Recognition and Awards Program
Peer Competition

4-H offers competitive opportunities and events for members who enjoy competing against their peers. This area of the Recognition program connects closely with the Essential Elements of Independence and Mastery. 

Section links for this page:
Award Certificates
State Excellence Awards
(Missouri Recognition Forms)
National 4-H Congress
National 4-H Conference
I Dare You Award
MFA Saddle Award
Tennessee Walking Horse Award

Volunteer Opportunities

Award Certificates
Versatile certificate that can be used for participation, progress toward personal goals, peer competition and standards of excellence.

See Award Certificates for a description.

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State Excellence Awards (Missouri Recognition Forms)
Missouri 4-H Recognition Form Levels 1, 2 and 3 are used as both progress toward personal goals and peer competition. Competition was added in 2007 for Levels 1 and 2.

Level 1

• 4-H members who are between 8 and 10 years old on December 31st of the program year are eligible to apply.
• Visit with your 4-H youth development specialist or youth education assistant.
• Complete Missouri 4-H Recognition Form Level 1 Y2000
• Submit form to your local Extension office by the locally established date
• Extension regions will review written applications.
• Up to five applications submitted from regional review may be forwarded to the state 4-H office prior to December 15.  
• Written applications received at the state level will not be returned.  Each applicant will receive a certificate and medal of excellence.

Level 2

• 4-H members who are between 11 and 13 years old on December 31st of the program year are eligible to apply.
• Visit with your 4-H youth development specialist or youth education assistant.
• Complete Missouri 4-H Recognition Form Level 2 Y2100.
• Submit form to your local Extension office by the locally established date.
• Extension regions will review written applications.
• Up to three applications submitted from regional review may be forwarded to the state 4-H office prior to December 15.
• Written applications received at the state level will not be returned.  Applicants will receive a scholarship to attend State 4-H Teen Conference.

Level 3

National 4-H Congress
National 4-H Congress is a premier 4-H event held in late November in Atlanta, Georgia. Participant experiences include leadership, service, and cultural opportunities.

• 4-H members who are between 14 and 18 years old on December 31st of the program year are eligible to apply. 4-H members who submit their applications in the fall the year they turn 19 may have their applications considered at regional and state review the following year.
• Visit with your 4-H youth development specialist or youth education assistant.
• Complete Missouri 4-H Recognition Form Level 3 Y2200
• Submit form to your local Extension office by the locally established date.
• Extension regions will review written applications and interview applicants.
• Eight or 30% of the total applications submitted for regional review may be forwarded to the state 4-H office prior to April 1.
• Written applications are reviewed at the state level.
• The top 35 - 40 applicants are invited to interview during State 4-H Congress.
• Up to 30 applicants are selected as delegates to National 4-H Congress.

Key Award

National 4-H Conference
The University of Missouri 4-H sends three delegates and a chaperone to the National 4-H Conference each year.  Because few Missouri 4-H members are chosen to experience this event, it is a great honor to be one of the delegates.

The National 4-H Conference delegates participate in developing recommendations for the 4-H Youth Development Program.  The National 4-H Headquarters then shares the recommendations with the Secretary of Agriculture, National Extension Program Leaders, and others who determine 4-H programs.  This event brings together youth, volunteer leaders, and state and county Extension staff from across the United States, the U.S. Territories, and the Canadian Provinces.  

• Key Award recipients in the current 4-H club year are eligible to apply.
• 4-H members must be between 14 and 18 years old on December 31st of the program year .

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I Dare You Award
The I Dare You Leadership Award honors extraordinary young people for their character, citizenship and leadership.  The award is an ideal way to recognize established leaders as well as those youth whose talents and potential are sometimes overlooked.  Youth ages 15-18 who have completed their freshman year in high school are eligible to apply. The award application is submitted through the local Extension Center.

Award recipients receive a personalized award certificate, a copy of William H. Danforth's classic motivational book I Dare You!, are eligible to attend the American Youth Foundation's Leadership Conference, and are eligible to apply for the "I Dare You" Scholarship.

Sponsored by the American Youth Foundation http://www.ayf.com/prog_idy_main.asp

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MFA Saddle Award
The MFA Saddle Award is awarded annually at the Missouri Equine Council Horse Celebration held in the spring. The award is given to the Missouri 4-H member aged 14 years and older participating in the Missouri 4-H horsemanship program who demonstrates knowledge and skills in horsemanship and horse science, the ability to share the knowledge and skills with other members and the commitment to better their community.

The application form is in the Horse Manual LG1400 (PDF). Applications must be postmarked by January 2 and submitted to:
MFA Saddle Award, State 4-H Office, 813 Clark Hall, Columbia, MO 65211.

This award is sponsored by M.F.A. Agri-Services-Feed Division (Ms. Janice Spears, Coordinator, 201 Ray Young Dr., Columbia, MO 65201).

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Tennessee Walking Horse Award
The application form is in the Horse Manual LG1400 (PDF).

• Any 4-H member enrolled in a horse project can participate.
• All participants must be a member of the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeder’s and Exhibitors Association.
• All 4-H members must be using a Registered Tennessee Walking Horse as their project animal for that year.
• Any member who wishes to participate must have their 4-H Horse Enrollment form in before March.
• Record all projects that you have done on all forms.
• All applications and record books must be submitted to the local Extension office by March 1. The deadline for the state to submit to the Walking Horse Association is April 1.

Winners will receive a pair of Oster A5 Clippers and TWHBEA Apparel and will be recognized at the National Celebration in August.

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Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteers can be recognized for the following awards

• Frank Graham Award
• Naomi Crouch Award
• Nelson Trickey Bridge Builder Award

The Missouri 4-H Foundation has more information and applications for these awards.