MEMBERSHIP
The school grade in which the member is enrolled on January 1 of the current calendar year shall determine the division in which the member is eligible to compete with the exception of judging team competition. For determining eligibility for competition:
- A junior member should be enrolled in the 4th or 5th grade on January 1 of the current calendar year.
- A junior high 4-H member should be enrolled in the 6th, 7th or 8th grade on January 1 of the current calendar year.
- A senior 4-H member should be enrolled in the 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grade on January 1 of the current calendar year. A Level I senior member shall be enrolled in the 9th or 10th grade and a Level II senior member shall be enrolled in the 11th or 12th grade on January 1 of the current year. (See rule C-1 for age requirements of members competing for National 4-H Congress trips.)
- Any 4-H Expanded Nutrition member (EFNEP) who meets the above qualifications is eligible to compete in all 4-H awards program.
- 4-H members who are students in an ungraded school or special education class shall determine the division in which they are eligible to compete by the number of years they have attended school (i.e., a member who is in the fourth year of school work on January 1 shall be considered an explorer, etc.)
Termination of 4-H Membership:
4-H membership ceases at the end of the calendar year following the member’s graduation from high school or on the 20th birthday, whichever comes first.
Attendance at National 4-H Congress
- Members competing for a trip to National 4-H Congress must be a Level II member and must have passed their 14th birthday on January 1 of current year.
- Tennessee 4-H members can attend National 4-H Congress only one time.
- If a project awards program offers an educational scholarship to the Level II state winner, that individual must attend National 4-H Congress to be eligible to receive the award. If the person named as the state Level II winner at Roundup does not attend, then the scholarship will be awarded to the individual representing Tennessee at National 4-H Congress in that project area.
Programs Members May Enter
- The member must be actively enrolled in the 4-H project or activity in which he or she competes.
- A member is eligible to receive only one state award that carries a trip to National 4-H Congress. No member is eligible for the first place state award in the same program the second time. No member is eligible for the second place state award the second time in programs providing a scholarship, trip, etc. as the second place award. A Level I member can only be awarded one Herbert College of Agriculture scholarship.
- Once a member’s record is submitted for state competition, the individual does not have the privilege of withdrawing from the competition or forfeiting an award in favor of entering another awards program.
- A member may win the top award in a division in any state awards program only one time. Exceptions to this rule are the Art and Poster Contest and animal shows.
- A 4-H member who is ineligible to receive a state award during the calendar year is also ineligible to receive a county or regional award in that program.
- The state 4-H staff shall be responsible for determining the eligibility of members competing for state awards.
- A member who has previously attended National 4-H Congress is ineligible to enter any project awards program climaxing at State 4-H Roundup or State 4-H Congress, with the exception of the public speaking contests.
4-H Educational Scholarship Conditions
See Scholarship Rules and Regulations, Section VI
Use of Prize Money *
Prize money received by teams or individuals for state trips is for the purpose of making said trip. If the team or individual turns down the award, the money is passed on to the next individual or team in line for the award.
* Please note: any monetary awards or prizes issued by the Tennessee 4-H Foundation that are not claimed (cashed or deposited) within 90 days of the issue date of the original check shall be considered forfeit.
