UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Penn State is poised to celebrate the 2002 centennial of 4-H, one of America's premier youth organizations with 123,220 members in Pennsylvania and nearly 7 million across the nation.

The name "4-H" conjures images of county fairs, cattle raising and the well-known clover logo. What often does not come to mind is the real heart of what 4-H is all about today: the betterment of community and country, the importance of active citizenship and young people working in partnership with adults to bring positive change to the world.

Pennsylvania 4-H is a youth-development education program of Penn State Cooperative Extension, designed to help young people become self-directed, productive and contributing members of a diverse society. In support of this mission, 4-H programs use research-based knowledge and the land-grant university system to provide formal and nonformal community-focused experiential learning that develops skills that benefit youth throughout life.

"Young people need the kind of hope that will help them aspire to become the best they can be," says Marilyn Corbin, Penn State Cooperative Extension and Outreach state program leader for children, youth and families. "4-H is nationally recognized as one of the foremost youth organizations in the country. With a strong local program that draws on the strengths of a statewide and nationwide organization, 4-H is uniquely positioned to help youth in this complex information age."

4-H has begun celebrating its centennial with conversations on youth development. Youth and adults in 3,067 communities across the nation will identify critical youth-development strategies for the 21st century. Participants will share ideas about the nation's youth-development needs and successes and develop strategies for their local communities. This effort will build on 4-H's historic commitment to engagement and collaboration, and will result in a national plan of action.

Delegates will be chosen at these sessions to carry local concerns and opinions to the state meetings. The Pennsylvania State Conversation on Youth Development will be held in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg in early January 2002. The local conversations will establish the foundation for the statewide conversation. From the state meeting, delegates will be chosen to represent Pennsylvania at the national meeting in Washington, D.C., Feb. 23-March 3. Between 2,000 and 2,500 participants will attend.

"We want the nation to know that we're not building a granite monument to our 4-H centennial," says Don Floyd, president and CEO of the National 4-H Council. "Instead, in the tradition of 4-H, we're creating an action plan for families, youth leaders and communities across the nation to guide us in the coming century."

"Our goal is to send a delegation of 72 Pennsylvanians to the national conversation," says Michael Martin, Pennsylvania state coordinator for the 4-H centennial. "We want to send three representatives from each congressional district and three at large."

Another 4-H centennial project is supported by a grant from the Pennsylvania Public Television Network. Penn State Public Broadcasting, WPSX-Channel 3, will produce a documentary celebrating the 100th anniversary of 4-H in 2002.

In the program, 4-H youth from all walks of life will share their experiences in 4-H. Cooperative Extension agents from rural and urban counties, volunteers who have given countless hours of their time working with 4-H youth and Pennsylvania 4-H alumni who credit 4-H with their success will be featured.

"The ultimate goal of 4-H has always been and remains today to teach kids the life skills they will need to succeed," says Martin, "regardless of what avenue in life they choose."

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EDITORS: Mike Martin can be reached at 814-863-2765.

Contact:

Jeff Mulhollem jjm29@psu.edu 814-863-2719 814-865-1068 fax