on which projects require qualification, please talk to a 4-H agent.
CWF (Citizenship Washington Focus) – A weeklong trip to Washington DC to learn about government, citizenship and leadership. This is a state sponsored trip for members 15 and older as of January 1 of the current year.
IFYE (The International 4-H Youth Exchange) – IFYE delegate(s) live and work with host families while abroad for a specific period of time, ranging from six weeks to six months.
Leadership Development Conference – Usually referred to as LDC, this conference is for youth 14 years of age and older as of January 1 of the current year. LDC includes educational workshops that focus on government and civic involvement as well as the mid-winter meetings for the State 4-H Senate and Leaders Council. LDC is usually held the first weekend in February.
National 4-H Conference – Held in Washington, DC. Youth and adults participate in discussions of national issues.
State 4-H Conference – An opportunity for members to visit Colorado State University in Fort Collins, where State 4-H Conference is held. This exciting experience provides leadership workshops, state senate meetings, dances, adult leaders meetings, and a campus tour. Members get the chance to meet many other 4-H’ers from around the state. Consumer Choices, horse, dairy and livestock judging contests are held as well as Horse Bowl, Hippology, Horse Demonstration/Public Speaking, and a public speaking contest. There are so many activities in which to participate! All 4-H’ers who attend must be at least 14 years of age as of January 1 of the current year.
Youth Fest – Youth Fest is an opportunity for members ages 9 to 13 to participate in organized workshops and activities designed to enhance self-esteem, leadership and social skills. Youth Fest usually takes place the third weekend in February.
