I LOVE record books!! They teach you record keeping and business skills that you need for the future, if you plan on running a business or doing your taxes..etc.. For our county and state fairs you have to do a recordbook for your heifers, mature cows, bulls, steers, hogs, goats, chickens, rabbits, etc.... Anything you plan on showing you have to do one in order to show. I always get 1st or 2nd in the contest, and i enjoy doing them because you can find your break even price and if you actually made something or are deep in the red.. I understand that they can be a pain, I always start mine as soon as i get my calf, or figure out who i am showing. Then even if i don't have the recordbook yet, i start writing down everything that i spent, skills i have learned, take pics.. etc..But with my FFA recordbooks, we make them ourselves so i start making the recordbooks then, but 4-H recordbooks we wait to get them in so i write everything down. It is a lot easier to complete a FFA recordbook, and 4-H recordbooks are fun too!! Just if you get stuck look at your last year recordbook comments!! I promise it WILL come in handy one day!!