Author Archives: Sue Benedetti

History Preservation Newsletter
April 2014

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The last few days of balmy spring weather brought DC’s cherry blossoms bursting Cherry_Blossomsforth in all their frothy pink splendor to highlight the annual Cherry Blossom Festival.  This painting captured that spring ritual in the c. 1975 National 4-H calendar art.  So, for this issue, what is more fitting than 4-H helping Mrs. Obama plant a cherry tree?  Or a “Hands on History” challenge to create healthy cherry-based snacks?

There’s a new self-guided history tour at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center.  Using QR Codes, we’ve put up six sites in and around the J. C. Penney lobby for visitors to scan and learn a bit about that piece of 4-H history.  The tour covers a broad span of time from a portrait of the “Mother of 4-H” to artifacts from the most recent 10 years of the program.  Scan the QR Code in this issue and see where it leads.

We continue the “Voices of 4-H History” program of recording audio and visual memories as we come closer to the Centennial date of signing the Smith-Lever Act (May 8) which gave federal funding to the Cooperative Extension Service.  Progress updates from several states, some suggestions, and a list of available resources make up this month’s coverage.

“Voices” participants are scripting, filming, editing, re-filming, and re-editing their potential entries in the national 4-H film festival, “2014 FilmFest 4-H.”  This year’s festival will be in St. Louis and “Voices of 4-H History” is an official category in the August competition.

And now it’s time for that healthy snack: a juicy slab of freshly-baked cherry pie while you enjoy this issue!

Five Years Old and Growing Strong!

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This month marks the fifth anniversary of the National 4-H History Preservation Program, and what an invigorating period it’s been! We look back at some of the program’s accomplishments during that time and marvel at the outstanding cooperation we’ve received from all organizations we’ve worked with, and the collaborative efforts of the nearly 100 volunteers whose dedication continues to inspire us.

History Flashbacks: 1919 and 1938 news articles document career moves of important 4-H pioneers, O. H. Benson and A. B. Graham. Another article in the Farm Boys’ and Girls’ Leader recognized a Montana club, as the first in the state to meet national requirements for a “Standard Club.” Did you know there was such a thing?

And a look to the future: since history is made every day, the future of the 4-H History Preservation Program is never-ending. What do we see ahead? What do you see ahead?

“Hands on History” raises the importance of 4-H record-keeping, and “Voices of 4-H History” brings us up-to-date on various state activities, as well as plans for the 2014 National 4-H FilmFest.

2014, a year of notable anniversaries, is off to a rousing start for the History Team; we hope it’s the same for you! Happy New Year and enjoy this issue.

One of the first known visual aids trucks that helped extension workers take farm and home science to the youth and adults in rural areas following the passage of the Smith-Lever act and for years to come. Note that the movie projector behind the truck ran off of the car’s generator to show educational movies in the darkened school buildings. This project combined the two wonders of automobiles and moving pictures to awed youngsters and adults alike. This pioneering venture in visual education was a success from the start!

“Hands-On 4-H History” – Clothing and Fashion

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Clothing and fashion projects have been a part of practically all of 4-H history. From the early 4-H uniforms for boys and girls to the Fashion revues that are still common today, thousands of 4-H members learned skills in sewing and fashion design and proudly wore the 4-H name and emblem.

The first story in the November 1919 edition of Boys’ and Girls’ Farm Leader tells of a team of 4-H girls from Wisconsin. Through competitions with sewing demonstration teams from other states, they had been selected to present their demonstration at the interstate fair in Sioux City, Iowa. Their demonstration showed how dyeing fabric is a practical and economical way to make old clothes look new.

Wisconsin 4-H girls in 1919 demonstrate that dyeing is a practical and economical way to make old clothes look like new.

The Wisconsin girls even had a dyeing song which was a hit at the Sioux City banquet and was sung at every demonstration: Here it is:

Tune–“Jada”

Dyeing! Dyeing! Everybody’s dyeing now!
Dyeing! Dyeing! We are going to show you how.
The object now is to make thing new; Colors that will appeal to you,
Dyeing! Dying! Everybody’s dyeing now!

An article in the November-December, 1938 issue of National 4-H News heralds the awards to be given in the wool dress class at National 4-H Congress. It was the second year for this award category sponsored by the Associated Wool Industries. Two sterling silver trays would be awarded to the best wool school outfits, and two for the best tailored or semi-tailored wool outfits. In addition, $4.00 cash awards would be presented for each exhibit entered, with additional money awarded for blue and red ribbon outfits.

Are there members of your 4-H club in the sewing project? Ask them to share what they’ve done. Consider how you can add some 4-H History to your county or state Fashion Revue or other clothing activities. In the “Hands-On History” section of the 4-H History website you’ll find ideas about presenting a 4-H History Fashion Show.

Visit: http://4-HHistoryPreservation.com/Hands-On/

Sue Benedetti