{"id":9372,"date":"2016-12-02T07:00:48","date_gmt":"2016-12-02T12:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/4h\/?p=9372"},"modified":"2025-11-24T14:40:37","modified_gmt":"2025-11-24T19:40:37","slug":"4-h-fix-the-4-h-silver-cups-of-franklin-county","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/4h\/2016\/12\/02\/4-h-fix-the-4-h-silver-cups-of-franklin-county\/","title":{"rendered":"4-H Fix: The 4-H Silver Cups of Franklin County"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 4-H Silver Cups of Franklin County<\/strong><\/h3>\n

By Ron Drum, Statewide 4-H Program Professional\/Associate Director 4-H Resource Development<\/em><\/p>\n

Sometimes things just don\u2019t work out the way you had planned.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s one of those facts of life, I think. Oh, you may be successful in the endeavor, but the path to the success is just not quite what you had envisioned.<\/p>\n

Take the case of the 4-H Silver Cups of Franklin County.<\/p>\n

Across from Tiffany Wing sitting at the UMaine Extension Franklin County office reception desk, there in the closet, top shelf, far back corner, you\u2019ll find two trophies (what in the trophy world are called \u201cLoving Cups\u201d); rather tall, ornate vessels, each with two handles. You have found the \u201c4-H Silver Cups of Franklin County\u201d! Silver polished away in places, a bit tarnished, a few dents and scratches here or there; they show their age (one is 88 years old and the other is 90), as do we all, but still standing proud!<\/p>\n

\"2<\/a>
Play the audio clip below and bask in their glory!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

And here they are! The 4-H Silver Cups of Franklin County!<\/strong><\/p>\n\nhttps:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/4h\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/38\/2016\/11\/ahhhhh.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

*<\/p>\n

Loving Cups, by the way, apparently were originally used by newly-weds in ancient weddings, together, drink wine (probably champagne) to seal the union. In more recent ancient times, they were used during victory celebrations to drink the \u201csweet wine of Victory\u201d (probably more champagne). I don\u2019t think either of the Franklin cups was ever used to drink any of \u201cthe bubbly,\u201d or any other liquid, for that matter, not even cider. If they were, no one is saying!<\/p>\n

But why are they there? A closer look at the cups provides a hint. Look close and you\u2019ll notice there is an inscription on each of them. The shorter one, standing just 16\u201d tall, reads:<\/p>\n

4-H Club Cup<\/em>
\nAwarded to<\/em>
\nFranklin County<\/em>
\nFor<\/em>
\nHighest Honors<\/em>
\n1925 \u2013 1926<\/em>
\nBy<\/em>
\nMaine State Federation<\/em>
\nOf<\/em>
\nFarm Bureaus<\/em><\/p>\n

The taller one, stretching all the way up to 19\u201d, reads:<\/p>\n

Awarded to the 4-H Clubs of<\/em>
\nFranklin County by the<\/em>
\nState Federation of Farm Bureaus<\/em>
\nFor Excellence in Club Work<\/em>
\n1927 and 1928<\/em><\/p>\n

Jeepers! What the heck did Franklin County 4-H do to be awarded not one, but TWO silver loving cups — engraved<\/em>, no less!? And while we are at it, just what is a \u201cState Federation of Farm Bureaus,\u201d what does it have to do with 4\u2011H, and why are they giving away cups?<\/p>\n

The answers to all of these questions have to do with how this thing called Cooperative Extension got going.<\/p>\n

We all know by now how the farmers across the country were either unaware of, or resisted, the new agricultural methods being developed by the Land-grant Universities. And how, in an effort to improve the situation, the universities placed educators into the communities to act as an extension of the university to teach the population the new methods. Funding for these \u201coutpost operations\u201d was catch-as-catch-can at best requiring some kind of local organization through which to function. This became especially so once the Smith-Lever Extension Act was passed in 1914 as it required some kind of local organization be identified to receive and administer the new influx of funds and carry out the duties the law defined. Counties in Maine originally looked to the Grange for this local organization. However, as Farm Bureaus began to show success, more and more counties turned to them.<\/p>\n

The actual first \u201cfarm bureau\u201d was created as a department, or \u201cbureau,\u201d of the Broome County, New York, Chamber of Commerce. In 1911, they hired a \u201ccounty agent\u201d named John Barron, fresh out of Cornell University. Barron had grown up on a farm, so had a basic understanding of agriculture, which he combined with his college education to bring new knowledge to the Broome County farmers. Funding was provided by the Binghamton Chamber of Commerce, USDA, and the Lackawanna Railroad.<\/p>\n

Barron\u2019s endeavor was so successful that a number of other places created their own versions of a farm bureau and the \u201cmovement\u201d took off. These county farm bureaus provided just the local organization that was needed to further the work of Extension. Farm Bureaus became, in many cases, the employers of the County Extension Agents!<\/p>\n

Maine\u2019s York County Agricultural Agent, W.M. Grey, in his annual report for Fiscal Year 1919 (July 1918-June 1919) noted the importance of the York County Farm Bureau to his work.<\/p>\n

The Farm Bureau has been the dominating organization in agricultural advancement in the county during the last year. Organized in November 1917, by July of the past year it had found its place and was functioning smoothly, and in a very efficient manner, for the betterment of rural life in York County. It seemed to be the thing that had been so badly needed, bringing together all of the people of the county in such a way that their problems could be discussed freely among themselves, and definite plans made to meet them.<\/em><\/p>\n

Now, after a year and a half of activity, the Farm Bureau has made good, and I sincerely hope will remain the principal organization in agricultural lines in the county.<\/em><\/p>\n

Now, again, remember that farmers were resistant to the new agricultural methods these agents were teaching. And remember that the young people were very open to\u00a0new ideas. Agents realized that the educational process was more efficient if implemented in groups so youth clubs were developed. The first Maine 4-H Clubs were organized in late 1913 and early 1914.<\/p>\n

If Boys\u2019 and Girls\u2019 Club Work was seen as important to Extension work, it was seen as VERY important to the Farm Bureaus. Echoes from Clubdom<\/em> reported in its August 1925 edition that O. E. Bradfute, President of the American Farm Bureau Federation, said, \u201cThe Farm Bureau needs boys\u2019 and girls\u2019 club work; boys\u2019 and girls\u2019 club work needs the Farm Bureau. We can scarcely give it too much aid for the well-being of our children, our organizations, and our country.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, although very useful to Extension in accomplishing its educational goals, club work was just a part of the Extension Agents\u2019 workloads and did not always receive the emphasis other work received. To encourage greater emphasis on club work, the State Federation of Farm Bureaus offered an idea. What if an award was established that encouraged counties to work harder on behalf of club work? So, a cup was purchased from Wallace Brothers Silver Company, Wallingford, CT. Actually, according to Donna at Research Replacements, ltd., a company that specializes in replacing lost or damaged silver goods, when asked about these cups said, \u201cUnfortunately we have no information on these cups. They were probably just specially made for the 4 H club.\u201d So, not \u201cpurchased\u201d but \u201ccommissioned<\/strong>\u201d!<\/p>\n

And then the word went out across the state telling all of this glorious prize! The Penobscot County Farm Bureau News for May 1925 (vol. 6, #2, p.1) proclaimed it this way:<\/p>\n

A beautiful silver cup will be awarded as a trophy to the county in the state of Maine that makes the best showing in club work this year. \u2026the county winning it twice to have permanent possession of the cup. Each year the name of the winner will be announced at the State Contest and will later be engraved upon the cup. \u2026Interest is running high and we have brilliant prospects of coming out the winner.<\/em><\/p>\n

The concept was that the Silver Cup would rotate each year to the next winning county to be proudly exhibited, a point of pride for the members and volunteers of that county, until it was awarded to the next county the following year. This process would continue until one county won the cup twice. That county would then keep the cup as theirs; another cup then being offered to continue the tradition.<\/p>\n

It seemed like SUCH a good idea! I imagine the originators of the idea figured the cost of a silver cup would be small compared to the many years of excitement and encouragement it would give to all in Maine 4-H to strive to make their best better! And it was such a nice touch to add that if a county won it twice, they\u2019d get to keep the cup!<\/p>\n

Here is how the same edition of the News described the scoring system that would be used to select the winner:<\/p>\n