How It All Began
An American innovation, the
4-H youth development program of the
Cooperative Extension Service originated at the turn of
the century because of a vital need to improve life in
rural
areas. Introducing improved methods of farming and
homemaking, 4-H taught youth to "learn by doing."
The yearly program in one of those early clubs consisted
of growing corn, planting a garden, testing soil, club
meetings, and visits to club members' plots and
exhibits.
The first record of any known 4-H type activity was in
1898. Liberty Hyde Bailey of Cornell University
inaugurated a series of Junior Naturalist leaflets in
rural schools, and assisted in the organization of
nature study clubs.
The year 1907 marked the beginning of 4-H work under
the auspices of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
There was a close affiliation between the school and the
home in the early 4-H programs. Adults in the
family were often persuaded to adopt new practices
because of the
successes experienced by the 4-H youth.
In 1914 the Smith-Lever Act established the Cooperative
Extension, an organizational entity of the U.S.
Department of Agriculture and the land-grant college
system. The Cooperative Extension Service was to conduct
educational programs of an "informal, non-resident,
problem-oriented nature." Cooperative Extension provided
the professional staff and support needed to direct the
growth of the early 4-H
program.
The Early Years
In 1915 there were 4-H clubs in 47 states. During
World War I, the energies of 4-H members were devoted to
raising food. Projects included raising corn and canning
tomatoes.
Following a period of readjustment after World War I,
4-H club work showed a continual growth. Some states
developed 4-H programs in close relationship with local
school
districts. Others established clubs as community
programs separate from schools.
The term 4-H
was first used in a federal publication written in
1918 by Gertrude Warren, one of the pioneers of 4-H. In
the early 1920's a group at a conference in Washington,
D.C., discussed the need to give boys' and girls' club
work a distinctive name that could be used nationally.
Several people, including Miss Warren, favored 4-H as
the name for the organization. In 1924, Boys' and Girls'
Club work became known as 4-H. The 4-H Pledge was
adopted in 1927.
As the 4-H program continued to grow through the 1920's
and 1930's more emphasis was placed on the development
of the individual rather than the product produced. The
focus of the program was the development of skills in
farming and homemaking.
A major change occurred during World War II when much
effort was directed toward victory gardens, civilian
defense, salvage programs, and bond campaigns as well as
food preservation. The victory garden program
also brought 4-H to urban people.
Expansion to New Audiences and New Places
The 1950's and 1960's saw increasing numbers of
non-farm youth enrolling in the program. In 1948, 4-H
went international with the establishment of the
International Four-H Youth Exchange, (IFYE) first called
the International Farm Youth Exchange.
Today, Cooperative Extension and its 4-H programs serve
people in towns, cities, and rural areas with
information on agriculture, family living, community
development, and related subjects.
4-H: An American Idea 1900-1980 is a documented
history of 4-H written by Thomas Wessel and Marilyn
Wessel. Copies may be ordered through the National 4-H
Council, 7100 Connecticut Avenue, Chevy Chase, MD
20815-4999.
4-H Around the World
The growth of 4-H around the world has been impressive.
4-H type clubs now exist in at least 80 countries; they
have a total membership of over four million young
people. It is
virtually impossible to travel to any corner of the
globe and not encounter the familiar clover symbol.
Famous 4-H Alumni
Nearly 50 million Americans from all walks of life have
been 4-H members. A few of the more famous 4-H alumni
are Roy Rogers, John Denver, Dolly Parton, Alan Shepard,
Don Meredith, Tom Wopat, Charley Pride, Orville
Redenbacher and Reba McIntyre.
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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.
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