The Cooperative Extension Service, of which the 4-H Club program is a part, invites and appreciates the cooperation of all organizations, agencies, and individuals whose interest, products, or services will contribute to the educational effort of the Cooperative Extension Service as conducted through the 4-H Club program.

The Director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, United States Department of Agriculture, may authorize the use of the 4-H Club Name and Emblem in accordance with the regulations in this part.

4-H Club Name and Emblem as used in this part means the emblem consisting of a green four-leaf clover with stem and the letter “H” in white or gold on each leaflet, or any insignia in colorable imitation thereof, or the words, “4-H Club,” “4-H Clubs” or any combination of these or other words or characters in colorable imitation thereof.

Cooperative Extension Service, as used in this part includes the entire Cooperative Extension System consisting of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, United States Department of Agriculture; the State Cooperative Extension Services; and the County Cooperative Extension Services.

County Cooperative Extension Service as used in this part refers to a county Extension office or equivalent Extension office operating under a State Cooperative Extension Service.

National Institute of Food and Agriculture as used in this part means the Federal agency within the United States Department of Agriculture that administers Federal agricultural cooperative extension programs.

State Cooperative Extension Service as used in this part means an organization established at the land-grant college or university under the Smith-Lever Act of May 8, 1914, as amended (7 U.S.C. 341-349); section 209(b) of the Act of October 26, 1974, as amended (D.C. Code, through section 31-1719(b)); or section 1444 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977, as amended (7 U.S.C. 3221).

(a) The 4-H Club Name and Emblem are held in trust by the Secretary of Agriculture of the United States Department of Agriculture for the educational and character-building purposes of the 4-H program and can be used only as authorized by the statute and according to the authorization of the Secretary or designated representative.

(b) The 4-H Club Name and Emblem may be used by authorized representatives of the United States Department of Agriculture, the Cooperative Extension Services, the land-grant institutions, and the National 4-H Council, according to these regulations, for serving the educational needs and interests of 4-H youth.

(c) Any use of the 4-H Club Name and Emblem is forbidden if it exploits the 4-H programs, its volunteer leaders or 4-H youth participants or the United States Department of Agriculture, the Cooperative Extension Services, or the land-grant institutions, or their employees.

(d) The 4-H Club Name and Emblem shall not be used to imply endorsement of commercial firms, products, or services.

Effective September 16, 1985, authorization permits for the use of the 4-H Club Name and Emblem presently in effect will be revoked. However, such authorizations may be renewed upon written request.

(a) The Director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture may grant authorization for use of the 4-H Club Name and Emblem:

(1) For educational or informational uses which the Cooperative Extension Service deems to be in the best interests of the 4-H program and which can be properly controlled by the Cooperative Extension Service.

(2) For services to youth which the Cooperative Extension Service determines it is not in a position itself to perform.

(b) Authorizations, when issued, will be valid for specified purposes and periods of time only. Application forms for requesting authorization to use the 4-H Club Name and Emblem may be obtained from the Director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. 20250.

(c) Granting an authorization to an individual, organization, or institution for a specific use does not preclude granting a similar authorization to another individual, organization, or institution for the same or a similar purpose.

(d) All uses of the 4-H Club Name or Emblem shall be consistent with the educational purposes, character-building objectives, and dignity of the 4-H program and the 4-H Club Name or Emblem shall be given a position of prominence. It is not permissible to superimpose any letter, design, or object on the 4-H Club Emblem, or to materially alter its intended shape.

(e) Specific authorization is not required to use the 4-H Club Name or Emblem in media such as newspapers, periodicals, and radio and television programs when such use is primarily for educational or informational purposes. Likewise, specific authorization is not required to use the 4-H Club Name or Emblem in those exhibits, displays, etc., which are designed primarily to pay tribute to or salute the 4-H program and are in keeping with the policies enunciated herein.

(f) Authorization must be obtained for use of the 4-H Club Name or Emblem by other than representatives of the Cooperative Extension Services, the land-grant institutions, and the National 4-H Council in connection with contests and awards, books, booklets, charts, posters, and all other forms of publications; all calendars regardless of origin or use; theatrical and nontheatrical motion pictures; slides, slide films, and other visual and audio-visual materials; supplies (whether to be sold or provided without charge); and titles of persons.

(g) Any authorization or permission for use of the 4-H Club Name and Emblem may be revoked at any time after written notice.

(a) The Cooperative Extension Services, land-grant institutions, local 4-H Clubs and groups and other officially affiliated 4-H organziations recognized by the Secretary of Agriculture and the Cooperative Extension Service are authorized to use the 4-H Club Name or Emblem:

(1) For their own educational or informational purposes according to these regulations;

(2) On materials which are originated, requested, purchased, distributed, or sold by them for use in their respective geographical areas of responsibilities;

(3) Except as specifically authorized by the above-named organizations for use within the respective geographic boundaries specified (club or group, county, area, State) and as provided for in paragraph (a)(4) of this section, manufacturers, wholesalers, jobbers, retailers, purchasers or others cannot manufacture, sell, or distribute materials bearing the 4-H Club Name or Emblem.

(4) Any proposal for distribution on an interstate, regional, or nationwide basis of materials, supplies, and similar items bearing the 4-H Club Name or Emblem which originates with an organization or individual not affiliated with the Cooperative Extension Service shall be brought to the attention of the Director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, United States Department of Agriculture, for approval.

(b) [Reserved]

(a) In any advertisement, display, exhibit, visual and audio-visual material, news release, publication in any form, radio and television program devoted in whole or in part to 4-H, the 4-H message or salute must be distinctly set apart from any commercial product message or reference.

(b) Advertisements, news releases, publications in any form, visuals and audio-visuals, or displays in any form must not include actual or implied testimonials or endorsements of business firms, commercial products or services, either by 4-H Clubs, other 4-H organizations and affiliated groups, 4-H youth participants, volunteer 4-H leaders, the Cooperative Extension Services, the land-grant institutions, USDA, or by any employees associated with any of the foregoing. Statements that a product is used or preferred to the exclusion of similar products are not permitted.

(c) The granting of an authorization to a non-Extension affiliated agency, organization or individual, for production of films, visual and audio-visual materials, books, publications in any form, etc., is contingent upon approval of the initial proposal and subject to review of the script of the visual or audio-visual or draft of the publication when the draft is in the final working form.

(a) Fund-raising programs using the 4-H Name or Emblem may be carried out for specific educational purposes. Such fund-raising programs and use of the 4-H name and emblem on, or associated with, products, and services for such purposes must have the approval of appropriate Cooperative Extension office, as follows:

(1) Approval of the County Cooperative Extension Service, or the appropriate land-grant institution, if the fund-raising program is confined to the area served by the County Cooperative Extension Service.

(2) Approval of the State Cooperative Extension Service, or the appropriate land-grant institution, if the fund-raising program is multi-county or Statewide.

(3) Approval of the Director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, United States Department of Agriculture, or a designee, if the fund-raising program is multi-State or Nationwide.

(b) When used to promote 4-H educational programs, the 4-H Club name and emblem, subject to obtaining authorization as provided in these regulations, may be used on or associated with products and services sold in connection with 4-H fund-raising programs so long as no endorsement or the appearance of an endorsement of a commercial firm, product or service is either intended or effected. Tributes to 4-H contained on or associated with commercial products or services, when such products or services are used for the fund-raising activities, are subject to the requirements of this paragraph. All moneys received from 4-H fund-raising programs, except those necessary to pay reasonable expenses, must be expended to further the 4-H educational programs.