Smith-Lever Act Centennial

Voice of 4-H History Poster2014 is the Centennial of the Smith-Lever Act, which provided federal funding for the Cooperative Extension Service and, thereby, 4-H programs nationwide.  To mark this significant milestone, the National 4-H History Preservation Program is debuting “Voices of Extension History,” drawing on the success of “Voices of 4-H History.”  The program is rolling out at the GALAXY IV Conference in Pittsburgh, September 15-19.  With all Extension professional associations meeting together, it’s a perfect place to illustrate how 4-H’ers, rapidly learning to document 4-H History through our own “Voices” project, can record and broadcast the vitally important impact made on America’s development by the Cooperative Extension Service.  4-H members are now producing “4-H History” films; from here, they can extend their reach to “Extension History” and document that meaningful impact.Besides news about our participation n GALAXY IV, this month’s Newsletter encourages linking the myriad 4-H History websites, records the dedication of Danforth Court’s “American Girl” statue, includes fun activities to honor the historic legacy of 4-H songs, and seeks help with the Report to the Nation Team.  How can you not click to enter?

4-H National History Preservation Newsletter…

Hot August Summer – “Cool” 4-H Happenings!

Hot August Summer – “Cool” 4-H Happenings!
One of the “coolest” happenings this hot August was the National 4-H FilmFest in Branson, MO; something we can legitimately call “Contemporary 4-H History.” For the first time, this year’s line-up of 38 “youth-made” films from eight states included a category of “4-H History.” Four states (MO, SC, UT, and VT) submitted in the History category. Jordon Bolinger of SC, the only history winner able to attend 4-H Filmfest this year, won third place in the 4-H History category with her “4-H Camp Sew” film. Read further for the first and second place winners.
VT and UT took slightly different approaches to document “Voices of 4-H History.” In VT, the Champlain Shamrocks 4-H Club used http://FrontPorchForum.com to identify people they wanted to interview, and used Windows Movie Maker for the editing. Their film, “Voices of VT 4-H History” took second place in the National 4-H FilmFest. UT members dug into their personal family histories for stories and used iMovie to edit. Amanda Jones’s “4-H History Preservation – LaRee Jones” (her grandmother) won first place at Branson. Are you thinking of entering a 4-H History film in the 2014 FilmFest? Contact Info@4-HistoryPreservation.com

“Voices of 4-H History” Becomes New Competition Category at FilmFest 4-H

Young filmmakers from across the country will soon have yet another way to add to the scope of 4-H history, through the new “Voices of 4-H History” competition category at FilmFest 4-H, the national 4-H film festival. Through early 2013, these teenage filmmakers will be interviewing 4-H alumni, volunteers, staff and supporters, about their personal 4-H experiences. Those efforts meeting the “Voices of 4-H History” guidelines may enter their film at FilmFest 4-H, which takes place during the week of August 5, 2013 in Branson, Missouri.

Films selected for viewing at FilmFest 2013 will be reviewed and judged from a field of films received during the April 15-July 15 submission period. For more information on FilmFest 4-H, visit the website at http://4h.missouri.edu/filmfest or click on the link from the history preservation website at http://4-HHistoryPreservation.com/voices/

Contact the National 4-H History Preservation team at: info@4-HHistoryPreservation.com

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“Voices of 4-H History Introduced at NAE4-HA

In October, 2012, “Voices of 4-H History” was introduced to those attending the 2012 meeting of the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents in Orlando, Florida. Over 1,000 4-H agents, volunteers and program leaders had the opportunity to see a 90-second video of historical images projected in the National 4-H Council exhibit area. The 90-second video of historical 4-H images was part of a continuous loop that played numerous times during the two days the exhibit hall was open.

Representatives of the National 4-H History Preservation Leadership Team were available to visit with state and county staff about the Voices project. More than 500 rack cards describing the project were distributed during the conference. Delegates from more than 30 states provided their contact information expressing high interest in the 4-H history project. Many of these contacts had done some history data collections that they are excited about sharing with the national project. The “Voices of 4-H History” team will follow up with those who requested follow up.

The new website for “Voices of 4-H History” was introduced and the web address shared with many at the Orlando meeting. This new web page is designed to serve as a tool kit for local teams wanting to start a “Voices of 4-H History” project in their local community; http://4-HHistoryPreservation.com/Voices/

To contact the voices team write: info@4-HHistoryPreservation.com

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“Voices of 4-H History” Becomes New Competition Category at Filmfest 4-H.

Young filmmakers from across the country will soon have yet another way to add to the scope of 4-H history,through the new “Voices of 4-H History” competition category at FilmFest 4-H, the national 4-H film festival. Through late 2012 and early 2013, these teenage filmmakers will be interviewing 4-H alumni, volunteers, staff and supporters, about their personal 4-H experiences. Those efforts meeting the “Voices of 4-H History” guidelines may enter their film at FilmFest 4-H, which takes place during the week of August 5, 2013 in Branson, Missouri.

The festival connects 4-H filmmakers with screenings, events, and technical workshops lead by actual film industry professionals. These youth celebrate successes alongside peers with similar interests, gathering professional feedback and gaining new strategies for improving their future efforts. Importantly, 4-H’ers take their enthusiasm and new skills back to their own state’s 4-H program. “I’ll take what I learned back to my county and help organize a local film club,” wrote one FilmFest participant from Hazard, Kentucky. “I’ll begin work on my own film and help start a local film festival!”

Films selected for viewing at FilmFest 2013 will be reviewed and judged from a field of films received during the April 15-July 15 submission period. Guidelines, including criteria for judging and selection, are being developed by the National 4-H History Team and will be available in November/December, 2012. For more information on FilmFest 4-H, visit the website at http://4h.missouri.edu/filmfest, or click on the link from the history preservation at http://4-HHistoryPreservation.com/voices/

Contact the National 4-H History Preservation team at: info@4-HHistoryPreservation.com

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4-H Oral History Project to Capture Stories of Former 4-H Members

Looking for an exciting idea for 4-H Youlth? Engage them with interviewing former 4-H members.

Cooperative Extension will celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Smith-Lever Act in 2014. The Smith-Lever Act of 1914 is a United States federal law that established the nationwide system of cooperative extension services connected to land-grant universities.

The National 4-H History Preservation Team hopes to launch a national 4-H Oral History Project in 2013 to capture the stories of former 4-H members, leaders, and staff to include in the celebration! We’d like to identify a few states/communities to pilot the project in the summer and fall of 2012. Pilot groups will receive guidance, including resources for recruiting and training current 4-H members to conduct interviews.

The 4-H oral history interview is a substantial tool for collecting stories from 4-H alumni and others involved with the past and present history of your 4-H program. To read more about the project check out the May issue of the National 4-H History Newsletter. Go to http://4-HHistoryPreservation.com – “click” on the Home and News Section of the menu bar and then on Newsletter. You may also sign up for the free newsletter from this page.

From the National 4-H History Preservation team. info@4-HHistoryPreservation.com

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