WELCOME TO MAGNOLIA 4-H
4-H is a community of young people across America who are learning   leadership, citizenship, and life skills. They are putting those skills into action through their clubs and community projects, and truly giving back to  the world.
The 4-H program also is not solely about animals. The purpose of 4-H is to  provide an extra-scholastic environment in which young people can learn with  adult volunteers. The California 4-H program is based at the University  of California, Davis. Potential projects include Steer and Dairy Heifer,  Rabbit, Horse, Guinea Pigs (Cavies), Swine, Poultry, Veterinary Science, Leadership,  Needle Arts, Ornamental Horticulture, Gardens, Market Goats, Sheep, Guide Dogs, Dog Care, Cat Care, Scrapbooking, Table Setting, Creative Writing...      the projects are limited only by the imagination of the members and the leaders.
4-H is a non-formal educational program and an organization      for youth, 5-19 years old. It is open to everyone regardless of race, religion,      color, gender, national origin, handicap or place of residence. In California,      the 4-H program is administered through the University of California Cooperative      Extension.
     Young people in 4-H have an opportunity to:
                 develop as an individual
                  participate in projects such as cooking, raising animals, crafts, environment,  computers, and leadership
                  learn lifelong skills through work in projects and other activities     
                  make new friends through 4-H meetings, events, and activities
                 go to camps, fairs, and conferences locally, in the state, and nationally     
                 work cooperatively with adult volunteer leaders
                 develop pride as they learn by doing
                develop leadership skills, including the ability to speak before a group
                 to have fun while learning and growing
The 4-H program also needs caring adults to volunteer as 4-H leaders. Being a 4-H leader is a great way to serve the youth in your community while having  a great time.   Another aspect of 4-H is that, like in the Scouting programs, the members may earn medals, stars, or badges. These items are worn on the 4-H hat. Other   programs include the national, state, and sectional conferences, which are  generally teen leadership and citizenship opportunities.
HISTORY OF 4-H
How It All Began
     An American innovation, the 4-H youth development program of the Cooperative Extension originated at the turn of the century because of a vital need to  improve life in rural areas. Introducing improved methods of farming and homemaking,  4-H taught youth to ";learn by doing." The yearly program in one   of those early clubs consisted of growing corn, planting a garden, testing      soil, club meetings, and visits to club members' plots and exhibits.
      There was a close affiliation between the school and the home in this early  4-H program--adults in the family were often persuaded to adopt new practices  because of the successes experienced by the 4-H youth.
The first record of any known 4-H type activity was in 1898.      Liberty Hyde Bailey of Cornell University inaugurated a system of junior naturalist leaflets in rural schools and assisted in the organization of nature study  clubs.
The year 1907 marked the beginning of 4-H work under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
In 1914 the Smith-Lever Act established Cooperative Extension an organizational entity of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the land-grant  college system. The Cooperative Extension Service was to conduct educational  programs of an "informal, non-resident, problem-oriented nature."  Cooperative Extension provided the professional staff and support needed to      direct the growth of the early 4-H program.
The Early Years
     In 1915 there were 4-H clubs in 47 states. During World War I, the energies  of 4-H members were devoted to raising food. Projects were raising corn and  canning tomatoes. Following a period of readjustment after World War I, 4-H      club work showed a continual growth. Some states developed 4-H programs in  close relationship to local school districts. Others established clubs as  community programs separate from schools.
The term 4-H was first used in a federal publication written in 1918 by Gertrude Warren, one of the pioneers of 4-H. In the early 1920's  a group at a conference in Washington, D.C., discussed the need to give boys and girls' club work a distinctive name that could be used nationally. Several people, including Miss Warren, favored 4-H as the name for the organization.    In 1924, Boys' and Girls' Club work became known as 4-H. The pledge was adopted  in 1927.
As the 4-H program continued to grow through the 1920's and      1930's more emphasis was placed on the development of the individual rather      than the product produced. The focus of the program was the development of      skills in farming and homemaking.
A major change occurred during World War II when much effort      was directed toward victory gardens, civilian defense, salvage programs, and      bond campaigns as well as food preservation. The victory garden program also      brought 4-H to urban people.
Expansion to New Audiences and New Places
     The 1950's and 1960's saw increasing numbers of non-farm youth enrolling in      the program. In 1948, 4-H went international with the establishment of the      International Four-H Youth Exchange (IFYE, first called the International      Farm Youth Exchange.)
Today Cooperative Extension and its 4-H programs serve people      in towns, cities, and rural areas with information on agriculture, family      living, community development, and related subjects.
4-H: An American Idea 1900-1980 is a documented history of 4-H      written by Thomas Wessel and Marilyn Wessel. Copies may be ordered through      the National 4-H Council, 7100 Connecticut Avenue, Chevy Chase, MDú20815-4999.
4-H Around the World
     The growth of 4-H around the world has been impressive. 4-H type clubs now      exist in at least 80 countries; they have a total membership of over four      million young people. It is virtually impossible to travel to any corner of      the globe and not encounter the familiar clover symbol.
Famous 4-H Alumni
     Nearly 50 million Americans from all walks of life have been 4-H members.      A few of the more famous 4-H alumni are Roy Rogers, John Denver, Dolly Parton,      Alan Shepard, Don Meredith, Tom Wopat, Charley Pride, Orville Redenbacher      and Reba McIntyre.
The 4-H Pledge:
As a True 4-H member:
I pledge
my head to clearer thinking,
my  heart to greater loyalty,
my hands to larger service,
and my health to better living
    for my club, my community, my country, and my world.
The Official 4-H Emblem
THE 4-H CLUB EMBLEM IS A GREEN      4 LEAF CLOVER WITH THE LETTER H ON EACH LEAF. THE 4 H"S STAND FOR HEAD,      HEART, HANDS AND HEALTH. THE H'S ARE WHITE FOR PURITY. GREEN IS FOR NATURE'S      MOST COMMON COLOR AND IS SYMBOLIC OF YOUTH LIFE AND GROWTH.
Links:
California State 4-H YDP Website     
UC ANR
National 4-H Headquarters      (USDA)
Imperial County Cooperative Extension      Office (4-H Office)
4-H Supplies
California Midwinter Fair
2005 Fair Dates
     March 4-13, 2005
     "Mooing in the Right Direction"
CONTACT US:   [email protected]
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA NON-DISCRIMINATION
The University of California prohibits discrimination or harassment of any  person on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender  identity, pregnancy (including childbirth, and medical conditions related      to pregnancy or childbirth), physical or mental disability, medical condition    (cancer-related or genetic characteristics), ancestry, marital status, age,  sexual orientation, citizenship, or status as a covered veteran (covered veterans are special disabled veterans, recently separated veterans, Vietnam era veterans,  or any other veterans who served on active duty during a war or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized) in any of its  programs or activities.
University policy is intended to be consistent with the provisions of applicable State and Federal laws.
Inquiries regarding the University’s nondiscrimination policies may  be directed to the Affirmative Action/Staff Personnel Services Director, University  of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources, 300 Lakeside Drive, 6th  Floor, Oakland, CA 94612-3550, (510) 987-0096.
More information may be found at http://danr.ucop.edu/aa/Dull_Contents.htm
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