Section 2: 4H

Near the end of the 19^th century, the migration of people from rural homes and farms to cities raised concern about the future of agriculture. In 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt convened a conference to discuss the problem and identify solutions. The Country Life Movement, under the leadership of Liberty Hyde Bailey, continued the discussion and proposed different ways of making farm life more appealing to men, women, and children.

In 1914, the national discussion finally resulted in the passage of the Smith-Lever Act. With Smith-Lever, Congress provided for the establishment of the Cooperative Extension Service which drew on the resources of federal, state, and county agencies to support farm life and agriculture.

Document 5: Richard Skinner was born on a ranch near Grassy Butte in 1921. Though his family moved to Dickinson in 1934 so that he could go to high school, he was able to raise a calf and corn on the family ranch. His uncle Del ran the ranch. Skinner tells an amusing, but often typical, story of his 4-H projects. From Richard Skinner, From Frontier to Oil Boom in the Badlands of North Dakota, self-published, 1987.

 

The Extension Service absorbed the rural youth clubs that were already helping farm children take an interest in rural life. These youth programs started sometime around 1900. The after-school clubs taught boys how to grow corn, raise pigs, and pursue other agricultural projects. (See Document 5.) Around 1908, some of the Iowa clubs began to use a three-leaf clover as a symbol. The leaves stood for Heart, Head, and Hand. Several years later, a fourth leaf was added which stood for “hustle.”  Hustle was eventually changed to Health. The clubs have been known by the name 4-H since 1914.

As 4-H clubs organized in agricultural counties throughout the eastern and Midwestern states, the leaders suggested that the clubs be part of a cooperative agreement among federal, state, and county governments. The clubs gained federal and state support under the Smith-Lever Act. (See Document 6.)

Image 2: In 1964, North Dakota Governor William Guy received a national award as an outstanding alumnus of 4-H. SHSND 11078-4068

 

In the early years of 4-H, girls’ and boys’ clubs were separate. Girls 4-H projects focused on cooking and food preservation, sewing, and childcare. Boys 4-H projects involved raising farm crops and livestock. In 1923, both boys and girls 4-H clubs met at the first National 4-H Club Congress. (See Image 2.)

Document 7:  4-H clubs have adapted to changing times. Members today can study aerospace engineering or robotics as well as homemaking or farming. During World War II (1941-1945), 4-H members contributed to the war effort by collecting scrap, conserving food, and contributing to farm production. SHSND A 1.59:51.

 

In time, club projects became more sophisticated. Girls studied home management and nutrition. Boys studied soil conservation, engineering, and electricity. The work of 4-H clubs shifted to topics of importance in a particular time period. During World War II, 4-H clubs adopted the slogan “Food for Freedom.” (See Document 7.) Club projects included citizenship and increased food production through Victory Gardens.

As 4-H grew in importance, it developed a world-wide presence. By 1965, 4-H clubs could be found in 76 countries located in Asia, Europe, South America, and Africa. Membership reached more than 4 million members between the ages of nine and nineteen.

Today, 4-H club members are interested in robotics and aerospace engineering. Agriculture and rural homelife remain important aspects of 4-H, but clubs are now found in cities as well as rural communities and club members are no longer divided into boys and girls club.