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LOCAL 4-H'ERS JOIN HUNDREDS AT 4-H CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

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LOCAL 4-H MEMBERS "WOWED" BY 4-H CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

September 4, 2002

By: YOUR NAME

YOUR PHONE NUMBER

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla.—Hundreds of 4-H members and their families converged on America’s oldest city last weekend to mark 4-H’s 100^th birthday.

In spite of a rainy weekend, spirits were bright. The golf tournament was rained out, but that didn’t dampen enthusiasm for the 4-H parade on Saturday through the city’s historic downtown.

INSERT QUOTE FROM 4-H MEMBER WHO WALKED IN PARADE HERE

4-H clubs from Escambia, Collier and Miami-Dade counties won the hand-made banner competition in the parade.

There was a home and garden expo for the public. “Funshops” that were educational kept 4-H members laughing and learning, with folk dancing, a history reenactment, a trip to an alligator farm, an IMAX theater visit, and a trip to the St. Augustine Culinary Institute.

INSERT QUOTE FROM 4-H MEMBER ABOUT FUNSHOPS HERE

A barbeque at the World Golf Village Friday night featured a performance by the U.S. Navy Band and a youth talent competition. Two 4-H clubs from St Johns County, St. Johns County Kids Care and the Calvin Pete Survivors  captured third and first places in the show respectively, with the Collier County Dance Stompers in second.

One hundred outstanding Floridians were honored for dedication to 4-H with induction into the Florida 4-H Hall of Fame Saturday night. The inductees include mentors, statesmen, extension agents and 4-H alumni. Among those on the list were U.S. Senators Bob Graham and Bill Nelson, and Congressmen Allan Boyd of Tallahassee and Adam Putnam of Bartow.

INSERT NAMES OF LOCAL INDUCTEES FOR HALL OF FAME HERE IF YOU HAVE ANY

“The innovative and very successful 4-H movement has been cultivated by literally millions of volunteers and young people over the last century, ” said Don Floyd, president and CEO of National 4-H Council, who attended the induction ceremony at the World PGA Golf Village. “The Hall of Fame gives 4-H a chance to thank our most significant leaders. Shining a spotlight on their contributions helps all of us learn from these role models.”

4-H is the youth development program of the Florida Cooperative Extension Service, which is part of the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) that is headquartered in Gainesville. 4-H worked with more than 287,000 youth ages 5-18 last year in Florida and has programs active in all 67 counties and on Seminole Tribes reservations in south Florida.

Founded in 1902 as an outreach to rural youth, the 4-H youth movement involves more than 6.5 million members throughout the nation who live in cities, towns and the countryside. 4-H continues to thrive today, adapting itself to the interests of young people and focusing on hands-on learning and youth adult partnership.

For more information about 4-H visit www.florida4h.org or contact your local county extension office.

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