Tag Archives: 4-H History

4-H is Now Part of National History Day

Posted on by

NHD_LogoThe National 4-H History Preservation Program will be supporting National History Day (NHD) starting in 2014. The 2014 theme is “Rights and Responsibilities.”

The NHD national contest is June 15-19, 2014 at the University of Maryland in College Park, MD, and two or three thousand teens are expected to come to this event. NHD is in critical need of help with the judging events both in College Park at the nationals and at the state level. Most of the state contests are held between late March and early May. We urge all State 4-H Offices who have an interest to visit the National History Day website, http://nhd.org and locate your state contact. You can also email: judges@nhd.org for this information.

4-H’ers are welcome to participate and complete in the contests according to Lynne M. O’Hara, NHD Director of Programs. The usual requirement is that the student’s entry form must be signed by a teacher, however she says county 4-H extension agents are certainly considered qualified as teachers and can vouch for a participant.

Some state 4-H offices already participate in National History Day. If you plan to have some 4-H’ers compete or you would like to help as a judge, please let us know at: info@4-HHistoryPreservation.com.

History Preservation Newsletter
February 2014

Posted on by

WOW, What an Issue!

Paul_Hutchcroft

Report card of the father of a former National 4-H Foundation (now 4-H Council) staff member demonstrates the close tie between 4-H and One-Room schools.

National History Day this year offers 4-H’ers and leaders the opportunity to highlight different aspects of 4-H History under the theme of “Rights and Responsibilities.”

“Voices of 4-H History” captures memories of alumni, leaders, donors and others in audio/video records. That’s the oral “History Preservation” part. At the same time, having “Voices” as part of FilmFest 4-H 2014 is very current, so it’s the “Contemporary History” part. In the “Voices” bit, there’s a rather detailed explanation of how two MD counties are approaching the project; just consider it a “how-to” example if you’re not already involved. In the “FilmFest 4-H” part, you’ll find necessary details for this year’s national 4-H film festival and how you can participate.

Four-H Repositories, History of 4-H Radio, 4-H and One-Room Schools: all of these and more lead to new and ever growing sections of the National 4-H History Preservation Program website:
http://4-HHistoryPreservation.com.

“Hands-On History” highlights 4-H Electricity projects and how you can bring awareness into your 4-H club meetings.

A very special Happy Birthday wish to National 4-H Hall of Fame Laureate and Centenarian C. J. Gauger; send him a card!

And a Happy Centennial year to all Smith-Lever Act beneficiaries.

Enjoy this issue.

4-H History and Christmas in the Nation’s Capital

Posted on by

The National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony, which began on Christmas Eve in 1923, is one of America’s oldest holiday traditions. At the time, President Calvin Coolidge lit a Christmas tree in front of 3,000 spectators on the ellipse in President’s Park. Since then, each succeeding president has carried on the tradition of what now has become a month-long event presented by the National Park Foundation and National Park Service.

As the first Honorary Chairman of the National Committee on Boys’ and Girls’ Club Work (now National 4-H Council), President Calvin Coolidge issued the following 1925 Christmas Address to Boys and Girls:

As you are representative of the organizations of the boys and girls of America who live in or are interested in the open country… I want to extend to all of you a Christmas greeting. It seems a very short time ago that I was a boy and in the midst of farm life, myself, helping to do the chores at the barn, working in the corn and potato fields, getting in the hay and in the springtime… making maple sugar.
I did not have any chance to profit by joining a scout organization or a 4-H Club. That chance ought to be a great help to the boys and girls of the present day. It brings them into association with each other in a way where they learn to think not only of themselves, but of other people. It teaches them to be unselfish. It trains them to obedience and gives them self-control. It is in all these ways that boys and girls are learning to be men and women, to be respectful to their parents, to be patriotic to their country, and to be reverent to God. It is because of the great chance that American boys and girls have in all these directions that to them, more than to the youth of any other country, there should be a Merry Christmas.
Calvin Coolidge

History Preservation Newsletter
December 2013

Posted on by

How about a Happy Holiday History Newsletter edition?

(Sorry, couldn’t resist!)

This short issue highlights the National 4-H Center’s hosting of the National Capitol Christmas Tree. Did you know it rested in Chevy Chase a few days before being strung up on the Capitol grounds?

US Presidents have, for a long time, sent greetings to 4-H’ers; this time we feature Calvin Coolidge’s remarks at Christmas 1925.

The 4-H Clover, which is controlled by law, has gone through many iterations, from traditional to contemporary. Do you remember the 1970s version?

Enjoy this issue and have a wonderful holiday season. See you in 2014!