Home > Portfolios

Portfolios

Welcome to the 4-H Portfolio Hub

A 4-H portfolio is a powerful tool that helps youth track their project work, personal growth, and leadership over time. Beginning in junior high, members start building their portfolios to document experiences and accomplishments year by year.

Portfolios serve many purposes—junior high members use them to apply for academic conferences and share what they’ve accomplished in their projects. As youth progress through high school, portfolios become even more valuable, helping them prepare for senior-level competitions such as 4-H Roundup and 4-H Congress, and positioning them to earn college scholarships.

Whether you’re just starting your 4-H journey or preparing for senior-level competition, your portfolio is a living document that tells your story—and helps shape your future.

Tennessee 4-H Project Achievement Portfolio Guidelines PDF

Portfolio Overview

Each section of your 4-H portfolio plays an important role in telling the full story of your project work. Together, they help document your growth, leadership, and accomplishments over time. Click Each Section to download forms and watch the video trainings to help you complete your project portfolio with confidence.

Section A: Project Work, Knowledge & Skills

This section highlights the core of your 4-H project experience. Share what you’ve learned and the skills you’ve developed through your project work. Include examples such as presentations you’ve given, awards or recognition received specifically related to your project, and educational activities or trainings that helped build your knowledge.

This is where you demonstrate what you know, what you’ve done, and how you’ve grown within your specific project area.

Section A PDF
Section A Video Training

Section B: Leadership Experience

This section captures how you’ve grown and contributed as a leader through 4-H. Start by sharing your leadership goals—what you hoped to achieve and how you worked toward those goals. Then, document your leadership experiences, including:

  • Leading groups or committees
  • One-on-one teaching or mentoring other 4-H members
  • Serving in leadership roles at 4-H events, camps, or workshops
  • Representing 4-H in community events or service projects
  • Helping with club organization, planning, or communication
  • Participating in or leading marketing or outreach efforts to promote 4-H

Be specific about your role, what you did, and the impact of your leadership.

Section B PDF
Section B Video Training

Section C: Citizenship

This section highlights how you’ve contributed as a responsible and engaged citizen through your 4-H experiences. Begin by outlining your citizenship goals—what you aimed to learn or accomplish through service and civic involvement.

Include examples of your involvement in the following areas:

  • Skills obtained
  • Community service
  • Government and civic engagement
  • Global citizenship
  • Support of family and friends
Section C PDF
Section C Video Training

Project Goals: Setting Purposeful Direction

Project goals appear at the top of each section (A, B, and C) to help guide your 4-H work. These goals are meant to help you focus on developing meaningful skills that connect directly to your project and strengthen your overall portfolio.

Setting strong goals gives your work direction and purpose—and helps you track your growth over time.

Watch the video below to learn how to write effective project goals and make the most of this important part of your portfolio.

Project Goals Video Training

Photos: Bringing Your Project to Life

Photos give your portfolio a personal touch and help tell the story of your 4-H journey. They showcase the hands-on work behind your project and make your experiences more real and relatable to others.

Use photos to:

  • Highlight key moments in your project
  • Show your involvement, growth, and impact
  • Help the viewer connect with your story

Well-chosen photos can enhance your portfolio and make your project stand out.

Watch the video below to learn how to write effective project goals and make the most of this important part of your portfolio.

Photo Video Training

Showcase: Visual Platform for Your 4-H Work

The Showcase is the complete, web-based presentation of your 4-H portfolio. It brings together all components—Sections A, B, and C, Project Goals, Photos, Resume, and Supporting Materials—into one interactive, digital platform.

This online format brings your project work to life, making it more engaging and personal. It allows you to visually highlight your growth, skills, and achievements over multiple years while telling your unique 4-H story.

The Showcase also serves a practical purpose—judges will access and review your portfolio through this digital platform, so it must be well-organized, easy to navigate, and clearly labeled.

Website Development PDF
Showcase Video Training
Website Example

Section A: Project Work, Knowledge & Skills

The Portfolio Entry Form is your official registration for submitting a 4-H portfolio for review. It collects important details about you and your project to ensure your portfolio is evaluated in the correct category and level.

This form must be completed and submitted to your county agent by the designated deadline. It confirms your intent to participate and allows your portfolio to be reviewed at the county, regional, or state level.

You’ll be asked to include:

  • Your name, county, and grade level
  • Portfolio level (Junior High, Level 1, or Level 2)
  • Project area(s)
  • Link to your completed digital Showcase
  • Confirmation of all required components (Sections A–C, Photos, Resume, etc.)

Make sure your Showcase site is complete and fully updated before submitting this form. Your county agent will use it to process your entry and move it forward for judging and potential awards or scholarships.

Entry Form PDF

Additional Resources

4‑H Portfolio Rubric

The 4-H Portfolio Rubric is used by judges to evaluate your portfolio based on the quality, depth, and growth shown in each section. It covers your project work (Section A), leadership (Section B), and citizenship (Section C), as well as your photos, resume, and digital Showcase. Judges look for clear goals, skill development, meaningful experiences, and how well your story is presented. All components should be organized, complete, and reflect multiple years of involvement.

Portfolio Rubric (scorecard)

4-H Interview Preparation Resources:

  • Tennessee 4-H Youth Development
  • 2621 Morgan Circle, 205 Morgan Hall
  • Knoxville, TN 37996-4510
  • P: 865-974-2128
UT Extension 4-H Youth Development logo