JACKSON -- Mississippi 4-Hers will culminate their organization's year-long centennial celebration from 7:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. on July 20 at the Agriculture and Forestry Museum in Jackson.

In 2002, 4-H has been celebrating 100 years as one of the nation's longest-serving youth development organizations. Mississippi has special claim in the founding of 4-H. Mississippi became the first state to receive federal money to support boys' and girls' demonstration clubs in 1907 when the U.S. Department of Agriculture sponsored clubs in Holmes County. Today, national 4-H membership exceeds 6.5 million youth with more than 125,000 of those members in Mississippi.

Mississippi's final 4-H centennial celebration on July 20 will begin with a 5K and run/walk and one mile fun run at 7:30 a.m. Reunion activities will take place from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., and 4 H alumni are encouraged to contact old friends and join the activities. Current 4-H members will be taking part in special activities and contests throughout the day, including a poultry cooking contest, sew-with-cotton fashion show, a talent contest, and field and stream sporting activities.

In the spirit of the centennial celebration, special heritage activities will take place from 9 a.m. until noon. The activities include square dancing, cake walks, face painting, quilting and 4-H tall-tale storytelling. During that same time, 4-H alumni will be providing entertainment.

The highlight of the day will be the 4-H centennial ceremony at noon. Oldest 4-Hers will be honored and a groundbreaking ceremony for a 4-H museum is planned.

4-H offers 40 different subjects to choose from, ranging from cattle to computers, from health to hogs, from economics to the environment. Each subject has many different categories, and each category has different projects for youth to complete. For more information on Mississippi 4 H or centennial events, contact the local county Extension office.