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Applied and Extension

Constructing the Clover: A Postmodern Analysis of Rural Representations in 4-H Media Kate McHale*, Kate McHale,

4-H is one of the most prominent youth-serving organizations in rural America, having shaped the developmental trajectories of millions of rural youth since its founding in 1902.  Yet, despite its key role in rural youth development, 4-H has received limited attention from rural sociologists.  In particular, its role in constructing how rural life and childhood are represented and understood has yet to be considered.  This analysis examines historical and contemporary 4-H media and communications through a postmodern lens, suggesting that modern constructions of rurality within 4-H operate as rural simulacra.  Situating the historical development of 4-H programs within the larger context of the Country Life Movement, this study examines how early reformist visions of rural modernization have evolved into institutional narratives that circulate a symbolic version of rurality that is largely detached from its material referent.  These symbolic representations ultimately inform program design and youth engagement in 4-H, creating tension between the lived experiences of rural youth and the organizational narratives that claim to represent them.  These findings suggest that supporting positive youth development in 4-H involves attention not only to program content and delivery, but also to the symbolic narratives that precede participation and define success within the organization.