Continuing Education and
Communication Services
3614 Administrative Services Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3614
(515) 294-9915
8/3/01
Contacts:
Albert M Grunenwald, Iowa 4-H Foundation, (515) 294-4780,
abgrunen@iastate.edu
Tracy S. Petersen, Continuing Education and Communication
Services, (515) 294-9915
4-H Centennial Bean Bear Arrives at the Iowa State Fair
AMES, Iowa -- An early release of a 4-H Centennial bean bear will have plush toy collectors scrambling to get one of only 4,500 available. The 2002 "Curtiss" bear debuts at the 4-H exhibit building during the 2001 Iowa State Fair and is expected to sell quickly.
"We've had a number of phone calls this past week from people inquiring about the new bear," said Albert Grunenwald, associate director of the Iowa 4-H Foundation. "We tell them that Curtiss goes on sale when the 4-H building opens on Aug. 9, and not a day sooner."
Curtiss is a honey brown bear with a festive bow tie, an embroidered 4-H emblem on its chest, and the years "1902" and "2002" on the front paws. This is the fourth addition to the Iowa 4-H bear series, but one new feature makes Curtiss extra special.
"We wanted Curtiss to help us celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 4-H youth movement in America, so we put a music chip inside one arm," Grunenwald said. "When pressed, the music chip plays the melody to 'I'm Looking Over A Four Leaf Clover.'"
Lyrics to the 1927 song by Harry Woods are included. The bears sell for $12 each and come with a name tag and collector number. Proceeds from the sale of Curtiss bears will support 4-H youth programs throughout Iowa. The organization currently reaches more than 135,000 young people in grades K-12.
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Extension programs are available to all without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, or disability.