Mississippi 4-H Museum
Renovations began on the Mississippi 4-H Learning Center and Pete Frierson 4-H Museum in May of 2010. We have a 100-year history of 4-H in Mississippi, and in 2007 we opened the doors to a beautiful and exciting place to display it for the world to see. The Mississippi 4-H Museum is the first free standing 4-H museum on state property in the country and has undergone some tremendous renovations in the past year and a half. The museum has become an interactive, high touch/high tech exploration into history and the world of 4-H today. The newly renovated, completed museum with 3 working galleries and 10 subject focused exhibit areas ranging from history to interactive to hands-on was unveiled at the open house during the 4-H Celebration on October 29, 2011 at the Agriculture and Forestry Museum in Jackson, MS.
4-H History: Having a complete and interesting History exhibit area and Model 4-Her’s room were two goals set out at the start of the museum renovations and have come to pass with the partnership with the Mitchell Memorial Library at Mississippi State University. The 4-H collections will always have a safe home at the MSU library.
Forestry Exhibit: The School of Forest Products has been crucial to the design and construction of the new forestry project exhibit area which includes a 7 foot talking Magnolia tree, a magnifying table, and a wall mounted display to exhibit the beautiful woods of Mississippi. The talking tree will feature moving eyes and mouth and will have eight phrase options about Mississippi forest products and the 4-H forestry project.
Conservation Exhibit: The Department of Plant and Soil Sciences played a major role in the water conservation exhibit area in consultation for the Northern Mississippi Aquifers ground water display, which allows youth to discover the world under our feet of Mississippi aquifers by controlling well pumps and ink injections.
Children's Gallery: The open house showcased the completed children’s area which includes chalkboard stickers on the walls for creative thought, books related to 4-H project areas and ideals, puzzles and games to invoke communication and involvement of the younger audience. The Entomology Area of the children’s gallery gives the youth a chance to learn through various methods from books hanging on our caterpillar rack to playing games on the caterpillar table or answering questions posed by the talking microscopes. The youth will have an opportunity to see how much fun bugs can be! And our museum wouldn’t be complete without MS Cloverbelle the cow you can milk! She is a fiberglass cow that you can test out your milking skills.
In the 4-H Museum, we have embraced the new without losing the old. We have stuck to what 4-H is all about, “Learn By Doing.” We are “high-tech and high-touch.” Included in the high-tech aspect of the museum is a fully functional digital timeline of 4-H history in Mississippi, short video segments for 4 of our flat panel screens, a theater area for viewing the 4-H centennial video, and an interactive kiosk for exploring many of the 4-H projects that are available through games and learning exercises. We have also recently installed an ATV interactive safety kiosk that was donated by the Coahoma County Extension Service to the museum, where the visitor must complete all safety checks before “riding the trail” on the ATV simulator. On the low-tech/high-touch side of things we have installed 4 “clover activities” centered on the 4 H’s, Head, Heart, Hands, and Health.
Our final change will include the hiring of a permanent, on-sight curator/education coordinator to maintain the newly renovated exhibits and to initiate an education strategy.
A museum is living, evolving entity that will constantly be changing to suit the current needs. We invite you to make your 4-H history a part of our 4-H history. 4-H historical materials are constantly being collected for preservation at Mississippi State University Library 4-H Archives and then may be exhibited at the 4-H Museum in Jackson, Mississippi. The 4-H museum exhibits document the history of 4-H, the contribution of 4-H to progress in Mississippi, and the contributions of the persons, organizations, and families who have participated in and supported 4-H. To Donate a 4-H artifact simply fill out the 4-H Archives Collection Survey/Receipt and contact the State 4-H office at (662) 325-3352 to speak to someone about donation. Please note that due to space, staff restriction and adherence to the museum mission, not all items can be accepted.
We understand some items may be too dear to part with permanently. We may be able to accept loans for special showings, come to you to photograph or make copies of items, or just visit and get a valuable story.
If you would like to make a monetary donation please print and fill out the Gift Card and either return it to the address on the card or contact the State 4-H Office for assistance at (662) 325-3352.
Artifact Gift Card
Tiffany L Holder
4-H Museum Curator and Exhibit Coordinator
11/11/2011
