Personal development is the real goal of 4-H, and personal satisfaction is the real reward.  Various 4-H awards and recognition are a part of a member's progress through 4-H, recognizing outstanding works, leadership skills and personal growth.

 COUNTY FAIR AWARDS:

Most projects have face-to-face judging, which takes place at county fair.  Each item is awarded a ribbon based on its own merit.  In this informal, educational judging process, youth talk about what they learned and are able to compare their work with other exhibits.

 TEN PERCENT AWARD:

This county award recognizes 4-Her’s who are selected by club leaders as all-around, outstanding members.  Each club may select 10% of its enrolled members for this award.  Youth receive a recognition certificate and their name is engraved on the annual 10% award plaque that is displayed in the Youth Building at the County Fair Grounds.  Criteria for selection include project work, participation in club and county activities, leadership accomplishments, record-keeping and personal development.

WISCONSIN 4-H Youth Conference:

Held in June on the UW-Madison Campus.  Youth Conference provides an opportunity to learn about state government as well as a variety of workshops and seminars related to leadership and project work.  Members in 8 – 10^th grade may be nominated by club leaders and are invited to participate in an interview and selection process.

WESTERN SPIRIT TRIP:

This weeklong trip to the western states is open to youth in 9^th, 10^th, or 11^th grade.  Usually held in June.  The Ozaukee County 4-H Leaders Association awards a partial scholarship.  Hiking, visiting Mount Rushmore and whitewater rafting are just a sampling of the trip, along with learning western history and developing leadership skills.

CITIZENSHIP WASHINGTON FOCUS:

            This week long summer trip helps 4-H members learn more about citizenship, government, and their American heritage.  Delegates live at the National 4-H Center, near Washington, D.C.  Youth in 10 – 12^th grade may apply.

NATIONAL AWARD PROGRAMS:

Outstanding 4-H members are nominated, at the county level, to participate in:

• National 4-H Youth Congress - Locations Vary

• National 4-H Conference -Washington, D.C.

WISCONSIN 4-H KEY AWARD:

Chosen at the County level, members receiving this state award are recognized for consistent growth in leadership ability and project work, personal development, and service to club and community.  This is the highest honor a 4-H member can receive.

INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES:

Youth 15 – 18 years of age are encouraged to apply for an international travel opportunity.  Local application deadline is November 1 of each year, followed by interviews with the local 4-H International Programs Committee.  Some of the available programs include:

IFYE Ambassadors:  Pronounced “if-ee”, this acronym stands for the International 4-H Youth Exchange.  For over two decades, Ozaukee County has sent over 20 young people abroad as IFYE Ambassadors for a month-long summer visit.  Our 4-H youth have hung their hats in the friendly homes of England, the Netherlands, Trinidad-Tabago, China, Sweden, France, Australia, Thailand, Spain, Switzerland, Finland and Luxemburg.  Local families have enjoyed these travels too, as returning Ambassadors presented programs to interested 4-H groups and civic organizations.

Norske Travels:              Exchange trips with a special focus – That’s the Norske program pairing youth from states in the upper Midwest with their counterparts from Norway, Sweden and Finland.  Several local 4-H members visited these Scandinavian countries in the summer of 1993, and opened their homes for a reciprocal visit the following summer.

LABO/4-H Friendships:  Japan and the United States have a marvelous cultural connection through the American 4-H and Japanese LABO exchange, going strong since 1972.  “Learning a New Language – the Younger the Better” is the slogan of LABO, a Japanese youth organization.

          This two-way program has touched many of our families.  Young, smiling Japanese faces are familiar at our Ozaukee County Fair, when local families have opened their homes for the month-long LABO visit.  In alternate years, our youth have traveled to Japan for a four-week homestay, where they experienced Japanese family life, attended LABO camp with the host youth, and obtained a first hand view of Japanese culture and customs.

SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES:

Several college scholarships are offered through the Ozaukee County 4-H Foundation.  Many others are available at local, state or national levels of competition.