4H HISTORY
Since its humble beginnings more than 100 years ago, 4-H has grown to become
the nation’s largest youth development organization. The 4-H idea is simple:
help young people and their families gain the skills they need to be proactive
forces in their communities’ and develop ideas for a more innovative economy.
That idea was the catalyst to begin the 4-H movement, and those values continue
today.
As one of the first youth development organizations in America, 4-H opened
the door for young people to learn leadership skills and explore ways to give
back. 4-H revolutionized how youth connected to practical, hands-on learning
experiences while outside of the classroom.
The Birth of 4-H Programs
During the late 1800's, researchers at public universities saw that adults in
the farming community did not readily accept the new agricultural discoveries
being developed on university campuses. However, they found that young people
were open to new thinking and would "experiment" with new ideas and share their
experiences and successes with adults. In this way, rural youth programs became
an innovative way to introduce new agriculture technology to their communities.
The seed of the 4-H idea of practical and "hands-on" learning came from the
desire to make public school education more connected to country life. Early
programs tied both public and private resources together for the purpose of
helping rural youth. Building community clubs to help solve these agricultural
challenges was a first step toward youth learning more about the industries in
their community.
A. B. Graham started one such youth program in Clark County, Ohio, in 1902,
which is considered the birth of the 4-H program in the United States. The first
club was called "The Tomato Club" or the "Corn Growing Club". T.A. "Dad"
Erickson of Douglas County, Minnesota, started local agricultural after-school
clubs and fairs also in 1902. Jessie Field Shambaugh developed the clover pin
with an H on each leaf in 1910, and by 1912 they were called 4-H clubs.
When Congress passed the Smith-Lever Act in 1914 and created the Cooperative
Extension System at USDA, it included work of various boys' and girls' clubs
involved with agriculture, home economics and related subjects, which
effectively nationalized the 4-H organization. By 1924, these clubs became
organized as 4-H clubs, and the clover emblem was adopted.
The Cooperative Extension System is a unique partnership of the National
Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) within the U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA), the 109 land-grant
universities (in every state and territory) and more than 3,000 county offices.
As a publicly funded, non-formal collaborative national educational network,
Cooperative Extension combines the expertise and resources of federal, state,
and local governments. Cooperative Extension is designed to meet the need for
research, knowledge and educational programs that enable people to make
practical decisions.
Through the local county and state offices, Extension staff provides
research-based information, non-formal educational programs and technical advice
directly to individuals, families and communities that enable them to be self
reliant and improve their lives. Historically, these efforts have been described
in various ways - as major projects, programs, areas or core programs.
Today, 4-H has an expansive reach, serving youth in rural, urban, and
suburban communities in every state across the nation. Youth currently in 4-H
are tackling the nation’s top issues, from global food security, climate change
and sustainable energy to childhood obesity and food safety. 4-H out-of-school
programming, in-school enrichment programs, clubs and camps also offer a wide
variety of science, engineering, technology and applied math educational
opportunities – from agricultural and animal sciences to rocketry, robotics,
environmental protection and computer science – to improve the nation’s ability
to compete in key scientific fields and take on the leading challenges of the
21st century.
4-H also has an expanded global presence through the development of the
International Farm Youth Exchange. The Exchange helped to develop similar 4-H
programs in more than 80 countries throughout
the world.
As 4-H grew, so has the American economy. Companies in the areas of
agriculture, manufacturing, technology, education seek out 4-H youth to join the
ranks of their most successful employees. In addition, you will find 4-H Distinguished Alumni in many different fields
such as business & industry, communications, education, entertainment,
sports and public service.
National 4-H History Preservation
Preserving – and making accessible – the history of 4-H highlights an
essential part of Americana. What began as a bold experiment in empowering young
people to advance agricultural practices of their parents evolved over the past
century into a highly respected youth development organization reaching all
segments of the US citizenry. Referring to 4-H history also enables current
leaders to design stronger programs, more effectively train volunteer and
professional staff, and generate even greater support resources. That is why the
National 4-H History Preservation Program was created.
If you are looking for little known facts, photos or documents on how 4-H
originated and prospered over the years …. If you have 4-H buttons, ribbons,
pins, posters or other memorabilia that you don't know what to do with …. If you
are interested in how, where and why 4-H History is archived …. Or if you want
to learn how you can help start a display, museum, quilt or book about the
history of 4-H in your family, community, county or state …. Learn the answers
to these questions and more on the National 4-H History Preservation
Website.
the nation’s largest youth development organization. The 4-H idea is simple:
help young people and their families gain the skills they need to be proactive
forces in their communities’ and develop ideas for a more innovative economy.
That idea was the catalyst to begin the 4-H movement, and those values continue
today.
As one of the first youth development organizations in America, 4-H opened
the door for young people to learn leadership skills and explore ways to give
back. 4-H revolutionized how youth connected to practical, hands-on learning
experiences while outside of the classroom.
The Birth of 4-H Programs
During the late 1800's, researchers at public universities saw that adults in
the farming community did not readily accept the new agricultural discoveries
being developed on university campuses. However, they found that young people
were open to new thinking and would "experiment" with new ideas and share their
experiences and successes with adults. In this way, rural youth programs became
an innovative way to introduce new agriculture technology to their communities.
The seed of the 4-H idea of practical and "hands-on" learning came from the
desire to make public school education more connected to country life. Early
programs tied both public and private resources together for the purpose of
helping rural youth. Building community clubs to help solve these agricultural
challenges was a first step toward youth learning more about the industries in
their community.
A. B. Graham started one such youth program in Clark County, Ohio, in 1902,
which is considered the birth of the 4-H program in the United States. The first
club was called "The Tomato Club" or the "Corn Growing Club". T.A. "Dad"
Erickson of Douglas County, Minnesota, started local agricultural after-school
clubs and fairs also in 1902. Jessie Field Shambaugh developed the clover pin
with an H on each leaf in 1910, and by 1912 they were called 4-H clubs.
When Congress passed the Smith-Lever Act in 1914 and created the Cooperative
Extension System at USDA, it included work of various boys' and girls' clubs
involved with agriculture, home economics and related subjects, which
effectively nationalized the 4-H organization. By 1924, these clubs became
organized as 4-H clubs, and the clover emblem was adopted.
The Cooperative Extension System is a unique partnership of the National
Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) within the U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA), the 109 land-grant
universities (in every state and territory) and more than 3,000 county offices.
As a publicly funded, non-formal collaborative national educational network,
Cooperative Extension combines the expertise and resources of federal, state,
and local governments. Cooperative Extension is designed to meet the need for
research, knowledge and educational programs that enable people to make
practical decisions.
Through the local county and state offices, Extension staff provides
research-based information, non-formal educational programs and technical advice
directly to individuals, families and communities that enable them to be self
reliant and improve their lives. Historically, these efforts have been described
in various ways - as major projects, programs, areas or core programs.
Today, 4-H has an expansive reach, serving youth in rural, urban, and
suburban communities in every state across the nation. Youth currently in 4-H
are tackling the nation’s top issues, from global food security, climate change
and sustainable energy to childhood obesity and food safety. 4-H out-of-school
programming, in-school enrichment programs, clubs and camps also offer a wide
variety of science, engineering, technology and applied math educational
opportunities – from agricultural and animal sciences to rocketry, robotics,
environmental protection and computer science – to improve the nation’s ability
to compete in key scientific fields and take on the leading challenges of the
21st century.
4-H also has an expanded global presence through the development of the
International Farm Youth Exchange. The Exchange helped to develop similar 4-H
programs in more than 80 countries throughout
the world.
As 4-H grew, so has the American economy. Companies in the areas of
agriculture, manufacturing, technology, education seek out 4-H youth to join the
ranks of their most successful employees. In addition, you will find 4-H Distinguished Alumni in many different fields
such as business & industry, communications, education, entertainment,
sports and public service.
National 4-H History Preservation
Preserving – and making accessible – the history of 4-H highlights an
essential part of Americana. What began as a bold experiment in empowering young
people to advance agricultural practices of their parents evolved over the past
century into a highly respected youth development organization reaching all
segments of the US citizenry. Referring to 4-H history also enables current
leaders to design stronger programs, more effectively train volunteer and
professional staff, and generate even greater support resources. That is why the
National 4-H History Preservation Program was created.
If you are looking for little known facts, photos or documents on how 4-H
originated and prospered over the years …. If you have 4-H buttons, ribbons,
pins, posters or other memorabilia that you don't know what to do with …. If you
are interested in how, where and why 4-H History is archived …. Or if you want
to learn how you can help start a display, museum, quilt or book about the
history of 4-H in your family, community, county or state …. Learn the answers
to these questions and more on the National 4-H History Preservation
Website.