4-H Cash Composition Contest 2026

In support of Financial Literacy Month (April), Michigan State University Extension and Michigan 4-H are sponsoring the Cash Composition Contest. Youth residing in Michigan, aged 9-19 years old as of Jan. 1, 2026, are encouraged to answer this year’s Essay Question (see below) with an essay of 300 words or less. We will have 3 age brackets: 9-11 years old, 12-14 years old, and 15-19 years old. The top 2 scoring essays in each age bracket will win a $100 gift card.

2026 Essay Question:
Scams and fraud can happen to anyone, even if you’re careful. In your essay, explain how you protect yourself from fraud or scams and what steps others your age can take to stay safe. What are some warning signs to look out for? If you or someone you know has ever experienced a scam, what did you learn from it? Why do you think some people still fall for scams even when they know the risks? 

Essays are scored on:

• Quality of Writing
• Organization and Information
• Grammar and Mechanics

All essays must be your own original work. You can get help with spelling or grammar, but the ideas and writing must come from you. Using text written by someone else or generated by AI tools (like ChatGPT) is not allowed. Entries found to include copied or AI-generated content may receive less points and/or be disqualified.

Timeline:
March 1, 2026: Essay Submission due by 11:59 p.m. ET

April 1, 2026: Winners Announced

Who Should Enter:

Any youth 9-19 years old (as of Jan 1, 2026) residing in the state of Michigan. Open to both 4-H and non 4-H members.  For more information on joining 4-H, check out the Michigan 4-H website.

To Enter:

For youth under 18, you must have parent or guardian permission to apply and participate. 

• The application form must be completed by a parent or guardian, unless youth is 18 years old or older.
• Youth must write an essay (300 words or less) on the assigned topic above.
• Essay responses will be typed or pasted into the application form on registration page. It is recommended that youth write their essay in Word or a Google doc prior to completing the registration/submission form.
• The essay must be the work of the youth submitting the essay.

For more information on the contest and educational resources to prepare for the contest, please go to the Cash Composition Contest webpage. 

All essays become the property of the Michigan State University Extension 4-H Youth Development Program and may be used by contest coordinators to promote financial literacy.

Sponsor:

Thank you to Extra Credit Union for generously sponsoring this year's contest!

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