2026 Oklahoma 4-H Salute to Excellence Volunteer Recognition Award

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Congratulations on Your County Nomination!

Being nominated for the Oklahoma 4-H Salute to Excellence Award is recognition of the meaningful difference you make in your club, county, and community. Your county’s nomination reflects the impact others already see in your service as a 4-H volunteer.

This application is simply an opportunity to share your story and help the reader understand your contributions and growth. You are not expected to be a professional writer—just to reflect on experiences that already matter.

 

Recognition & Conference Information

Volunteers who complete the application package receive complimentary full registration, funded by the Oklahoma 4-H Foundation, to attend the 2026 Oklahoma Conference on Volunteerism June 26–27, 2026 | Stillwater, Oklahoma.

 

District and state winners will be recognized during the conference.

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What You'll Submit

As part of the nomination process, you will work with your county Extension educator to prepare:

• 4-H Volunteer Résumé - (2 pages maximum, 12-point font, 1-inch margins)
• Three (3) Letters of Recommendation - (2 pages maximum, 12-point font, 1-inch margins)
  • One from a 4-H staff member
  • One from a 4-H youth participant
  • One from another volunteer or parent
• One High-Quality Photograph (600 dpi; JPG, PNG, or TIF) Photographs or pictures embedded in a word document or as a PDF are not acceptable.

 

Your Deadline

All materials are due to your county Extension office on or before February 23, 2026.

 

Your county Extension educator will assist with formatting, timelines, and submission.

 

A Reassuring Note

You do not need to include everything you have ever done. One or two meaningful stories often say more than long lists.

 

Help is encouraged. Many volunteers:

• work with their county Extension educator,
• ask a trusted friend to review their draft, or
• use AI tools to help organize ideas or edit for clarity.

 

What matters most is that your résumé reflects your genuine experiences and voice.

 

Humility is valued—but the reader can only evaluate what is shared. This is your opportunity to provide a true picture of your service and impact.

 

If you have questions or need help getting started, reach out to your county Extension educator early—they are there to support you.

 

4-H Volunteer Résumé

Please be sure your name and county are clearly listed at the top of your résumé. This helps the judges quickly identify your materials. They may be placed in the top margin if you prefer.

 

Guidance for Completing Sections 1–5

Please don’t be intimidated by the outline below. It is intended to spark reflection and help you remember meaningful moments — not to limit or judge your experience.

 

Answer each section in your own words. You do not need to repeat the question—simply number your responses to match Sections 1–5. Responses may be written in paragraphs or bullet points

 

Section 1 – Your 4-H Story & Motivation

Briefly introduce your 4-H career as a volunteer and why you choose to volunteer your time, talents, and resources.

 

You might consider:

• What first drew you to 4-H volunteering?
• What keeps you involved?
• How has your role changed over time?

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Section 2 – Impact on 4-H Youth

Evidence of a positive impact on the lives of 4-H youth.

 

You might consider:

• A moment when you saw a youth grow or gain confidence
• A challenge a youth faced and how you helped
• A time that reminded you why your role matters

 

One strong story often has more impact than several brief examples.

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Section 3 – Impact on the 4-H Program

Evidence of a positive impact on the 4-H program.

 

You might consider:

• How you strengthened a club, committee, or program
• Growth in participation, volunteers, partnerships, or opportunities
• What changed because you were involved

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Section 4 – Personal Growth

How have you grown personally because of being a 4-H volunteer?

 

You might consider:

• Skills you’ve developed
• Changes in leadership, communication, or perspective
• Ways volunteering has influenced other areas of your life

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Section 5 – Personal Involvement

Briefly highlight your most important 4-H leadership roles, committees, honors, or recognition.

 

You may also include relevant non-4-H volunteer roles, noting years, roles, and organizations.

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Before You Submit

Ask yourself:

• Did I include at least one specific story or example?
• Did I explain why I volunteer, not just what I do?
• Did I reflect on how I’ve grown personally?
• Would someone unfamiliar with my program understand my impact?
• Did I ask someone I trust or respect to review my résumé for clarity?

 

If yes — you are ready to submit.

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County Educator Instructions

2026 Oklahoma 4-H Salute to Excellence

 

~County Use Only~

 

Purpose of This Packet

If a volunteer has been nominated, their story already matters. Your role is to help that story be seen clearly—without pressure, intimidation, or unnecessary revision.

 

This section is intended for county Extension educators and office staff responsible for supporting nominees and submitting materials.

 

The goal is to:

• ensure complete, high-quality submissions,
• support volunteers without rewriting their voice, and
• maintain consistency with state, regional, and national expectations.

 

Volunteer's Deadline

All volunteer materials are due to the county Extension office on or before February 23, 2026

 

County Responsibilities

• Contact the volunteer once they receive the notification from the state to offer support and next steps.
• Review the Volunteer's application packet and be familiar with their instructions and guidelines.
• Encourage volunteers to:
  • reflect on experiences,
  • use examples and storytelling,
  • seek support (educator, peer, AI tools)
• Review submissions for:
  • completeness,
  • clarity,
  • adherence to length and formatting guidelines
• Check in with the volunteer periodically to see how they are progressing and whether they need assistance prior to the deadline.