Project Areas

A 4-H project is an area that you want to learn more about during the year through a series of long-term hands-on learning experiences. There are projects on just about any topic you would like to explore and learn more about, from art to woodworking, from computers to rabbits, from clothing to small engines. You will learn more than subject matter as you explore your projects. You will learn many life skills that you will use every day of your life such as understanding yourself, communicating better, solving problems, making decisions, and working with others.

You can check out the project pages on the Wisconsin 4-H website. There you’ll find descriptions for our statewide projects, internet resources and links of interest, fair project suggestions, state specialist contacts and other suggested 4-H resources.

Shawano County Project Areas

  • Animal Sciences – Beef Cattle, Cats, Dairy Cattle, Dairy Goats, Dogs, Horse/Horseless Horse, Llama/Other Exotic Animals, Meat Goats, Pocket Pets, Poultry, Rabbits, Sheep, Swine, Veterinary Science
  • Arts, Visual Arts, and Communication – Celebrate Art, Communication, Creative Writing, Music, Photography, Theater Arts, Videography
  • Cloverbuds
  • Family, Home & Health – Cake Decorating, Child Development, Clothing, Crocheting, Entrepreneurship, Foods & Nutrition, Health, Home Environment, Knitting, Personal Finance
  • Mechanical Sciences – Aerospace, Computers, Electricity, Robotics, Scale Models, Small Engines, Tractors, Woodworking
  • Natural Resources & Environmental Education – Astronomy, Backpacking & Hiking, Bicycling, Entomology, Exploring Your Environment, Fishing, Forestry, Outdoor Adventuring, Recycling, Shooting Sports, Wildlife – Trapping
  • Plant & Soil Sciences – Crops, Home Grounds, Horticulture, Plant Crafts, Soil Science, Vegetables
  • Self-Determined
  • Youth Leadership

How to Select Projects

How to Select Projects

  • Make a list of the things you like to do or want to learn more about.
  • Talk over your list with your parents, leaders, and friends. They may recognize some things you might be interested in that you have not considered.
  • Compare your list with the projects described above.
  • Ask yourself if you have the equipment, money, and time to do the projects that sound interesting. Some projects you do not necessarily need the equipment or animal to participate and can use as part of the project.
  • Decide which project areas you will enroll in:
    • It is recommended that first year members take only 1 or 2 project areas, especially for younger members.
    • There is no limit to the number of project areas a member can select.
    • Cost vary depending on projects and project areas selected.
  • If you do not find a project area that you feel fits your interest, you can always choose the Self-Determined project.
  • If you decide a project is not for you, you should notify the project leader and delete it from your project list on 4honline.com by January 5th.

Project and Record Book Info

Overview of Record Book Options:

It is highly recommended that each 4-H member take the time to reflect on their learning in the projects they chose this year.

Our Experiential Learning Model is: Do. Reflect. Apply. We want youth to take the time to think about what skills they gained, as well as what goals they would like to set for the year to come. This year, you will have 3 options to choose from:

  1. Traditional Record Book:You may choose to do the record book as you have in years past, requiring the “Record Book Cover Page”, “Picture Page & Project History” sheet,  “Activity Record” and “Project Plan and Evaluation” Form for each project youth were enrolled in, as well as suggested project-specific pages listed per the links.  You may use the sheets from last year or this year. If you want to compete for a record book award, consider this method. Find all materials below.    Sample Record book (PDF)
  2. Basic Book: Complete the “Record Book Cover Page”, “Picture Page & Project History” sheet,  “Activity Record” and a “Project Plan and Evaluation” Form for each project youth were enrolled in.Youth do not need to add specific project sheets unless they want to. See it put together here:  Basic Record Book, full, (Word),     Basic Record Book, full 
  3. Resume & Debrief: Youth may choose to submit a 4-H resume and sign up for a short debriefing session (ten to fifteen minutes) with 4-H educator Megan (over the phone, in person, or through zoom). Read more about the Life Skills Wheel here: https://ucanr.edu/sites/AC4H/files/241209.pdf and here: https://currituck.ces.ncsu.edu/2019/01/life-skills-and-developmental-competencies-what-are-they-and-why-are-they-important/.

Please find the related materials here (add links):

*Resume Debrief Guide 2020

*Example: SHAWNA SHAWANO’s RESUME

*Example: Chipper SHAWANO’s RESUME

Here are some helpful tools to consider when completing the record book process:

General Record Book Pages

As pages are updated they will have the year of update listed behind them.

Record Book Cover Page
Record Book Cover Page
Picture Page & Project History Page
Picture Page & Project History Page
Activity Record
Activity Record
Project-Plan-and-Evaluation-Form-1 2020 Needed for EACH project the member is enrolled in
Project-Plan-and-Evaluation-Form-1 Needed for EACH project the member is enrolled in

Individual Project Record Forms

Project record forms are in PDF format but also available in Word. If a year is behind them, they may still be in Word format. PDF formatting will come.

County Wide Project Committees

Maybe you enroll in a project and there is not a project leader within the club you enrolled in. There are a variety of county-wide committees that have leaders around the county that can assist you.  Click on this listing to begin.  If you don’t see your project listed, feel free to contact our Extension office at 715-526-6136 and ask if we can refer you to a leader who may be able to answer your questions.

Project Areas

  • Animal Sciences – Required Meetings, Forms and additional information
    • Beef, Cats, Dogs, Dairy Cattle, Goats-Dairy and Meat, Exotic Animals, Horse and Horseless Horse, Llamas, Pets, Poultry, Rabbits, Sheep, Swine, Veterinary Science
  • Visual Arts, Arts & Communication
    • Communications, Creative Writing, Music, Photography, Theatre Arts, Videography, Visual Arts
  • Cloverbuds
    • Open to members in 5K through 2nd grade as of January 1st
  • Family, Home & Health
    • Cake Decorating, Child Development, Clothing, Consumer Savvy, Crocheting, Knitting,  Entrepreneurship, Foods and Nutrition including Food Preservation, Health, Home Environment, Personal Finance, Workforce Readiness
  • Mechanical Sciences
    • Computers, Electricity, Robotics, Scale Models, Small Engines, Tractor, Woodworking
  • Natural Resources & Environmental Education
  • Plant & Soil Sciences
    • Crops, Horticulture including Home Grounds, Field Crops, Plant Crafts, House Plants, Vegetables, Flowers
  • Self-Determined
  • Youth Leadership

Project Meetings and Project Leaders

Project Meetings and Project Leaders

  • Some projects have meetings at a countywide or club level, and some projects do not currently have meetings. We are always looking for new volunteers to serve as project leaders to hold more project meetings. 4-6 meetings a year is typical in a project.
  • Members may attend project meetings for the projects they choose to gain skills. There are many ways to learn in project. Self-led projects are intended for projects who do not have a leader or project meetings scheduled.

More in this Section

  • Arts, Visual Arts & Communication
  • Animal Sciences
  • Cloverbuds (5K-2nd Grade)
  • Family, Home & Health
  • Mechanical Sciences
  • Natural Resources & Environmental Education
  • Plant & Soil Sciences
  • Self-Determined
  • Youth Leadership