South Dakota 4H History

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South Dakota 4-H History

• Celebrating 100 Years of
• Helping South Dakotans Grow
• South Dakota State University
• Cooperative Extension Service
• Winter 2002

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Early Beginnings

• 4-H Began with boys and girls clubs
• The first organized clubs were in Ohio
• or Iowa
• The earliest South Dakota record is in Minnehaha
  County in 1906 or 1907

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Creating the Clover Emblem

• In 1907- 08, O.H. Benson designed a 3-leaf
  clover (Head, Heart, and Hands)
• In 1911, the 4th leaf was added to stand for
  hustle (later changed to Health)

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Green and White Club Colors

• White symbolizes purity
• Green is natures most common color
• It is emblematic of
• Youth
• Life
• Growth

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Growth of the Program

• The program originally grew through the schools
• In 1914, 4-H became part of the Cooperative
  Extension Service
• Volunteers have always been essential to the
  programs success

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Origins of the State Fair Club Events

• 1917 State Fair Boys Camp
• Beginning of State Fair club events
• Girls club dormitory completed in 1919
• By 1928, 377 members at state fair

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4-H Pledge Composed

• The 4-H Pledge was composed by Otis Hall, a
  native of Indiana
• The pledge was adopted in June 1927 and my
  world was added in 1973

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4-H Mottos and Slogans

• To Make the Best Better was the 4-H motto
• This was not only a club goal, but also an
  individual goal
• Club slogans found through the years were
• Be your own best exhibit
• Learn by doing
• Win without boasting lose without frowning
• Plan your work work your plan

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4-H Grows in the 20s

• Volunteer leader meetings
• Rally Days
• 11,000 members carried over 12,000 projects
• 2,089 State Fair exhibits
• Junior Leaders started
• 32 county and 15 home agents

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Strengthening Leadership Highlight of the 30s

• Leader trainings were held in 39 counties
• September 17, 1931
• 1,239 4-H clubs in 67 counties
• 1,299 leaders attended training
• Handicraft project introduced

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4-H Instrumental in 1940s War Effort

• 4-H members participated in Food For Freedom
• -Planted Victory Gardens
• -Preserved food by canning, drying, and storing
• -Used substitutes
• -Gave demonstrations
• Camping program grows
• IFYE in 1947

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50s Period of Growth and Challenge

• 4-H membership rebound
• More adults became leaders
• State Club Week
• Junior Leader Camps established

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The 1960s Changes and Challenges

• 4-H membership tops 20,000
• The South Dakota 4-H Foundation established
  and incorporated in 1963

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4-H Continues to Reach Out in the 70s

• The traditional program continues to flourish
• Activities were expanded to all youth (EFNEP, TV,
  Urban projects)
• Emphasis on individual and personal growth
• Livestock Industry Trust Fund

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80s Were Period of Adjustment for 4-H

• There were cuts in Federal support
• First 4-H Agent Hired
• New programs were added
• Restated vision, mission and goals

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1990s Focused on Safety and Security

• Societal changes required policy changes
• -ABE forms
• -Safety/Security
• Curriculum revamped
• Character Counts!
• Youth Development/4-H Educators

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4-H Has Helped South Dakotans Grow!

• 4-H has touched the lives of millions in your
  own community
• Farmers, doctors, teachers, secretaries, others
• Famous folks were 4-H members too
• -Jim Davis (creator of Garfield)
• -Orville Redenbacher
• -Jane Pauley
• -Jackson Five

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South Dakota 4-H in the New Millennium

• Provides a strong youth development program
• We utilize a variety of settings
• Caring, capable, contributing adults

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The End!

• Questions????

Optimizing Your Potential as a 4-H Volunteer

Winter, 2001 South Dakota State University
Cooperative Extension L.J. Osborne, Ph.D.,
Extension Specialist Adapted from Purdue
University
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For Additional Information Please View These Items

• http//4h.sdstate.edu/2005ncrvf/Insight/SouthDakot
  a4HHistory.pdf
• http//4h.sdstate.edu/2005ncrvf/Insight/HowToUse.p
  df
• http//4h.sdstate.edu/2005ncrvf/Insight/Evaluation
  .pdf

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References

• John F. Younger. July 1, 1977. History of the
  4-H Program in South Dakota
• V. Joseph McAuliffe. 1984. South Dakota 4-H
  July 1, 1977-October 1, 1984
• Howard, R.K. 1986 Trends in South Dakota 4-H from
  1977-1985
• 4-H Centennial History. On-line at
  http//www.4hcentennial.org/history/main.asp
• Indiana 4-H/Youth Program Policies and
  Procedures. 2000. Purdue Cooperative Extension
  Service. West Lafayette, IN, 47907.