History Preservation Newsletter
July 2016

Posted on July 28, 2016 by NewsAdmin

While the US plunges into the Presidential Election, 4-H’ers are plunging into preparations for their fairs.

That’s not to say that 4-H members are not involved in their citizenship responsibilities; just check with those who have been to Washington, DC, to experience Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF).

3 Hs came from France?

4-H started in the early 1900s in the US, but as early as 1893 the French Minister of Education was calling for an end to the 3 Rs and a new emphasis on the 3 Hs.

International Exchanges

July 8, which happens to be the Editor’s birthday, is the date recorded of International Farm Youth Exchange delegates going to Europe for the first time in 1948.

Show it off!

Exhibits are a long-held tradition in 4-H. Use them to highlight and publicize your 4-H History.

Speaking of Publicity…

See how many different types of 4-H publicity you can find in this month’s issue.

Sugarloaf 4-H Club is on the Map

More importantly, is your club, your fairground, your 4-H history on the Map?

CWF is going to give 4-H’ers a close look at the Presidential Inauguration in January.

A special edition of CWF to be held during the Inauguration will cap off 4-H summer activities and the presidential campaigns.

This summer, 4-H’ers will be actively involved in civic activities as well as preparations for the many fairs. Before you get too involved in either, sit back and enjoy this issue.

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Poster_1956_Leaders

The 4-H Member gate sign has become not only a way to identify where 4-H members live but an important icon of 4-H from the farms to suburbs and urban centers. Whether in a black and white photo or on the full color 1956 National 4-H Calendar produced by Brown and Bigelow Company of St. Paul, Minnesota; the sign speaks volumes more than the words it bears.

We hope you enjoy this issue.

4-H History Preservation Newsletter
April 2016

Posted on April 20, 2016 by NewsAdmin

It’s April Already!

For some that means sunny spring is well underway; for others it’s time for one last snow storm; for still others, it’s the proverbial month of showers which bring May flowers. Whichever it is for you climatologically, it’s another busy 4-H month; another month when 4-H history is being made and celebrated.

First Woman’s World’s Fair

In 1925, 4-H girls exhibited ideal (for the time) standards of home decoration at this first of four-only women’s world-wide expositions, intended to showcase skills and empower women. 4-H girls did both.

April 22 is Earth Day

What better way to celebrate Earth Day 2016 than to start a garden, either productive, beautiful, or both. That’s this month’s “Hands-on-History” activity.

Jmaes Cagney loved 4-H

That’s just one of the new stories highlighted from the 4-H Promotion and Visibility Compendium on the 4-H History Website.

April 20, 1970…

…was an important and long-awaited day for 4-H. Mr. J. C. Penney, Tricia Nixon, Art Linkletter and National Conference delegates helped mark the meaningful occasion. Any guesses?>

Tricia Nixon and Art Linkletter share podium.

Secretary of Agriculture, Clifford Harding, J.C. Penney and Janice Glover, 4-H’er from NY share groundbreaking duty.

Who Made 4-H Great?

This month we learn about a man who had a big impact on many basics of the local 4-H Club program. And his records have helped many historians along the way.

4-H Novels

The impact, challenges, successes, and fun of 4-H are recorded throughout literature, whether academic or recreational. Here’s a list of novels written about 4-H – just the titles we’ve been able to uncover.

Whether the weather…

…is warming you in sunshine, dousing you in rain, or freezing you in snow, stay focused on the coming May flowers – and the next issue of the National 4-H History Newsletter. Whether with sunglasses, umbrellas or ear muffs, enjoy this issue.

4-H History Preservation Newsletter
November 2015

Posted on November 18, 2015 by NewsAdmin

November is Thanksgiving, Veterans’ Day, voting, and Christmas/Holiday Prep.

We’re all thankful for 4-H and we remember with honor the veterans who helped guarantee our many freedoms, including the freedom to vote (did you?). Christmas/Holiday Prep, well, let’s push that into next month!

Each year, this month, Veteran’s Day has special meaning. We feature individuals and groups with a 4-H identity. Of course, many more 4-H alumni deserve to be honored and remembered for their service to the US; these are but a few.

A school superintendent from Ohio instilled scientific curiosity in his students and formed “experiment clubs” to keep them involved. 4-H Clubs evolved, using educational materials this pioneer encouraged from his USDA colleagues. One of our continuing series featuring people who helped make 4-H great.

By all accounts and on all levels, 2015 NAE4-HA in Portland was a great success. 4-H History Preservation team encouraged nominations to the National 4-H History Map, and collected countless sites which will be vetted for inclusion.

There’s a lively controversy about when “urban 4-H” actually started. But what year did the National 4-H Foundation announce a study, funded by the Ford Foundation, to document that expansion of 4-H?

Take a break in your Thanksgiving preparations, give fleeting thought to your Christmas or Holiday preparations, and enjoy this issue.

National 4-H Calendars

Novemver 2, 1936 one calendar company was issued permission by USDA to produce 4-H Calendars. The first and the latest calendar art that National 4-H Council owns for which we have found documentation are pictured here. One appeared on a 1951 National 4-H calendar and the other appeared on a 1975 National 4-H calendar.

1951 4-H Calendar Art

1975 4-H Calendar Art

Please help us preserve 4-H History . . .

4-H History Preservation Newsletter
July 2015

Posted on July 8, 2015 by NewsAdmin

Norman Rockwell painted the “The County Agent” for the cover of Saturday Evening Post. The people pictured were an actual county agent, 4-H family and their hired man.

Unusual summer rains didn’t dampen the 4^th of July crowd’s spirit on DC’s National Mall!

Declaration of Independence… July 4 or August 2?

As we all know, the US Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. However, even though independence had been declared, delegates to the Continental Congress had not yet signed the document. It wasn’t until August 2, 1776, that the Declaration of Independence became official.

National 4-H Supply Service

How old is the National 4-H Supply Service? Who was its very first customer and which 4-H products were the first items to be sold? You can find out inside.

The County Agent

The iconic Normal Rockwell painting, “The County Agent”, illustrating 4-H projects of an Indiana farm family, was first published as a Saturday Evening Post cover. Can you guess the publication date?

Hands-on . . .

“Hands-on History” this month features photography, a great way to visualize the important and fun parts of your 4-H history.

IFYE (International Farm Youth Exchange)

Though 4–H entered the international arena as early as 1935, it wasn’t until years later that the first exchange of farm youth took place. IFYE (International Farm Youth Exchange) was born in 1948.

Map Your 4-H History

“2015 FilmFest 4-H” and “Map your 4-H History” highlight two examples of “Contemporary 4-H History,” current nation-wide programs that are now making 4-H History.

The July 4^th fireworks are over in this marvelously independent country and the 4-H summer season is underway. Amid the hard work and deserved fun, enjoy this issue!

4-H History Preservation Newsletter
June 2015

Posted on June 11, 2015 by NewsAdmin

Summer officially starts in just a few days, typically the busiest season for 4-H.
The run-up to summer is just as busy, as you’ll see in this issue.

4-H Travel

Travel has long been a key part of the 4-H learning portfolio at county, state, national and international levels. The 1959 Iowa to Kentucky 4-H exchange is what led to creation of the national Citizenship Short Course. This month’s “Hand-on 4-H History” activity brings travel to the club level.

4-H Pledge and Motto

You certainly know the 4-H Pledge and Motto. But do you know what year they were both officially adopted? Hint: it was at a National 4-H Camp.

Kidnapped by 4-H’ers“

Indiana Travelers Kidnapped by 4-H’ers!” is an unlikely headline. But read (and chuckle) about how Georgia 4–H members learned hospitality and treated tourists to a fun-filled weekend in 1953.

The entire National 4-H Camp delegation visited President and Mrs. Hoover at the White House on June 23, 1931.

Map Your 4-H History

Do you know where your county’s first 4-H club started? Is that site on the online National 4-H History Map? Find out how to make sure that part of your history is recorded electronically for posterity.

FilmFest 4-H

Teen film-makers gather again this year for 2015 FilmFest 4-H in St. Louis. Professionals from the film industry help young people hone their cinematic skills in this fifth annual celebration of youth-made films – without the popcorn. 4-H History is a category for the competition.

We know you’re also busy with summer work (garden?) and plans (vacation?) but take a few minutes off and enjoy this issue!

National 4-H Conference (Continued from National 4-H Camp since 1959)

Posted on April 20, 2015 by Sue Benedetti

Over 300 delegates and chaperones from 47 Land Grant Universities, Puerto Rico and Canada are attending the 2015 National 4-H Conference from April 11th to16th, at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center. This is the 85th gathering of 4-H’ers in the nation’s capital since National 4-H Camp began in 1927.

The following story is from the National Compendium of 4-H Promotion and Visibility on the National 4-H History Website at http://4-HHistory.com/?h=4-H_Promotion

When National 4-H Camp was replaced by National 4-H Conference and moved to the National 4-H Center in 1959, definitely one thing changed: the living conditions were considerably better! Historically, one of the overriding goals of creating a national “home” for 4-H in the nation’s capital was to accommodate National 4-H Conference. Mac McGarry, host of the popular high school quiz show “It’s Academic” hosted the first National 4-H Conference Clover Bowl. Participants answered questions about the history of the Constitution, 4-H, and of Washington, D.C. (Spring, 1987, National 4-H Council Quarterly) National 4-H Conference has remained a strong national 4-H event for nearly 60 years, and continues today, with the programs and experiences focused heavily on leadership and citizenship and providing “growth” experiences for the delegates. While some releases, delegate interviews and media coverage may take place, National 4-H Conference has never been a primary promotion or visibility event, per se.

Mac McGarry, host of the popular high school quiz show “It’s Academic” hosted the first National 4-H Conference Clover Bowl. Participants answered questions about the history of the Constitution, 4-H, and of Washington, D.C. (Spring, 1987, National 4-H Council Quarterly)

The major exception to this is that often, through the years, the participating speakers and workshop presenters at National 4-H Conference have created enough promotion and visibility to merit classifying this event as a major promotion event. Traditionally, Conference planners often were not shy in asking the “top resources of Washington” to be on the Conference program. And, if their schedules allowed, they usually were happy to do
so. This would include U.S. Congressmen and women, Senators, Supreme Court Justices, national media representatives and leadership from the various departments of government, national organizations headquartered in Washington, and representatives from foreign embassies.

Like this:

Like this:

Centenarian 4-H Alumna Honored

4-H’ers Praised in 1945 World Wide Broadcast

Labor Day Floats?

4-H History Map

FilmFest 4-H’ers Learn and Earn

It’s Fair Season!

Like this:

While the US plunges into the Presidential Election, 4-H’ers are plunging into preparations for their fairs.

3 Hs came from France?

International Exchanges

Show it off!

Speaking of Publicity…

Sugarloaf 4-H Club is on the Map

CWF is going to give 4-H’ers a close look at the Presidential Inauguration in January.

Like this:

Summer is officially here and 4-H history is being made every day.

Another of the “Greats”

4-H Academy Awards

4-H History Map

The 4-H – Peace Corps Link

Girls’ 4-H Uniforms = Pants?

Like this:

It’s April Already!

First Woman’s World’s Fair

April 22 is Earth Day

Jmaes Cagney loved 4-H

April 20, 1970…

Who Made 4-H Great?

4-H Novels

Like this:

November is Thanksgiving, Veterans’ Day, voting, and Christmas/Holiday Prep.

National 4-H Calendars

Like this:

Unusual summer rains didn’t dampen the 4th of July crowd’s spirit on DC’s National Mall!

Declaration of Independence… July 4 or August 2?

National 4-H Supply Service

The County Agent

Hands-on . . .

IFYE (International Farm Youth Exchange)

Map Your 4-H History

Like this:

4-H Travel

4-H Pledge and Motto

Kidnapped by 4-H’ers“

Map Your 4-H History

FilmFest 4-H

Like this:

Like this:

Unusual summer rains didn’t dampen the 4^th of July crowd’s spirit on DC’s National Mall!