When the National 4-H History Preservation leadership team explains why we are researching and documenting 4-H history to a current state or county Extension staff member, often we use the phrase: “the more you know about the history of 4-H, the better you can understand your current position and do a better job in the future.” Most of our 80+ volunteers in the national history preservation program are retired from a career in 4-H and all sincerely believe this to be true.Throughout the 100+ years of 4-H, professionals have always been out there on the cutting edge with experiential learning. The programs may be new. The audiences may be more diverse. The needs may be different. But the underlying principles of 4-H in many ways have remained the same and will continue because they have been time-tested and they work!

The history preservation team has a goal of making accessible as much of the national 4-H history as possible to everyone through the 4-H history preservation website and 4-H history outreach programs. Coupled with this is our hope that an understanding of the importance of 4-H history – and of history itself – will become an integral part of every state and county orientation program for new Extension 4-H staff, 4-H Foundation staff and other program supporters. Hopefully, the information provided through the National 4-H History Preservation program will help you to accomplish that goal.

Please let us know what information on the history website you have used and whether there is information you are seeking that does not yet appear on the site. Share your stories of how you’ve used the website to conduct new staff training in your state or county at info@4-HistoryPreservation.com .

Taken from the “Preserving 4-H History” section of the 4-H history website:

http://4-HHistoryPreservation.com/History/Preserving.asp

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