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Santa Clara County Hat/Pin Policy & Hat Etiquette

Year pins/stripes
Worn on the side of the cap with the 4-H emblem

STRIPES are called ‘service stripes’ and are given annually to any person who joins 4-H, regardless of involvement. They are purchased by the club from Leslie Carmen Co.

YEAR PINS are given to all members who have successfully completed one or more projects or activities within the 4-H club. These are ordered by the County and then requested by each club from the county office. There is no charge for these pins.

The state is changing from the traditional green/white pins with the words ‘first’, ‘second’, ‘third’, etc on them to generic colored pins.

When all the green/white pins are gone, we will be using the new style, which are given out according to school year, not years in 4-H:

  • Primary (K-3rd grade) =orange
  • Junior (4th-6th) = Lavender
  • Intermediate (7th-8th) = Turquoise
  • Senior (9th and above) = Red


100% attendance pins
Worn on the same side as the strips

Optional for clubs to distribute

Purchased by the clubs from the National 4-H Catalogue


Other medals
All other medals are worn on the opposite side of the cap, i.e. project pins (from record books), presentation day pins, fashioning review pins, fair award pins.

These are NOT ordered or purchased by the clubs. These pins are awards and given out only when earned by the individual, usually purchased by the County awards committee.

Some clubs may choose to purchase generic medals from the National 4-H Catalogue to recognize specific accomplishments within the 4-H club.

See 4-H Hat Etiquette PDF for more details

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