Record Book Roundup
Month 5 Read the previous months for more information.
These forms are available online at https://www.kansas4-h.org/resources/awards-and-recognition/ProjectRecognition.html.
Section 7 - Finances
One of the life skills people always think of 4-H as developing is record keeping. Very specifically, financial record keeping. This is the one place the General and Animal forms are very different. It also gets much more detailed from Junior to Intermediate to Senior.
Right now, if you have bought ANYTHING, write it down. Even if you do not take the time to get it on the correct line, writing down expenses now will help you. This can be as simple as a notebook or calendar where you jot down expenses. Buy vet supplies, write the total on the date purchased. Pick up feed every 2 weeks, write down the amounts.
Also, in the financial section is starting weights and ending weights. If you have never weighed your animal, grab a weight soon. If you do not know where you can do this, visit with your club project leaders or even call Justin Goodno. This is a very valuable part of your 4-H Project.
ALL projects have finances. For foods, if you make something to give as a gift or community service you had a cost. It's okay to not price out the cost of 2 cups of flour, but did you buy chocolate chips or nuts to make those cookies? Your finances should be more than just the items you enter in the fair, what did you do all year as part of the project.
If you are reading this section in August, including some finances is still a learning experience. This is a chase of including some is better than skipping it all together. If this does happen, think about what would work for your family to make it easier for the next year.
Record books will be easier doing in small chunks. This is true for most record keeping. Tax Day is coming up. As adults, those who keep good records all year long worry less about doing their taxes. Those that do not, usually stress more about doing their taxes.
