History Preservation Newsletter
June 2014

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4-H History Activities Accelerate in the Summer

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2014 FilmFest 4-H, August 3-6 in St. Louis features a professional director who started making movies at age 12; she’ll share film-making from a youth perspective. A six-time Emmy-nominated make-up artist of Star Trek fame will share his creative artistry. Don’t miss the July 1 deadline if you’re entering a video/film.

“Voices of 4-H History” shares updates from Washington, DC and Virginia. The program to record and preserve family and community memories continues to expand across the country.

The 4-H History Website, already a wealth of valuable information on the program’s first 100 years, expands even further with a new section on “4-H Brands” for youth-raised farm products.

Our National 4-H Calendar Art Restoration program has completed phase one – the repair of 25 original paintings from the National 4-H Council’s collection; now phase two kicks in, to preserve the artwork under protective Plexiglas.

Last month we introduced Helen Bovbjerg and Wilbur Jensen, two 4-H’ers who dazzled National 4-H Congress delegates in the 1950s with their exceptional musical talents. This month, we bring you highlights of Wilbur’s musical story from 4-H in a small Oregon town to trumpet performances with Louis Armstrong and other greats.

We recognize those people who have shared their treasured memories and memorabilia, and offer them our most sincere appreciation. If you have something to donate; please e-mail the team at: info@4-HHistoryPreservation.com.

Ready for summer? Enjoy this issue.

History Preservation Newsletter
May 2014

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<H2>It’s official: Extension turned 100 years old on May 8!</H2>

The Smith-Lever Act providing federal funding to Cooperative Extension was signed into law on May 8, 1914 by President Wilson.  On May 8, 2014, USDA, 4-H and the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP) signed a Memorandum of Understanding guaranteeing their continued cooperation for the future.  4-H members played a major role; see inside.

What if you were a 4-H’er involved in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) projects and got to showcase your work to 700-1,000 people per hour for three days?  That’s what 4-H members from four states did recently at the USA Science Education Festival in Washington, DC.  In 2010 when the program began, how many people do you think knew nothing about 4-H?

“Hands-on History” this month features Community Service, not a new concept for 4-H, but time to start making summer plans for your activities.Jensen_Bvobjorg

There’s a story behind every one of the many calendars produced in the 50 year history of the National 4-H Calendar Program; here’s one family’s memory of the 1968 calendar.

Two talented 4-H musicians, one from Maryland and one from Oregon, bring musical high notes to several National 4-H Club Congresses in the 1950s.  This month, we start a short series on Helen Bvobjerg (MD) and Wilbur Jensen (OR) who performed separately and together at three Congresses each.  Their story proves what we’ve always known: 4-H’ers are high-achievers in many diverse fields of endeavor.

Wish we had a recording of their music.  Oh well, enjoy the written words

Youth Busy Producing Films for 4-H FilmFest 2014

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All across the country, teams of 4-H FilmFest_Logo_Smallyouth are working to produce films for presentation at 4-H FilmFest 2014 in St. Louis. “Voices of 4-H History” will be one of the categories that youth produced films will be competing in this August. Films submitted by July 1, 014 will be judged for exhibition during the FilmFest, August 3-6, 2014.

To view the youth produced films from the 2013 FilmFest, go to “Screening Room” at

http://4h.missouri.edu/go/events/filmfest/results2013.htm

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!

4-H in the Movies

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The following is from the July, 1960, monthly column, “Washington News and Views,” by the federal Extension 4-H staff, which appeared in National 4-H News. This particular column was written by Dr. E. W. Aiton, Director,, 4-H and Young Men and Women Programs (YMW).

“4-H pops up in the most interesting places! Now it’s in the big time motion picture business. I’m writing this article from Hollywood, California. Tomorrow morning we give a final review and approval to a feature-length movie that’s all about a 4-H community in Katy, Texas. The title is ‘Tomboy and the Champ.’ You’ll see it soon in your neighborhood theatre.

“The part of the ‘Tomboy’ is a very nice but determined little orphan girl. You’ll shed a tear or two because polio nearly spoils her 4-H hopes and dreams. but her foster parents, the local club members and an understanding rural pastor help her over the rough places. We hope you like it.

“We always get a tremendous thrill out of working with folks who see in 4-H a chance to tell a wholesome story about the good things that happen in America. This motion picture is another example.

“While flying here to filmland this afternoon I was reminded of an almost forgotten contribution of 4-H to the stars. Once long ago our small town family doctor telephoned and said ‘Ed, we have a mighty sick little baby here. It’s Judy Gumm. We can’t find any food that agrees with her. Will you take real special care of some low-butterfat milk and bring it in fresh twice a day. Strain it and cool it carefully and…’

“So ‘Toots’ — my Holstein 4-H heifer — became an experimental foster mother for about six months. The whole town was mighty pleased that tiny Judy began to feel better right away. at three, she started singing with her father on the stage at the local theatre, between the first and second shows. And later, )you’ve already guessed it) she changed her name to Judy Garland, whom you know as the film and TV icon.

“I hope that every 4-H boy and girl can experience a similar thrill by making someone happy or healthy, producing something, becoming somebody or doing something useful and worthwhile. That’s why we use the term 4-H WORK. It implies service and usefulness. Also, that’s why 4-H should be kept flexible — so that local leaders, parents and 4-H members can shape and fit it to local needs and problems. How fortunate that our 4-H ‘project outline and requirements’ for the heifer program was flexible enough to market the milk from ‘Toots’ in a very unusual way for six months. That’s the way it must always be in 4-H, so we can always say ‘When ‘A Star is Born’ — 4-H helped to raise it to the sky.'”

1890 4-H History Initiative Started

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On Wednesday, March 5, 2014, Dr. Delbert Foster, South Carolina State University, and L. Washington Lyons, Administrator of the 1890 Association, met with staff at the National 4-H Council to review the rich history of the 1890 Land Grant Institutions.One of the outcomes of these discussions was the need to document and share the rich 1890 history using 21st century media.

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In the coming months, the 4-H History Preservation team and the 1890 leadership will explore joint activities for getting 4-H youth involved in helping 1890 4-H alumni to document the Extension and 4-H memories.Continued discussion with Georgia 1890 4-H leader, Woodie Hughes, and others will design efforts where 4-H youth will produce some multi-media products that will document 1890 4-H History.

Walking History Tour of National 4-H Center Using QR Codes

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The National 4-H History Preservation team is testing a QR Code program for a walking history tour of the National 4-H Youth Conference Center this week during National 4-H Conference. Five areas on the ground level of J. C. Penney Hall, in close proximity, have been selected for the pilot.
Based on the interest and feedback from the teen delegates attending Conference, the program will be expanded to other areas throughout the 4-H Center campus.
For more information on the 4-H History QR Codes, or the history preservation program, contact Info@4-HHistoryPreservation.com or visit the history preservation website at http://4-HHistoryPreservation.com		 0001-0003

J. C. Penney 4-H Mural Added to Website

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Gracing the spacious lobby of J. C. Penney Hall at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center in Chevy Chase, Maryland is the mural — Head-Heart-Hands-Health. Painted by the eminent muralist, Dean Fausett, in the American genre, the mural captures the evolution of 4-H and the J. C. Penney Company during the 20th Century.

A new segment in the National 4-H History Section of the 4-H History website features this impressive 16 ft. mural which was created in the 1970s when J. C. Penney Hall on the 4-H campus was dedicated. For more information visit the section at:

http://4-HHistoryPreservation.Com/History/JCPenney_Mural/

4-H Electrification Projects: Then and Now

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Many of us take electricity for granted at home, at work, and at local stores and businesses. But that wasn’t the case seventy-five years ago, especially in rural areas. An article in the 1939 National 4-H News invited 4-H members to participate in the 4-H Rural Electrification Project. Members and clubs were “encouraged to study wiring plans, safety practices, and operation of electrical equipment.” Members were encouraged to complete activities to help them learn to make basic electrical repairs and additions at home and on the farm. Project records were submitted to compete for county medals, trips to National 4-H Congress, and $200 scholarships.

Early electrical club work even inspired a novel to be written. “Dynamo Farm” by Adam Allen, and published by J. B. Lippincott Company, NY in 1942 tells the story of a boy from the city who moves to a farm and learns to love being there because he gets involved in an electrification project in 4-H and saves the family poultry business.

Electricity is still an important 4-H project. Members learn the principles of electricity, circuits, magnetism and safety. These days, energy conservation is also emphasized.

You and your club members can learn about electricity like the 4-H members did in the 4-H Rural Electrification Project many years ago. A club member or guest speaker can do a demonstration or lead a club activity to learn about electricity. Club members can do a home energy audit and share their results at a future club meeting. Or you could try to find a copy of the novel mentioned above and share a report about it or act out some of the scenes for the club.

Multi-County 4-H History Clubs Working Together in Maryland

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On Monday, February 10, 2014, adult leaders from Prince Georges and Montgomery counties of Maryland met to share their 4-H History club plans for 2014. They had a very productive meeting and completed action planning sheets for the year. Five leaders are representing the two counties.

The leaders are currently putting together a statement to share with the youth clubs and agreed to make the announcement to the counties’ 4-H volunteer and club leaders who will attend the upcoming Leaders’ meeting scheduled for late February. It was decided to encourage a “Voices of 4-H History” project, and to challenge each club to have their 4-H’ers design, script and produce 15-30 minute videos of their work for the project. A follow-up planning committee meeting is scheduled in early March. The submitted films and film concepts, will be reviewed by the adult/youth planning committee, who will then decide how to proceed from there. The team plans to submit some films to national FilmFest 4-H in June. Several adult leaders know and are recruiting individuals that have expressed interest in working with the young film producers and are willing to critique, edit and help with production.