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4-H Recognition ProgramWhat Is Recognition and Where Does It Happen?
Recognition can take many forms, and it should focus on all aspects of the 4-H experience. As you think about your 4-H club and county program, check to see if you can identify ways all of these types of recognition have been addressed. If you can’t easily see where each type of recognition is provided, you might want to consider expanding the recognition opportunities you offer to your members and others you work with in 4-H. Recognition for Participation For some young people and adults, participation is a meaningful accomplishment. It can be a useful first step in improving self-esteem and encouraging individuals to continue to set new and higher goals. Examples of recognition for participation can include pins or certificates of completion for first-year members and volunteer leaders, celebrations marking the end of the program year that include all members and volunteers, thank-you or congratulations notes to program participants, or announcing the names of individuals who participated in special events at public meetings or gatherings. Progress Toward Self-Set Goals This important type of recognition is often overlooked in 4-H. Recognition of progress toward self-set goals means we must help participants set realistic goals at the beginning of the program year, periodically review their work with them and give face-to-face or written feedback and recognize them for making progress. Goal setting is an important skill for young people and adults alike. As the saying goes “If you don’t know where you’re going, how will you know when you get there?” Learning to plan effectively is an important life skill for the children and adults with whom we work. Make sure that you offer opportunities for those you work with to build this skill through their 4-H involvement. Goal sheets and checklists that help individuals keep track of progress are valuable tools for recognizing progress toward self-set goals. Achieving Standards of Excellence This type of recognition is most useful when evaluating success related to products produced or skills gained. It is most commonly linked to competitive events. The “Danish system” of awarding blue, red and white ribbons at the fair is an example most of us are familiar with. A true Danish system is evaluation against a standard of excellence that is the same for both young people and adults. In 4-H we use a modified Danish system that recognizes excellence against a standard that is adjusted according to age and years of experience. When recognizing individuals for achieving standards of excellence, it is important that these standards be visible, achievable and relevant to the experience. Peer Competition Competition is the most visible kind of recognition in 4-H. Competition is highly motivating for some individuals, while others have no interest in it. We have a long tradition of offering competitive events as a part of our program, especially those activities that are linked to county fairs. The State 4-H Awards Program is another competitive event that challenges our older youth to compete for state-level awards in more than 30 different project areas. Ribbons, trophies, plaques, scholarships and certificates are common forms of recognition in competitive events. As a volunteer leader it’s important for you to be aware of the value your members place on competition. We often hear the argument that “Kids need to learn how to compete to be successful in the real world.” While competition is a tradition in American society, it is not the answer for everyone. Cooperation Youth and adults should be recognized for working together to learn and achieve goals. This allows individuals to examine their own skills and abilities and explore solutions beyond their own ideas. Community service and other leadership opportunities are great ways to encourage individuals to participate in cooperative learning experiences. Plaques, pins, certificates, scholarships and letters of reference for portfolios can all be effective forms of recognition. Online Resources Michigan 4-H Recognition Handbook—This 20-page Michigan 4-H publication includes ideas and tools for recognizing volunteers. You will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view or print this PDF (Portable Document Format) file. If you don't already have the Acrobat Reader, you can click on the "Get Acrobat Reader" button and download it from the Adobe site at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html. Learning Materials More information on learning materials available to support these activities can be found in the Michigan Guide to 4-H or through the MSU Bulletin Office. Training & Events For upcoming training and events in this area, check the 4-H Volunteer Workshops web site, the MSU Extension Calendar and the 4-H Exploration Days web site. Contact Information For more information on how to get involved as a youth or volunteer, contact your county MSU Extension office or: Julie Chapin, Ph.D.,
Program Leader Phone: 517-432-7575
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Recognition
is important in all parts of the developmental process; for young
people and adults. Research has shown that successful recognition
programs address the following seven principles: