Newsradio Concordance

4-H Club - Since 1902, the 4-H (short for “Head, Heart, Hands, and Health”) has provided youth the chance to develop practical skills in the realms of science and agriculture. With its early emphasis on farming and husbandry, the club sometimes has the reputation of being a somewhat bucolic organization. In truth, when the 4-H was founded, it looked to prepare upcoming generations of agriculturists to embrace scientific approaches and technologies that established farmers were either hesitant or unwilling to employ on their own farms. The goals and responsibilities of the 4-H continued to evolve throughout the 20^th century, teaching young people the leadership skills, research practices, and cultural values that would be useful in most vocations.

As soon as Dave Nelson transplanted himself from Wisconsin to New York, his rural background was a constant source for ridicule. Nelson rues that he was once proud of winning “the gold medal three years running for best preserves at the 4-H club,” but now is now made to feel ashamed of the accomplishment (Epidsode 61, “Stupid Holiday Talent Show”). Regardless of this shame, Nelson later embraces his 4-H upbringing when he attempts to teach Mr. James various cow calls (Episode 96, “Retirement”). Clearly, the 4-H’s goal of teaching young men and women leadership skills worked in the case of Mr. Nelson who helmed the news director chair at WNYX for several successful years. ["Plan Bee", "Retirement", "Stupid Holiday Charity Talent Show"]