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Trips and Awards

ALL TRIP APPLICATIONS, INFORMATION AND ESSAYS ARE DUE BY 4:30 PM ON Monday, November 1, 2011!

The 4-H trip and award process is for 4-H members in grade 8 and over as of October 1, 2011. This is a great opportunity for you to develop the application and interview skills necessary if you ever plan to apply for a job, try for scholarships, or apply for college. Your 4-H interview, together with your application will be used in selecting delegates for trips and awards.

4-H TRIP & AWARD PROCESS

To apply for a trip or award, please complete these six items, some of which are found below. All six items must be completed and handed in at the Extension Office by 4:30 PM on Monday, November 1, 2010:

  • Trip and Award Interest Form
  • 4-H Resume
  • Letter of Recommendation
  • Essay
  • The question for this year is:
    ” What does  leadership mean to you?  How have you demonstrated leadership as a 4-H member?”
    It must be the youth’s original work. Please give examples in your essay to support your answer. The essay can be as short as desires, but no longer than 1 (one) page, single-spaced with 12-point font.
  • Service Report
  • Picture of Oneself

Once all applications are received, we will start scheduling interviews for each applicant. Interviews will take place on Sunday, November 20, 2011 at the Lafayette County UW-Extension Office. Please contact the Extension Office, 608-776-4820, with any questions. We are now accepting applications and scheduling interview times!

TRIP AND AWARD INTEREST FORM-Youth are encouraged to apply for all trips and awards that they are interested and grade-eligible for. However, the Leaders’ Association will only financially support one trip besides being a camp counselor. Also, each youth can only receive one award per year. This form is due Monday, November 1, 2011.

4-H Resume-This document should include a comprehensive list of all 4-H activities you have been involved in throughout your 4-H membership, and it should also include a list of school and community activities you have participated in over the last 4 years. The resume is limited to the front of 4 pages or 2 pages back-to-back. The resume is due Monday, November 1, 2011.

Countywide 4-H Service & Fundraiser Report-Applicants must have completed 2 county-approved community service projects and 1 county fundraiser (prior to application), and they must submit this form to be eligible for financial support from the Lafayette County 4-H Leaders’ Association. Youth not having completed the service projects and fundraiser are still eligible for trips, but will not receive funding from the Leaders’ Association. This form is due Monday, November 1, 2011.  If eligible, the Leader’s Association will pay 40% of the cost of one trip.

Preapproved service and fundraisers

Opportunities and Awards

The following is a list of events and achievements that can only be obtained by participating in the interview process.

  • Wisconsin 4-H Youth Conference
  • Quad-County Trip to Indiana & Kentucky
  • Citizen Washington Focus
  • National 4-H Conference
  • National 4-H Congress
  • 4-H Camp Counselor
  • The Key Award
  • Step Into the Future Award
  • Youth Voting Representatives to 4-H Leaders’ Association
    • Wisconsin 4-H & Youth Conference -Held on the UW-Madison campus, June25-28,2012. The Wisconsin 4-H & Youth Conference is an excellent opportunity for 4-H’ers in grades 8-10. Youth have a chance to learn from and exchange ideas with 4-H’ers from around the state and experience a supervised college setting. Cost will be about $225.
    • SWEL Trip – Southwest Wisconsin Educational Leadership Trip – Crawford, Iowa, Grant, Lafayette, Vernon, Green, Jefferson and Richland counties will be hosting a trip in the summer of 2012 to St. Paul, Minneapolis and will be doing a day-long service project and see local sites. Youth will spend 3 nights and 4 days learning about area attractions. It is open to youth in grades 8-12. The cost of the trip is approximately $525.  Dates will be July 24-27.
    • Citizenship Washington Focus -Citizenship Washington Focus is conducted by the National 4-H Foundation at the National 4-H Center, Washington, D.C. for youth in grades 10-12 to supplement citizenship training provided by Extension. Listening, learning, sharing, receiving, caring, and touring are all part of the 6-day learning experience. Visits to Capitol Hill, government departments, historic sites and memorials to Great Americans enhance the citizenship learning experience. The cost of the trip is approximately $1,100.
    • National 4-H Conference -Held in Washington, D.C., in March 2012, for 10-12th graders. Six youth from the state of Wisconsin are selected to attend this working conference held at the National 4-H Center. Each participant selects an issue (i.e. education, promotion, environment, violence) and works with other youth from across the country to develop plans that help direct future 4-H programming. Delegates spend the majority of time contributing to stimulating task-oriented groups. One day is spent on Capitol Hill meeting with legislators and touring. Qualifications: must be in 10-12th grade during the program; maximum age is 18 as of January 1, 2011. The total cost of the National 4-H Conference Trip is approximately $1,100.
    • National 4-H Congress -Held in Atlanta, Georgia, in November 2012. Delegates participate in self-development seminars, tours, and a service project, while exchanging ideas with youth from across the country. Qualifications: must be in 10-12th grade at the time of selection; maximum age is 18 as of January 1, 2011. The total cost of the National 4-H Congress is approximately $1,000.
    • 4-H Camp Counselor -Camp will be held at Upham Woods from June 28-30, 2012. If you are 1) in 9th grade with previous camping experience, or 2) if you are going to be 16 by camp next summer, you can volunteer to be a summer camp counselor. Lafayette County will be working with Green and Iowa Counties to plan 4-H Camp. The youth will spend time at Upham Woods where they will be responsible for youth and will be learning leadership, nature, meet new friends, and have a lot of fun in a beautiful outdoor setting. As a counselor, you will help supervise campers, coordinate events and provide a positive role model image. There is no fee for this program.
    • Key Award -The Key Award is given to outstanding 4-H members each year in grades 9-12. The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, Rural Insurance Companies, Growmark Inc. and Midwest Livestock Producers sponsor this important leadership award. The purpose of the Key Award is to provide special recognition to 4-H members who have shown consistent growth in their 4-H program, who have developed the leadership ability, and who have been helpful members in their club and community. Recipients are recognized at the 4-H Recognition Banquet in October, 2012. Each recipient will receive a pin and key award certificate mounted in a frame.
    • Step Into the Future Award -This award is given to one or two outstanding older 4-H members each year. It is offered as recognition of excellence in character and well-balanced personal development, as well as demonstrated qualities of constructive leadership. Recipients are recognized at the 4-H Recognition Banquet in October, 2012.
    • Youth Voting Representatives to 4-H Leaders’ Association -One or two youth are selected to represent 4-H members at 4-H Leaders’ Association meetings. The meetings are held the 3rd Sunday of November, February, April, July and September. They are held at 6:30 p.m. in Lafayette County Courthouse, Darlington. Your responsibility will be to serve as a voice for 4-H members across Lafayette County.