Whether you are a first-year 4-H member or a longtime member, it’s time to focus on pulling together information for your 4-H award applications. Even younger members can submit the 4-H Experience Application and be eligible for 4-H recognition. Older members can submit the 4-H Experience Application, apply for project area-specific awards, and the Illinois 4-H Scholarship Application to be eligible for state recognition, scholarships, and/or trips. Club leaders can nominate outstanding youth, families, or volunteers.
Each 4-H member has a story to tell and is eligible for our 4-H awards program – tell YOUR stories and see where they take you!
Awards Overview: Please Read This First
Award applications will be submitted online. You must do this by 11:59 p.m. September 20, 2024.
Please note that your browser will automatically save your in-process application.
Competitive Awards
4-H County Awards
- Community Service
- Project Mastery
- Leadership
- Communication
- Personal Growth
Other Awards
- Golden Needle Award
- Top 10 First Year Member Award
- Mary Miller Award (Vermilion Only)
Non-competitive Awards
Record Books
You will submit a PDF of your Record Book.
Officer Awards
Please see the Officer Award tab for more details.
Nominated Awards
Are you planning to nominate an outstanding 4-H'er? Here are instructions for the nominated award application forms. Upload the PDF or a word document to the Qualtrics form.
For Youth
- I Dare You Award
- Lingley Leadership Award (Vermilion only)
- Live Like Luke Award (Champaign only)
For Adults
- 4-H Alumni Award
- Friend of 4-H Award
- Otto Miller Outstanding 4-H Volunteer Award (Vermilion only)
For Families
Learn more about all State Level Awards on the Illinois State 4-H Awards website.
- Illinois 4-H Experience Award: Overview | Application | Rubric | sample Experience Award Application
- 4-H Club Recognition Award: Overview and Application
- Electricity Achievement Award: Overview and Application
- Sustaining the Future Award: Overview and Application
State Scholarships
The Illinois 4-H Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship to award outstanding work in project areas. Five $1,000 scholarships will be awarded in each of the following categories: Animal Science, Civic Engagement/Global Living, Creative Performing Arts & Communication, Food Systems, Healthy Living/ Nutrition, Leadership, Natural Resources & Environmental Science, Personal Growth and STEM/Robotics. The deadline to apply is November 1. Apply on state 4-H website.
Officer Awards
Please submit all awards applications by September 20. Please complete the 2023-24 Awards Application, you must select the award you wish to apply for and complete all questions.
- President: Rubric
- Vice President: Rubric
- Treasurer: Treasurer Book and Treasurer Rubric
- Secretary: Secretary Book and Secretary Rubric
- Reporter: Reporter Rubric
- Scrapbook: Scrapbook Rubric