Highlights new york state association of cooperative extension 4-h agents complied January 1, 1966 Revised: January 1975, October 1980, 1985, 1990, 2001, 2006, 2010 and 2015-16 table of contents
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- NEW YORK STATE 4-H AGENTS ASSOCIATION
- HISTORY OF 4-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT EARLY BEGINNINGS
- GOVERNMENTAL RECOGNITION
- THE WW I PERIOD 1916 - 1918
- 4-H CLUB WORK IN NEW YORK STATE
- DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTY 4-H CLUB AGENT SYSTEM
- THE WW II PERIOD 1941 - 1945
- THE NEW YORK CITY 4-H PROGRAM
- THE DECADE OF THE EIGHTIES
| HIGHLIGHTS
NEW YORK STATE ASSOCIATION OF COOPERATIVE EXTENSION 4-H AGENTS Complied January 1, 1966
Early Beginnings Governmental Recognition The War Period 1916-1918 The Readjustment Period 4-H Club Work in New York State Development of the County 4-H Club Agent System The War Period 1941-1945 The Years Since 1945 The 1956 -1965 Decade 4-H in the 70's The New York City 4-H Program The Decade of the Eighties The Decade of the Nineties The Decade 2000 - 2010 4-H Agents in the New York State 4-H Foundation 4-H Camping NEW YORK STATE 4-H AGENTS ASSOCIATION Origin Highlights of Activities Scholarship and Loan Fund – Past & Present State Fair 4-H Cafeteria 4-H Song Book Furnishing the Al Hoefer Lounge - National 4-H Center NYSACE4HA 65th Anniversary NYSACCE4-HE 75th Anniversary 50th Anniversary of 4-H Capital Days 75th Anniversary of 4-H Capital Days 4-H Agents Dictionary 4-H Club Approach Conferences New York State Room - National 4-H Center New York Hosts National Conference NAE4-HA National 4-H Hall of Fame 4-H Educators Who Have Served NAE4-HA NYSACCE4-HE Officers Awards Special Award of Merit Special Service Award Achievement in Service Award Distinguished Service Award Meritorious Service Award 25 Years of Service October 2001 NYS Association of Cornell Cooperative Extension 4-H Educators I have completed the contract with NYSACCE4-HE. All materials (boxes, paper, folders) purchased are archival quality.
Some of the older documents printed on thin paper and fading were copied and included in the folders. Other documents arranged were "Highlights", "News and Views", "5-H News", special project, New York State Room at the National 4-H Center and materials on the History of the group. Box #1 is stored at the Cornell Archives, Box #2, starting with 1985 is being used at present (has room for a few more years) and Box #3 is not archival, but contains document copies, bulletins, disks and a binder. Each box contains a list of materials enclosed and the end of each box has a permanent label. The historian has a list. There are a few archival folders (in box # 2) and two unused blue archival boxes for future use. The history of NYSACCE4-HE has been compiled for the present "Highlights". The publication includes "History of 4-H Camps in New York State". This project was to be for three years, starting in 1998, but because of surgery I was unable to complete the work in 2000. I appreciate your patience. Being a "life 4-H'er" I have enjoyed this project and hope it is satisfactory. If you have any questions, please contact me. Clara Stewart From Delaware County HISTORY OF 4-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT EARLY BEGINNINGS In the early history of this country it was generally accepted that the purpose of education for rural youth was to fit them for occupations other than farming. As farming became more of a business enterprise and the problems of agriculture became more complex, a need for some special training in the field of agriculture and country life was evident. First came the state agricultural colleges. Helpful as these colleges were and are, it was soon apparent that only a comparatively few farm young people could attend and most of those who did attend became teachers and investigators. The demand for some type of training for those who remained at home was especially pronounced during the period from 1890 to 1900. One of the first organized attempts to meet this demand for service to rural youth was made by the New York State College of Agriculture at Cornell University. About 1896, a movement was started to encourage a greater interest in farming and rural life through the study of nature. Under the leadership of Dr. Liberty Hyde Bailey, John W. Spencer, familiarly know as "Uncle John", and others, junior naturalist clubs were organized in the rural schools. A membership button was given to each member and a charter to the club. The dues were a letter written each week by each member. Upon the retirement of Mr. Spencer the club idea was gradually dropped and attention given to the rural school leaflet. In the Midwest, efforts to meet this demand for training young people for rural life took a different trend. W. B. Otwell, President of the Country Institute of Macoupin County, Illinois, distributed selected seed corn to 500 boys who agreed to grow it and to exhibit it at the Institute the following year. O. H. Benson of Iowa, A. B. Graham of Ohio, B. J. Kern of Illinois, all schoolmen, together with others, developed the idea further and gave instruction in agriculture to school clubs. They sensed that it was useless to give instruction in agriculture en masse and limited their activities to those who were interested in the club. Dr. Seaman A. Knapp, who was in charge of Farmers' Cooperative demonstration work in the southern states, quickly saw the importance of the work of Otwell and others as a means of attracting and training young people in agriculture and country life. He also saw it as an opportunity to demonstrate to the community the value of good farming practices. Under his direction Boys' and Girls' Agricultural Clubs received widespread publicity. In the south, too, the first homemaking clubs, girls' canning clubs were organized in Aiken County, South Carolina in 1910. GOVERNMENTAL RECOGNITION In 1914, the Federal Congress passed the Cooperative Demonstration Act, popularly known as the Smith-Lever Act, which made available Federal funds to the different states for the purpose of extending the services of the State Colleges of Agriculture to the people who could not leave home to attend college. This act greatly strengthened the extension work of the State Colleges of Agriculture and Home Economics, created the foundation the County Extension Agent system and the appointment of state leaders of Boys' and Girls' clubs work. Up to this time, this movement for rural youth had no nationally recognized name or plan or organization. Each state or community may have had a plan of its own, or more commonly, no plan. Clubs sprung up here and there under the guidance of some interested person. With the passage of the Smith-Lever Act, O. H. Benson, who because of his work in Iowa had been appointed as an associate of Dr. Knapp, was called to Washington and placed in charge of Boys' and Girls' Work for the Northern and Eastern states. It was Mr. Benson who furnished the inspiration for the name "4-H." The motto and much of the plan of organization then followed. In 1915, there were 317,601 enrolled in Boys' and Girls' 4-H clubs in 47 different states. THE WW I PERIOD 1916 - 1918 During World War I, the energy of the Extension Service was turned from improvement of farming and homemaking to food production. The slogan was, "Food will win the war." The four-fold program of the 4-H clubs was temporarily abandoned and the energy of the members devoted to raising food. Additional local, state and Federal funds were provided and a large staff of temporary agents was employed. The result was a rapid increase in the number of 4-H clubs and club members. During the height of the war 1,002 County Club Agents were employed full or part time and more than 1,000,000 4-H club members were enrolled. THE READJUSTMENT PERIOD The period immediately following the close of the war was a difficult time for 4-H clubs. Many local, state and to some extent Federal funds were withdrawn, making it necessary to reduce the number of Extension Agents who had been developing club work. Quite as serious for the individual club member was the rapid decline in prices of agricultural products that spelled for him financial loss and frequently left him in debt for seed, fertilizer, and livestock purchased at war prices. Membership dropped from more than 1,000,000 in 1918 to 636,000 in 1919. This was a real blow to many of the enthusiastic supporters of club work was the beginning of a sounder and broader program. Gradually public support increased; methods of organization were perfected; recreation, health education and community service were added; and the whole program was studied with regard to sound, long-term goals and objectives and the means of attaining them. From a membership of 636,000 in 1919, there has been a steady increase; over 2,000,000 members were enrolled in 1953. 4-H CLUB WORK IN NEW YORK STATE Reference has already been made to the early work with rural youth under the inspiration and guidance of Dr. Liberty Hyde Bailey, John W. Spencer, and others at Cornell University. It was only natural when 4-H club work was introduced that its guidance was placed in the hands of those who had been associated with these early efforts. Miss Martha Van Rensselaer, who had worked with both Dr. Bailey and Mr. Spencer, was the first state club leader. Later the responsibility for developing club work, then known as Junior Home Project work, was placed with the Department of Rural Education, and Professor F. L Griffen was named State Leader of Junior Extension, February 1916. For several years 4-H Club Work was conducted as the Junior Naturalist Clubs had been, through the rural schools and in cooperation with the special state schools of Agriculture. C. O. DuBois, a teacher in the State School of Agriculture at Alfred University, was one of the first club agents appointed. He organized clubs in Allegany and Steuben counties during the war period. Others were appointed at most of the other state schools and in cooperation with the County Defense committees in Nassau, Rockland, and Montgomery along with other counties. Most of these were discontinued at or soon after the signing of the Armistice. Several city and village school systems appointed school garden supervisors during the war under a special "Director of Agriculture Act" of the Legislature, and received state aid for their employment. Many of the school gardeners were enrolled in the 4-H clubs. Most of these school gardens were discontinued after the war. In Troy, the school garden work developed into one of the first county club agent organizations financed cooperatively by Federal, State and County funds. Albert Hoefer was the county club agent. Mention should be made here of the work of Rufus Stanley of Elmira. Believing that young people needed and desired a greater opportunity for self-development than they were receiving, in 1900 he organized a small group of boys in and about the city of Elmira to provide this opportunity. A club known as the Omega Club was formed as an outgrowth of a loosely organized group known as the Ramblers Club. During the winter months the club met evenings. They worked in groups of 14 according to their “Year in the Club”, in a woodworking shop where all sorts of articles were made. Workmanship and care of tools were stressed. In the summer each member planted and cared for a small garden on a farm to the west of the City of Elmira. A camping program was set up and pilgrimages were made annually to the College of Agriculture, the Geneva Experiment Station, and to the State and National Capitals to gain first-hand information and a broader viewpoint. Gradually Mr. Stanley expanded the work into the Chemung County Achievement Club, working in the Elmira City Schools, where a gardening and homemaking program was developed. Finally, the 4-H idea was adopted and Mr. Stanley was appointed Chemung County Club Agent in 1919. DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTY 4-H CLUB AGENT SYSTEM Professor Griffin resigned as State Club 4-H Leader in November 1918. Professor W. J. Wright, Director of the State School of Agriculture at Alfred University, who had been responsible for the direction of the 4-H clubs in Allegany and Steuben counties during the war period, succeeded him. Shortly thereafter a plan of organization was perfected whereby Federal funds, through the State College of Agriculture, and state funds, through the State Department of Education, were made available to counties employing county club agents. The county administrative unit was the County Board for Junior Extension composed of representatives of Farm Bureau and Home Bureau, district superintendents of schools, and other interested organizations. During 1920 eight counties, namely Chenango, Chemung, Erie, Livingston, Oneida, Otsego, Rensselaer and Westchester, were fully organized and employed full-time county 4-H club agents. In 1930, the State Department of Education withdrew its financial support for 4-H club work. The State Club Leaders' Office was removed from the Department of Rural Education and was made an Administrative Division of the Extension Service. In 1930, the constitutions of the County Farm and Home Bureau associations were revised, to include: A Farm Department, A Home Department, and a 4-H Department, all on a coordinate basis. After 24 years as State 4-H Club Leader, Professor W. J. Wright retired on December 31, 1942. Professor Albert Hoefer who had served as Assistant 4-H Club Leader for eleven years succeeded him on February 1, 1943. Professor Hoefer retired on December 31, 1955. On January 1, 1956; Professor Wilbur F. Pease who had served as Assistant State 4-H Club Leader for five years succeeded him. THE WW II PERIOD 1941 - 1945 During World War II food production was again uppermost. The 4-H Club Staff, both state and county, organized and conducted the Victory Garden program that included nearly 1,500,000 gardens. The State 4-H Club Leader served as Executive Secretary of the NYS Victory Garden Council and county 4-H club agents served as County Victory Garden coordinators and secretaries of county Victory Garden Councils. Both adults and youth were victory gardeners. 4-H club members were active in all war programs. For outstanding work they named a Liberty ship "Carl E. Ladd" and were cited by the U. S. Treasury Department for distinguished service in the war finance program. Beginning January 1, 1949, fifty-four counties were served by County 4-H Club Agents. THE YEARS SINCE 1945 Readjustment was again necessary, but was accomplished more rapidly than following World War I. The state enrollment of 35,883 members in 1942 increased to 71,934 by 1944. In 1947, it decreased to 46,787 but since then has increased each year, exceeding the 1942 enrollment by more than 20,000 members. Program adjustments have characterized the post-war years. In 1948, the first state 4-H Club Conservation Training Camp was held at Arnot Forest, a 4,000-acre tract of land owned by Cornell University. This work camp for older boys provided intensive training in forestry, wildlife management, and soil and water conservation. The training camp gave impetus to the development of additional projects in each of these areas of conservation. Other additions to programs offered 4-H clubs members included tractor, lawn and garden power equipment, bicycle safety and care, ornamental horticulture, entomology and home management projects. As horizons of service to youth continued to broaden, pilot work was started in 1956 in light horse, career exploration, and automotive safety and care. In six counties, programs were also started in farm and home management, designed to give guidance to older farm and rural youth in making vocational choices and to help those interested in farming and farm homemaking to make wise decisions concerning the farm business. The decreasing numbers of farms, the decreasing farm population, and the rapid growth of rural non-farm and suburban areas in New York State have had an effect on the composition of 4-H club member enrollment. While the number of farm youth reached remained almost constant, the rural non-farm and suburban youth enrollment continues to increase. To better serve the needs of such youth and to make sure we held to basic principles of Extension work, in 1956 the County 4-H Club Agents and State 4-H Club Leaders initiated program development procedures that resulted in closer working relationships in this area of over-all program. What of the future? A significant number of counties were engaged in program planning procedures which projected several years into the future probable needs, situations, objectives and solutions. Increasing numbers of club agents were making plans for graduate study. All club agents were keenly interested in a carefully planned, long-term, in-service training program. These guarantee that 4-H club work will continue to be dynamic, that we will continue to "build bridges" forever improved work with youth. THE 1956 - 1965 DECADE The decreasing numbers of farms and of farm population and the rapid growth in population of rural non-farm and suburban areas have had an effect on the composition of 4-H enrollment. The percentage of potential farm youth reached by the 4-H program is higher than at any other period, but the numbers of farm youth reached have gradually declined. The numbers of rural non-farm and suburban youth reached have increased greatly. In 1964, the total 4-H enrollment in the state was 81,246. To meet the needs of a changing audience, new programs were designed. These include chick incubation and embryology, light horse, electrical, fire control, automobile safety and control, dog care and training, child care, tips for waitresses, stretch fabrics, and money management. Equally important is the program enrichment during this decade resulting from improvements in using the 4-H project as a basic educational method. Learning experiences that emphasized the scientific methods, incorporated employment opportunities and highlighted management principles and practices related to the projects were among the major improvements effected. A third major change during this decade is that of employing methods that reached youth with program offerings far beyond those enrolled in local 4-H clubs. By 1964, over 30,000 youth in addition to the 81, 000 enrolled members experienced a variety of short-term but intensive programs. The incubation and embryology program for example, was offered through schools as well as 4-H clubs. Conservation Field Days for school children and short-term agricultural and home economics programs in schools were other special interest programs. One county conducted job-training programs for other girls in cooperation with the Youth Employment Service. Until the early 1960's, the great increase in non-rural youth in the 4-H program was mainly suburban youth. Then in response to requests from cities the 4-H program was started for their youth. In Buffalo, Glens Falls, Niagara Falls, Rochester, Syracuse, and Utica programs were targeting primarily disadvantaged youth. These initial efforts preceded the Economic Opportunity Act. More rapid increases in the numbers of youth reached, experimentation and testing of program ideas and methods, and program enrichment characterized the 1956-1965 decade. These will continue in the years ahead as the 4-H phase of the Cooperative Extension Service makes its contributions to the needs of youth in a changing society. 4-H IN THE 70’s 4-H membership had grown in New York State to record highs of some 485,175 youth in 1974. Another 251,866 youth are reached through the use of TV and through other agencies. More than 42,000 volunteer leaders carried the 4-H program to all 56 counties. Membership was changing rapidly from a rural membership to an urban, suburban type membership. Projects in automotive, electricity, woodworking, gardening, boy's clothing, fire control, careers, leadership, etc., were growing in popularity for youth in the suburban areas. New projects have been developed in such areas as rocketry, snowmobile safety, bicycle safety, creative arts and pet care. 4-H club programs have grown and changed to meet the educational needs of boys and girls in all areas. As years pass, boys and girls from all areas of the county, state and nation, of all colors, creeds, and races, will continue to have new, challenging, educational 4-H programs. 4-H serves audiences beyond the popular and important 4-H clubs. The vast scope of 4-H encompasses thousands of volunteer 4-H leaders, special 4-H interest groups and other youth and youth leaders who can benefit from the genius of 4-H programs everywhere. In 1978, Hamilton County became the 57th county with a Cooperative Extension Association. Now all counties have 4-H programs including the five boroughs in New York City. THE NEW YORK CITY 4-H PROGRAM 4-H work in New York City was an outgrowth of the "Cornell OEO Project" conducted in the Wyckoff-Gowanus area of Brooklyn 1968-71. The project was originally designed to work with low-income homemakers on problems of home management and consumer education. As the program progressed, participating families requested additional programs from Cornell. One of those requested was youth work. Accordingly, Edward H. Smith, Director of Cooperative Extension at that time, asked James Spero, a 4-H Extension Leader at Cornell, to work under the direction of Lucinda A. Noble, Associate Director of Extension, to look into the possibility of conducting 4-H work in this community. Based on the success of the 1969 summer program, funds were again allocated by Dean Knapp for four students to conduct a program during the summer of 1970. During the intervening year, a vacancy had occurred in the New York City Consumer Education program and funds from that position plus other funds allocated by Director Smith were used to employ the first full-time 4-H professional in New York City, J. Donald Astwood, who started work on September 1, 1970. The method selected to conduct 4-H work in New York City was based on the experience of the two summer programs and on the continuing discussions that had taken place with community residents and leaders, program staff, participants, parents and agency representatives. The decision was made that it would be of limited value for a one-person staff to attempt to organize community 4-H clubs. Therefore, it was decided that programs would be conducted with existing youth agencies. This is still the basic method in use today. 4-H staff provided training and program materials for agency staff members and volunteers who work with youth. The types of agencies involved include schools, community centers, neighborhood houses, religious organizations, scouts, PAL, Ys, etc. Emphasis is currently placed on working with schools from September to June with other youth agencies during the summer. In 1980, the New York City 4-H staff consists of five full-time professionals, including the Sea Grant position, to work with almost one-half of New York State's population. The programs used with schools and youth agencies include: incubation and embryology, bicycle safety, and an environmental education program entitled, "Operation Explore" conducted in cooperation with the New York City Board of Education, State Parks and Recreation Commission and Gateway National Recreation Area. Home Economics concentrates on nutrition education with some work in textiles and clothing and childcare. Marine programs consist of fishing, seafood nutrition, marine awareness and career exploration. Over 3,000 youth participate in these programs each year. 1980, the 4-H program in New York City was reviewed to explore future goals, directions, methodology, development of local support, staffing and financial needs. The staff members provided leadership for this review. They were: Philip Pepe Jr., Program Leader; Jacqueline Davis-Manigaulte, Home Economics programs; Joseph Saccente, science programs; Linda O'Dierno, marine science (Sea Grant) programs and Lillian Poindexter. References: Spero, J. S. Summer Youth Program. “Cornell-New York City OEO Project: Final Report”, 1969 Spero, J. S. “New York City 4-H Summer Program: Final Report” 1970 Spero, J. S. The Methodology of 4-H in New York City. 10/74 THE DECADE OF THE EIGHTIESThe period of the eighties brought about realignment of the extension system and the 4-H Youth Development program on the Cornell Campus. George Broadwell, Assistant Director for 4-H Youth Development Programs, was appointed to Assistant Director in Staff Development and Recruitment and Mary Lou Brewer became Assistant Director for 4-H Youth Development. During the same period, significant decreases in the numbers of professional staff in all Cornell program administrative offices occurred, reducing the 4-H "state staff" by one-half. At the same time, many long-term 4-H extension faculty who contributed significantly to the 4-H program over many years retired. To re-staff these positions within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, there was a commitment to establish five professorial leadership positions located in departments, with the responsibility to provide interdisciplinary leadership for 4-H youth development. These positions were supported by a number of extension associations. 4-H youth development enrollment continued to increase, but during this decade a change in the pattern was noted. There was a major increase in the work being done through school systems and with other agencies and organizations in the state. Family structures were also changing in this time period resulting in decreases in club enrollment and the amount of time volunteers were able to contribute to 4-H clubs. In the eighties there was a new emphasis on youth work. Youth concerns were on everyone's agenda. Central to these concerns were the areas of substance abuse, teen pregnancy and the lack of people prepared for the work force. During this time the extension system moved to an issue focused program format. 4-H, as the youth development program of the extension system, was increasingly requested to assume new roles. Toward the end of the decade, an increased emphasis on science education and youth-at-risk programming was occurring. The University as a whole was examining the role 4-H could play in their agenda. New alliances were formed with other agencies and organizations. An agreement with the New York State Education Department resulted in high school credit for 4-H program work. A multi-agency arrangement provided for curriculum development for Agriculture in the Classroom. New York State funded a major in-school effort in nutrition education spearheaded by the State's First Lady. Collaboration, cooperation and team work are recognized as the methods to utilize resources more efficiently and effectively. A significant increase in grants, contract and other types of funding occurred during the eighties. Statewide, several such grants resulted in new programs in environmental education, bicycle safety, nutrition education, substance abuse education, and AIDS education to name but a few. County Cooperative Extension associations, at the same time were expected to provide educational programs that were on the agendas of county governments. All of this resulted in exciting programs while increasing the demands on staff. Staff took on many of these program efforts requiring a great deal of professionalism and expertise and at the same time continued most of the classic efforts for which 4-H Youth Development has been long recognized. All extension educators involved in the 4-H Youth Development Program continued to design ways to utilize all available resources to meet the dynamic needs of youth in society. Plans are continually adjusted to make the most effective educational contributions on behalf of youth. Directory: system -> files files -> Haiti Relief – esf 15 Support Organization Situation Report # 17 1/28/10 files -> Haiti Relief – esf 15 Support Organization Situation Report # 16 1/27/10 files -> Right to Carbon or Right to Life: Human Rights Approaches to Climate Change files -> Enhancing interactive learning in the classroom with Turning Point files -> Curriculum vita files -> - files -> Acknowledgements files -> Nw, Washington D. 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