McPherson County Record Book Resources
A record book is a detailed report on what you as a 4-H member have accomplished in a year. A separate record book can be completed for each project area (ex. Fiber Arts Record Book, Swine Record Book, etc.)
You can either use the PDF pages (listed below) or Zbooks to assemble your record book. McPherson County 4-H strongly advises you to utilize the online Record Book recording system, ZBooks.
Record books should include a personal page, project report (either general or livestock, based on the project), and the permanent record.
Use this resource to help assemble your record book: Record Book Check Sheet
Step 1: Personal Page PDF
Step 2: Project Pages (based on age and project)
7-9 years old
10-12 years old
13 years old and older
Step 3: Permanent Record (doc)
Special Note: When using these PDF documents, you may need to install Adobe to edit the PDF files.
Follow these instructions:
- Visit https://get.adobe.com/reader/
- Uncheck the 3 boxes in the middle (marked with an "X")
- Click on the download link (circled)
- Follow downloading prompts
Record books should include a personal page, project report (either general or livestock, based on the project), and the permanent record.
Use this resource to help assemble your record book: Record Book Check Sheet
ZBooks is the official Kansas 4-H online record book keeping platform.
Record books are screened at the club level and then submitted to the Extension Office. Record books are then taken to a multi-county record book judging where they are evaluated. Within McPherson County, record books are screened into three levels: 2026 New Recordbook Keeping Guidelines
Record books submitted by senior 4-H members can advance to regional and state-level screening. Only one youth per project area is allowed to submit for regional evaluation. Senior champion record books will be offered the opportunity first. If this is passed on, the opportunity will then be extended to the second highest placing senior record book in that project area.
Record books submitted for regional evaluation must include a cover letter and a resume. Kansas 4-H provides a resource to help individuals prepare their record book for regional and state level evaluation: Master Guide with Rubrics.pdf.
Record books selected for state evaluation have additional requirements as well, which can be found in the above resource.
Record books that are selected as the state level winner will receive special recognition at Discovery Days and will be invited to attend National 4-H Congress in Atlanta, Georgia. Here is a visual representation of what winning a state record book looks like:
