4-H Record Book Awards
LEADER INSTRUCTIONS
After reviewing each member’s project book, 4-H Leaders may make nominations for Memorial Awards, 25-Year Leader Awards, and Special Achievement Awards.
Award definitions are included for reference. A Seal of Excellence is required to earn any Memorial, 25-Year Leader, or Special Achievement Award. The Award Nomination form must be turned in with the member’s Seal of Excellence Project Book and Record Book to the Extension Office by September 1.
All awards will be presented during the year-end 4-H Achievement Celebration unless stated otherwis
Alternatively you may download and print the Cascade County 4-H Award Descriptions
MEMORIAL AWARDS
Danny Chinadle Memorial Award
This award will support one Cascade County 4-H member each year to assist in financing a non-livestock 4-H project. A $50 cash award will be awarded at Achievement Night. This award is available to a 4-H member of any age (no Cloverbuds), and members may receive the award only once.
To receive the Danny Chinadle Memorial award, members must submit a 500 word narrative by the date that 4-H records are due in the Extension Office answering the following question: If you were to receive this memorial award, how would you spend the money on your non-livestock 4-H project and how will it assist you in attaining your 4-H project goal?
John Davis Memorial Award
The John Davis award will recognize up to two Cascade County 4-H members 16 4-H years or older each year. The winner(s) of this award must be a 4-Her in good standing that has
- Developed leadership talents and has worked toward achieving the broad objectives of character and effective citizenship
- Gained a broader knowledge of 4-H agriculture and/or home economics projects and activities, and their contribution to improving family and community living
- Learned to adapt and apply the latest practices and research findings in agriculture and/or home economics to everyday living
- Developed skills in those practices which make for more efficient and profitable 4-H project work
- Personally developed and instilled in others a pride and respect for 4-H work and its importance in the development of the individual, the family, the community, and the nation
- Applied all 4-H trainings and experience in choosing and preparing for a vocation
These criteria may be applied to a member’s entire 4-H career.
Members must write a 500-word narrative explaining how they meet the above criteria.
The recipient will receive a personal gift of a belt buckle or other appropriate item from the Davis family.
Anita Lorang Memorial Award
No nomination, award winner will be determined at the Cascade County 4-H Livestock Show and Sale.
A $50 cash award began in 2006 and will continue through 2026. Anita Lorang Memorial Awards will be presented to the Junior, Intermediate, and Senior 4-H members receiving the Grand Champion Beef Showmanship placing at the Cascade County 4-H Livestock Show and Sale. A plaque listing each year's winners will be displayed in the Cascade County MSU Extension Office.
Wendy Mauer Memorial Award
This award in memory of former 4-H member, Wendy Mauer, will be based on the premise that “Love is a Giving Thing.” Recipients must be 14 years of age by October 1 of the current 4-H year. Up to two 4-H members will be awarded this award every year. Recipients will be awarded a $100.00 cash award at Achievement Night.
Selection is based on information in the member’s Record Book as well as a narrative of at least 500 words. The 500-word narrative must describe what “Love is a Giving Thing” means to you. Members should elaborate on their kindness, thoughtfulness, generosity, and compassion for others, perseverance in attaining goals, effort and making the most of one’s ability, and efforts made to improve school, home, and community life in their narrative.
25-Year Leader Awards
Brenda Byrnes Livestock Project Award
Criteria used in the selection of this award:
- Recipients must be 14 years or older by October 1 of the current 4-H year
- Recipients must be enrolled in a Livestock project
- Recipient must be an active participant in club, county, or state levels in contests and leadership opportunities
- Additional credit is given for participation in Communications activities
A 500-word narrative tying together all elements of the member’s livestock and leadership activities together must accompany the nomination.
A $25.00 cash award will be presented to the recipient during Achievement Night
Vicki Johnson Horsemanship Award
Criteria used in the selection of this award:
- Recipients must be 14 years or older by October 1 of the current 4-H year
- Recipients must have been enrolled in and completed at least 3 years of Horsemanship projects (i.e. Western, English, Colt-to-Maturity)
- Recipients must participate in at least 2 community service projects per year. These can be project related or non-project related
Two 250-word narratives are required for this award. The first narrative must tell about where the member started in the horse project, why they took the project, and where they are now regarding the project. The second narrative must tell how the member has developed through their horse experience and how it has helped the member grow as a person.
A $25.00 cash award will be presented to the recipient during Achievement Night.
SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
All Special Achievement Awards are nominated by Club Leaders. Nomination forms and
complete Record Book and Project Book must be turned in to the Extension Office by
September 1 to be considered.
Recipients will be awarded a certificate and 4-H themed prize.
Outstanding 4-H Member Award
Recipients will have gained broad knowledge of 4-H projects and activities and their contributions to improving family and community living. Recipients will also have learned to adapt and apply the latest practices, research findings, knowledge, and skills from project work to everyday living and use their knowledge to promote and instill 4-H pride and respect for 4-H work and its importance in others. Recipients will also have demonstrated notable leadership skills.
Agriculture Trailblazer Award
Recipients will have completed projects in a broad range of agricultural areas and have used the information, knowledge, and skills developed in these 4-H projects to successfully integrate agricultural practices into everyday living. Recipients will have also demonstrated notable leadership skills.
4-H Community Citizenship Award
Recipients will have been an active citizen and member of a 4-H club and active in county, district, and state 4-H events. They have demonstrated leadership through holding club offices, learned to practice parliamentary procedure and successfully contributed to the success of a meeting. Recipients exhibit a higher standard of positive behavior as a citizen of family, club, school. And other community organizations and take an active role in planning, organizing, and carrying out community service work.
Heart for Health Award
Recipients will have learned and practiced the most effective management of personal health care, physically, mentally, and emotionally for self and for others while promoting an inclusive environment for others by advocating for a bully-free community.
Excellence in Leadership Award
Recipients will have developed and demonstrated leadership skills necessary to promote growth in other 4-H members, clubs, county, and state activities.
Excellence in Communications Award
Recipients will have learned and demonstrated the parts of an oral presentation and can effectively pan prepare, and present a talk, demonstration, oral reasons, speech, interview, etc. Recipients must also have shared knowledge and skills in public speaking with others and assisted them in developing the same skill as well as have made oral presentations to groups outside of 4-H.
Team Builder Award
Recipients will have learned and demonstrated the skills necessary to effectively conduct recreational activities for other members of the 4-H club, county, etc. They have also developed a broad knowledge of a variety of leisure tie activities and developed the skills to participate in and/or teach to others. Above all, recipients will practice and promote good sportsmanship in all activities.
Advocate for Safety Award
Recipients will have gained the knowledge to safely conduct 4-H project work and daily activities in a variety of areas. They will have taken the opportunity for leadership in teaching safety practices to others and understand the need for safety guidelines in all activities.
Club Awards
No nominations accepted. Award winners determined through various contest, activity, and project participation.
Kathy Dunn Club Fair Exhibit Award
A $25.00 cash award will be presented at the year-end Achievement Celebration to the club (must be in good standing) with the highest average number of exhibits per person displayed in their club booth at the Montana State Fair.
Club membership numbers will be determined by the report updated May 2nd of the current 4-H year. Exhibits will not include demonstrations, speeches, foods festival, fashion revue, pocket pet, dog or cat show.
Ted Fosse Club Trophy
The Ted Fosse Club Trophy is awarded to the Club with the highest average participation in the Demonstration division of the county Communications Contest.
Guidelines for Selection:
- Clubs must have a minimum of 5 members to qualify for this award
- Points are awarded as follows
- One point for each percent of total membership enrolled that participated in the Demonstration division of the Communications Contest
- .6 points are given for each Blue placing, .3 points are given for each Red placing, and .1 points are given for each White placing.
Dan Thurber Memorial Trophy
The Dan Thurber Memorial Trophy is awarded to the Club with the highest average participation in the Speech division of the county Communications Contest.
Guidelines for Selection:
- Clubs must have a minimum of 5 members to qualify for this award
- Points are awarded as follows
- One point for each percent of total membership enrolled that participated in the Speech division of the Communications Contest
- .6 points are given for each Blue placing, .3 points are given for each Red placing, and .1 points are given for each White placing
Heads or Tails Horse Trophy
The Heads or Tails Horse Trophy is a traveling trophy awarded to the 4-H Club with the highest award average per member enrolled in the Horse project at the County Horse Show.
Selection Criteria:
- There must be a minimum of 5 members per club enrolled in Levels, Green Horse, Colt to Maturity, or Ranch Horse project areas
- The high point horse ribbon points are added for all members in the individual clubs
based on the following point system
- Grand - 5 pts.
- Reserve - 4 pts.
- Blue - 3 pts.
- Red - 2 pts.
- White - 1 pt.
- This number is then divided by the number of club members enrolled in the Horse project
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Montana State University and Montana State University Extension prohibit discrimination in all of their programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital and family status.