Starting in the 2023-2024 4-H year, the following volunteer awards will recognized at the state level. Up to three individuals will be selected in each category every year. There may be years where no recipient is recognized in a given category.
Nominations are accepted all year. Nominees who are current, former, living or non-living are eligible to receive a volunteer recognition award. Recipients will be selected after July 1 each year. SDSU Extension 4-H Youth Development celebrates 4-H Volunteer Award recipients Sunday evening during the South Dakota State Fair in Huron.
If you have questions about the South Dakota 4-H Volunteer Awards, please send an email to the State 4-H Office.
State-Level Volunteer Recognition Awards
Outstanding Youth Service Award
- Demonstrated a high impact to a local community, 4-H program, or state 4-H project area.
- As a part of their training to be future volunteers, youth who are able to demonstrate skills to address the emerging needs of their community will be considered for this recognition.
- Youth will be able to evaluate and show impact
Outstanding Volunteer Award
- Volunteers with four or more years of service.
- Has impacted 4-H programs (clubs, school enrichment, afterschool, camp, special interest) in their local county program, regional 4-H area, or statewide project area.
- Engages youth with a positive youth development mindset.
Emerging Volunteer Award
- Volunteers in their first three years of service.
- Has impacted 4-H programs (clubs, school enrichment, afterschool, camp, special interest) in their local county program, regional 4-H area, or statewide project area.
- Engages youth with a positive youth development mindset.
Outstanding Shooting Sports Volunteer Award
- Volunteers with four or more years of service.
- Has impacted local, regional or state 4-H Shooting Sports Program.
- Engages youth with a positive youth development mindset.
South Dakota 4-H Volunteer Hall of Fame
- This recognition emphasizes a volunteers lifetime achievements with the South Dakota 4-H program and is given towards the end of their service with the program or following service.
- Emphasis given on impact to the state 4-H project area and involvement in multiple areas of the 4-H program.
- Demonstrated positive impact on SD 4-H and evidence of promoting and encouraging participation.
- Recognized with honors or awards in the past by local, county, or state program.
- Demonstrates exemplary service to the community in a variety of areas.
- Actively engaged to support and mentor the next generation of volunteers and empower them to take on roles.
- Volunteer Lifetime Achievement
South Dakota 4-H Shooting Sports Hall of Fame
- Volunteer Lifetime Achievement for shooting sports.
- Emphasis on impact to the state 4-H project area.
Volunteer Award Nomination
County-Level Volunteer Recognition Awards
Below are options for counties looking to re-vamp and improve county volunteer recognition beyond years of service. County award winners from the previous year will be recognized at the annual volunteer recognition ceremony and will be printed in the yearly booklet. For counties with additional awards or different recognition awards, these will also be recognized if information is provided to the State 4-H Office before the deadline.
Give special attention to project leaders outside of livestock related projects. Projects such as horse, rodeo, display exhibits, youth-in-action, and shooting sports often do not receive the same amount of attention or recognition.
Suggested Criteria:
- Enrolled certified volunteer.
- Person has put in years of dedication to a particular project area or is a new leader who has shown re-engagement in a particular project area by bringing fresh idea.
- Helped county enrollment through the project and has grown county numbers through a single project.
Suggested Criteria:
- Enrolled certified volunteer.
- Has demonstrated leadership and service above and beyond expectations set by county and state staff.
- Actively recruited new families and members.
- Increased number of first-generation 4-H members participating in the program.
- Participates and is active in leadership opportunities outside of club and at the county level. ie leaders association, advisory board, fair committee, etc.
Not necessarily a certified 4-H volunteer. These volunteers may be defined as passive supporters and only help once or twice a year, but their role is key to making the event run smoothly. This could also be a 4-H youth member.
Suggested Criteria:
- This person makes your county activities go. Can be relied upon to show up when asked to do the work when necessary.
- Examples include the person who shows up to open gates at horse show/rodeo every year. The person lining up livestock at the county fair. The city employee who comes to empty trash at the end of the night.
Look at volunteers who fall into your active supporter or certified volunteer roles.
Suggested Criteria:
- Demonstrated leadership in club, project area, county-wide, and at events.
- May have also participated in state-level opportunities.
- Always willing to help and lead a group when necessary.
- Volunteer may be new, but bringing ideas that move the 4-H program forward and re-vitalize a project that has seen decreased participation in recent years.
Suggested Criteria:
- Business or individual who is not a volunteer, but gives a great deal of time, financial resources, or dedication to the program.
- Plaque, certificate
- Pin
- Cash/gift certificate award
- Newspaper release/article
- 4-H Swag
- Personalized thank you note from 4-H professional
- Other: Use committee members to help select different ways to recognize volunteers
