4-H Centennial activities

By Greg Owen
OSU Extension Educator

July 04, 2009 02:43 pm

— This year marks the 100 year centennial for Oklahoma 4-H. Throughout this year there will be a number of activities conducted to recognize the centennial for our program.
The Centennial Families Award is a new program being offered. This award was created to recognize families during our centennial year who have three or more generations of Oklahoma 4-H in their family histories. To be eligible the applicants must meet the following requirements-have three or more generations of 4-H in family history (i.e. grandparents, parents, and children all were involved in 4-H).
At least one person in immediate family currently involved in Oklahoma 4-H as a 4-H extension educator, volunteer, member, foundation board member, or active alumni. Applications will be judged by a panel of centennial committee members and will be based on the following criteria-involvement in 4-H over multiple generations, evidence of 4-H impact on the lives of individual or multiple family members, growth and continued participation in 4-H by siblings and/or multiple generations, anticipated impact and involvement of 4-H or future generations. Winners will be notified by August 31 and will be recognized at the Green Tie Gala on November 6th in Oklahoma City. Applications are due by August 1st and may be mailed to the state 4-H office, Attn.: Jessica Stewart, 205 4-H Youth Development Building, Stillwater, OK 74078. Applications may also be e-mailed to Jessica.stewart@okstate.edu or faxed to 405-744-6522.
Following the theme of 4-H Centennial activities we also will have a category for exhibits in our county fair. All exhibits in the 4-H Centennial division are intended for members to learn about and document our 4-H heritage through the process of identification, preservation and restoration. 4-H curriculum has been developed to introduce and educate 4-H members and volunteers to appropriate preservation and conservation techniques. The criteria/standards used to evaluate the 4-H member’s exhibit will reflect the child’s mastery of conservation and/or preservation techniques and their ability to document memorabilia/history.
Curriculum currently available is 4H•HLTH•402 collectibles; 4H•HLTH•404 preserving books, paper documents and photographs; 4H•HLTH•406 preserving memorabilia; 4H•HLTH•407 history mysteries part one; 4H•PDL•111 heritage posters and displays; 4H•HLTH•410 history mysteries part two and 4H•HLTH•411 authentication card.
Materials under development include preserving vintage clothing and textile products; preserving metal, wood and plastic collectibles; documenting and cataloguing collectibles; and displaying collections and collectibles. All curriculums can be downloaded on the Oklahoma 4-H Web page under 4-H Centennial.
For more information about these and other 4-H Centennial activities please give us a call at the office at 423-4120 or e-mail me at greg.owen@okstate.edu.