The 4-H Youth Development Program is the youth outreach program from the land grant Universities, Cooperative Extension Services, and the US Department of Agriculture. The 4-H Name & Emblem incorporates its focus on Head, Heart, Hands, and Health. Growing up in a rural school, I remember sitting on the gym bleachers through meetings that started with the 4-H Pledge:
I pledge my head to clearer thinking,
My heart to greater loyalty,
My hands to larger service,
and my health to better living,
for my club, my community, my country, and my world.
I wore my green 4-H t-shirt for years, but I never noticed a little notice near the logo. It says “18 USC 707”. I noticed it at lunch when my nephew proudly showed off his Rewey Lucky Stars shirt (see photo). Being the trademark nerd that I am, I looked it up. Turns out that green clover is specially protected.
Specifically, 18 USC 707 says:
Whoever, with intent to defraud, wears or displays the sign or emblem of the 4-H clubs, 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, for the purpose of inducing the belief that he is a member of, associated with, or an agent or representative for the 4-H clubs; or
Whoever, whether an individual, partnership, corporation or association, other than the 4-H clubs and those duly authorized by them, the representatives of the United States Department of Agriculture, the land grant colleges, and persons authorized by the Secretary of Agriculture, uses, within the United States, such emblem or any sign, insignia, or symbol in colorable imitation thereof, or the words “4-H Club” or “4-H Clubs” or any combination of these or other words or characters in colorable imitation thereof–
Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.
This section shall not make unlawful the use of any such emblem, sign, insignia or words which was lawful on the date of enactment of this title.
The USDA even has a User Guide for use of the name and emblem including but not limited to the prohibition of removing the “H’s” from the clover, having the stem bend left instead of right, and use on beauty products. For you wondering, the official color is “100% PMS 347 green.”
It’s not done there either. 18 U.S.C. § 916 says
Whoever, falsely and with intent to defraud, holds himself out as or represents or pretends himself to be a member of, associated with, or an agent or representative for the 4-H clubs, an organization established by the Extension Service of the United States Department of Agriculture and the land grant colleges, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.
That means that 4-H provided me with my first ever public speaking opportunity (at the ripe old age of 5), years of exhibiting at the Iowa County Fair, and a reminder that some logos are protected by more than the Lanham Act.