THE MICHIGAN 4-H STORY

The United States Flag adds a 50th star recognizing Hawaii as America's 50th state. (4-H volunteers all over America scramble to find new flags before the start of their next 4-H club meetings.)

Camp Kett opens in 1961 as the state's 4-H volunteer training center. It's the first of its kind in the United States.

The September 17, 1960 Kettunen Center Groundbreaking ceremony (below) features the "Merry Notes Trio" from Ottawa County.

President John F. Kennedy asks Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson to unify the U.S. satellite system and officially launches America into the Space Age. 4-H'ers expand their electrical projects in hopes of being able to broadcast the pledge to potential 4-H'ers in outer space.

James McDivitt from Jackson commands the Gemini IV mission and becomes Michigan's first astronaut.

4-H'ers begin building model rockets and moons and dream of one day travelling in space, too!

America puts its first man on the moon. 4-H'ers create time capsules to remember the moment in years to come.

The Internet, then known as ARPANET, was born. It connects four major computers at universities in the southwestern United States -- UCLA, Stanford Research Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, and the University of Utah. 4-H'ers would have to wait another 35 years before they, too, could send e-mail.

"Mulligan Stew", a nutrition education television series produced by Michigan State University for 4-H, premiers in 1972 during National 4-H week in Washington, D.C.

"Camp Kett" becomes Kettunen 4-H Center.

Detroit
4-H Center on East Side opens launching major Michigan 4-H urban programming initiative.

1973

Secretariat, one of the fastest thoroughbreds in racing history, wins the Triple Crown of horseracing: the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes.

National Collegiate 4-H organization approved.

Michigan 4-H starts 4-H HRH (now the 4-H Proud Equestrian Program or "PEP").

Kettunen Center Improvement project launched. The campaign generates private sector investments to update facilities.

4-H HRH program started in Branch County.

Michigan 4-H mainstreaming project funded with $537,000 grant to integrate 4-H involvement of youth with disablities. The grant represented, at the time, the largest private sector grant ever awarded to a state 4-H program.

FOLKPATTERNS project created through partnership of 4-H and MSU Museum with help of $265,000 grant to the Michigan 4-H Foundation from the National Endowment for the Humanities.