Austin County’s young 4-H members have been hard at work documenting their project achievements, leadership roles, and community service through the annual Austin County 4-H Record Book Contest. This event recognizes members’ dedication by allowing them to present their year-long efforts in a detailed record book, which is evaluated on goal setting, personal growth, project learning, and contributions to others.
First-place winners in each age division and category at the county level advanced to the District 4-H Record Book Contest in La Grange on July 10.
Advancing from County to District:
- Junior Division: Allie Eckert – Beef, Hannah Henderson – Rabbits, Waylon Parker – Horse, Liam Villarreal – Entomology, Avery Weber – Horticulture
- Intermediate Division: Emersyn Eckelberg – Beef, Harper Lischka – Natural Resources, Quinna Parker – Horse, Riley Weber – Veterinary Science
- Senior Division: Kaesee Brune – Gardening & Horticulture, Anabella Kennedy – Veterinary Science, Grace Lischka – Public Speaking, Darcy Luedke – Animal Agriculture, Madilyn McCullough – Beef, Skye Youngblood – Shooting Sports
District-Level Placements:
- Junior Division: Hannah Henderson – Rabbits, 2nd Place; Liam Villarreal – Entomology, 1st Place
- Intermediate Division: Quinna Parker – Horse, 3rd Place; Riley Weber – Veterinary Science, 3rd Place
- Senior Division: Kaesee Brune – Gardening & Horticulture, 1st Place; Anabella Kennedy – Veterinary Science, 3rd Place
Austin County is especially proud to announce that Kaesee Brune will advance to the highly competitive State 4-H Record Book Contest. This prestigious event brings together top 4-H members from across Texas for the chance to earn the coveted “Record Book Trip” to Washington, D.C. Brune will represent the county in the Gardening & Horticulture category.
What Goes Into a 4-H Record Book
A Texas 4-H Record Book is more than just a log of the current year’s work—it is a comprehensive record of a member’s 4-H experience.
A complete record book includes:
- Check Sheet (optional)
- Personal Information Page
- 4-H Story & Photo Portfolio
- Report Forms covering:
- Project Experiences
- Leadership
- Community Service
- Other 4-H Projects
- Recognition & Awards
- Non-4-H Activities
- College/Career Exploration
Years of Information Allowed:
- Junior (Grades 3–5): Up to 3 years (current year + 2 prior years)
- Intermediate & Senior: Up to 4 years (current year + 3 prior years)
Page Limits:
- 4-H Story & Photo Portfolio:
- Juniors: 2–8 pages (story + photos)
- Intermediates: 4–10 pages
- Seniors: 6–10 pages
- Report Form Sections (I–VII):
- Juniors: Project Experiences – 3 pages; Leadership – 1; Community Service – 1; Other Projects – 1; Recognition – 1; Non-4-H Activities – 1; College/Career – up to 1 page
- Intermediates: Same as Juniors, but Leadership & Community Service up to 2 pages each, and Other Projects up to 2 pages
- Seniors: Project Experiences – 4 pages; Leadership, Community Service, Recognition – up to 3 pages each; Other Projects – 2 pages; College/Career – up to 2 pages
These guidelines ensure that record books highlight not only achievements in a single year but also the growth and dedication members have shown throughout their 4-H journey.