4-H Gold Star

District 12 4-H Gold Star Award Information

Introduction and History of the Gold Star:
The Gold Star Award is the highest achievement award given by the Texas 4-H Youth Development Program through the county 4-H Program. The Texas 4-H Gold Star Award can only be awarded once in a member’s 4-H career.

The presentation of the Gold Star Pin begun in 1933, the first year Mr. E.C. Martin was Boys 4-H Club Specialist. Mr. Martin tells us the pin was prompted by an effort to recognize the people who did the work rather than the agents. Previous to this time, the agents submitting the largest number of 4-H records received the recognition.

Records in the Extension Fiscal office indicates that the first Gold Star Pins were purchased in 1933. For the first several years the Gold Star Pins were presented at a dinner during Short Course at College Station. In the beginning each county made a nomination of their outstanding 4-H member and 100 members were selected to receive the award. After several years, the awards were presented to the outstanding 4-H boy and 4-H girl in each county.

Requirements for the Texas 4-H Gold Star
As the highest award given by the Texas 4-H Youth Development Program, County Offices and Agents are ask to maintain a high level of integrity and honor through their selection process of county Gold Star recipients. At the MINIMUM, the following guidelines should be used in the eligibility and selection process for each county:

  • The member must have at least completed, or be completing their 9th grade school year at the time of application, and must have completed at least 3 years in 4-H, including the current year.
  • The Texas 4-H Gold Star Award can only be awarded once in a member’s 4-H career.
  • The 4-H member must have completed projects in at least three different project areas, submitted appropriate record forms, and have participated in one or more activities in at least three of the following areas:
    • Projects and/or Project Exhibits
    • Participation in Leadership Experiences such as Leadership Labs, Texas 4-H Congress, or National Leadership Events such as National 4-H
    • Congress/Conference, and any county, district, or state leadership group.
    • Competitive Events (judging, educational presentation, public speaking, food show, quiz bowls, etc ).
    • Citizenship activities
    • Camps at the county, district, or state level.
    • 4-H Promotion (speeches, poster displays, radio, TV, newspapers)
    • Other (includes exchange programs, fund raising)
      Note: The requirements for projects and activities do not all have to be completed in the current year. They may have been accomplished over the entire period of time the person has been in the program.
  • The member must have exhibited leadership skills by serving as a 4-H officer or committee chair (club, county, district or state), and/or as a junior or teen leader in an activity or project with or under the supervision of an adult volunteer leader.
  • The 4-H member must have participated in one or more community service activities. Examples include providing leadership to a One Day 4-H project, working with or counseling junior 4-H members; participating in community service projects (individual, group or club); and motivating other 4-H members through participation in demonstrations, projects and/or exhibits.
  • The 4-H member MUST SUBMIT A TEXAS 4-H RECORDBOOK in the year they are to be considered for the award.
    Contact the local county extension office for more information.

 

 

History of the Gold Star

The following information was prepared by Mr. Lynch in a memorandum to Director Gibson on December 9, 1952.

“The presentation of the Gold Star Pin was begun in 1933, the first year Mr. E.C. Martin was Boys 4-H Club Specialist. Mr. Martin tells us the pin was prompted by an effort to recognize the people who did the work rather than the agents.

Previous to this time, the agents submitting the largest number of 4-H records received the recognition.

Records in the Fiscal office the first Gold Star Pins were purchased in 1933.

For the first several years the Gold Star Pins were presented at a dinner during Short Course at College Station.

In the beginning each county made a nomination of their outstanding 4-H member and 100 members were selected to receive the award. After several years, the awards were presented to the outstanding 4-H boy and 4-H girl in each county.” (Cox, et. al)

In 1985, the Gold Star begin to be awarded to the top 4-H members in a county, regardless of gender. The number of Gold Stars are determined based on the membership of the total county 4-H enrollment.

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