July 5, 2022
Ribbon Color and Life Lessons Learned
Fair season always makes me think about how 4-H impacted my life. One of many thoughts I had recently was that the ribbon color and the rank it represented were often inversely related to the life lessons I learned.
Please do not get me wrong. Earning a grand champion ribbon for a well mentored project can be the ultimate in learning experiences, but the lessons learned for a red, white, or even green ribbon project can be just as valuable, if not more.
When I earned a red ribbon on a model plane project, the judge shared with me that my model was fine overall but lacked the detail work needed to get a blue ribbon or higher. I learned that details are important.
I earned a white ribbon on a toolbox I made for one of my woodworking projects. The judge showed me how most of the toolbox was sanded well except for one section. It happened to be the center section with the handle. I had slacked up on the place where I really needed a smooth surface the most. I learned that consistency in effort matters.
I never got a green ribbon, but basically a green ribbon is for a completed project that violated the project guidelines or rules. Had I gotten a green ribbon, I would have learned that following guidelines and rules are important.
During this fair season, we will have 4-Hers exhibiting a wide variety of projects. Some will be excited about the ribbons they earned. Others will be disappointed. As extension professionals and volunteers, let’s make sure that our 4-Hers and their parents focus beyond the color of the ribbon received.
It is the life lessons learned in doing the project that really matters, and, sometimes, the greatest life lessons come from those less-preferred ribbon colors.