National Recognition

The Recognition Model can be used to design a recognition system to meet the needs of all youth. Designing a recognition system involves:

•  Looking at the young people: their needs, interests, attitudes and aspirations.
• Understanding differences between people based on background and experiences; difference in behavior in some person; differences between similar types of people.
• Using recognition that encourages and supports learning, and satisfies intrinsic and extrinsic needs. It has to balance recognition for participation, progress toward self set goals, achievement of standards of excellence, competition and cooperation. 

This Recognition Model is appropriate and useful at all levels of 4-H. Recognition committees and councils at the local, county, state, and national levels utilize this approach in all recognition programs. Using a comprehensive, recognition program can lead to more youth being recognized and can provide a way to say to every youth: "You are a valued and important member of the 4-H program."

Recognition, support, and encouragement for learning is provided equally in all five areas. Cooperation partly overlaps Participation, Progress toward self set Goals, Standards of Excellence and Peer competition. Cooperation is a part of all four. The intent of the graphic is to show that recognition is given to individuals and people working together in teams or groups.