History of 4-H
Introduction
The 4-H Story: A History of 4-H Club Work, by Franklin M. Reck and 4-H: An American Idea, 1900-1980, by Thomas Wessel and Marilyn Wessel document the origin of the 4-H Youth Development Program throughout the United States. In summary, the rapid changes taking place in rural America at the turn of the century led educators to seek ways to link learning to the needs of rural families. Youth were leaving farms to seek jobs in towns and cities. Adult farmers were reluctant to try new techniques of crop production. Agricultural leaders began seeking ways to teach agricultural producers improved methods of crop production.
The Beginning Of Texas 4-H
The first county Extension agent in Texas was appointed in 1906, 8 years before the organization of Texas AgriLife Extension Service. Two years later, T.M. (Tom) Marks, county agricultural agent, organized the first boys' "corn club" in Jack County. Marks found that he was more successful teaching new production technology to the youth than to the adults.
Within a matter of years, "pig clubs," "beef calf clubs" (Coleman County, 1910) and girls' "tomato clubs" (Milam County, 1912) were also initiated. The stage was set for the rapid expansion of educational programs directed to rural youth. Within a span of 91 years, 4-H enrollment in Texas has grown from the original 25 corn club members in Jack County in 1908 to more than one million youth in 2000!
The Texas 4-H Museum is located in Jacksboro (Jack County), the birthplace of 4-H in Texas.
Detailed History of 4-H in Texas and the United States
4-H Highlights
1908
Tom Marks, Jack County agent, organized a corn club with 25 boys participating.
1909
O.B. Martin, formerly director of the Texas Agricultural Extension Service, was appointed to direct boys' and girls' club work on a national basis.
1910
State 4-H Boys' Corn Rally was held at the State Fair of Texas.
1911
4-H insignia-a four-leaf clover with "H" superimposed on each leaf was adopted.
1912
Edna Trigg was appointed Milam County home demonstration agent-the first such appointment in Texas-to organize girls' clubs, then called "tomato clubs." C.M. Evans was appointed to head boys' and girls' club work in Texas.
1914
Smith-Lever Act was passed, making states and the U.S. Department of Agriculture partners in Extension educational programs.
1915
First girls' club members attended the State Fair of Texas in Dallas. The 125 girls, accompanied by chaperones, were decked out in blue serge uniforms and tomato red ties.
1918
Club membership in the U.S. leaped to more than a half million.
1919
Contests became a part of the 4-H club program. Business concerns such as the railroads and banks supported club work by offering prizes to members.
The girls' club voted as their motto, "To Make the Best Better."
1920
Boys' and Girls' clubs (the forerunner of 4-H) adopted "To Make the Best Better" as their motto.
Home Demonstration Girls' Educational Encampment was held at the State Fair of Texas, Dallas, October 18-22. Girls who won the highest places in 4-H club work in their respective counties. Three scholarships were given to winners of the exhibits by the following companies: L.H. Lewis Company, Titche-Goettinger, and Sears-Roebuck Company.
Texas Farm Boys' 4-H Special, an eight-car train, traveled 5,000 miles in 16 days carrying 125 farm boys through the best agricultural sections of the United States and Canada for a thorough study of agriculture.
Girls' 4-H Home Demonstration Clubs initiated expanded production demonstrations in food productions, food preparation, home environment and clothing.
First International Livestock Judging Contest at Atlanta, Georgia. The Texas team was named champion and won the trip to the Royal Show in Derby, England.
1921
Tabor Agricultural 4-H Club of Brazos County was recognized as having the best general record.
State 4-H Club Council was initiated. This council was made up of one representative county agent from each of the nine districts. Each county was required to send one or more county team exhibits of club crop products in addition to individual exhibits to the Dallas State Fair. December was designated as campaign month for club membership and club organization. A camp school was to be held in each county annually with a constructive program of work and practical demonstrations.
4-H Clothing Contest for girls ages 14 to 18 was organized.
State 4-H Grain Judging Contest was held in Dallas.
The State 4-H Livestock Judging Contest was held at College Station. County teams were trained intensively for 1 week and then the contest was held at the end of the course.
Boys' 4-H Sheep Clubs were organized.
1923
The first National 4-H Club Congress was held.
1924
National trophy was offered to the youth in the United States who was most outstanding in community service and junior leadership.
1926
The Texas Home Demonstration Association awarded its first Maggie W. Barry Scholarship.
1927
The first National 4-H Club Camp was held in Washington, D.C. At this camp, the pledge and the motto for 4-H club work were officially adopted.
1942
President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed the week of April 5-11 as National Mobilization Week for farm youth. He said, "Let your Head, Heart, Hands, and Health truly be dedicated to your country which needs them now, as never before."
The 4-H theme was "Feed and Clothe a Fighter and Myself" in support of World War II efforts.
1946
The first State 4-H Roundup held in August at Texas A&M College.
1948
Worldwide exchange of youth, called the International Farm Youth Exchange (IFYE) Program, began.
1949
The Junior Leadership Training program in Texas was begun, sponsored by Pennzoil United, Inc.
1950
The first Texas 4-H Youth Council was organized.
1953
State 4-H Recognition Committee was organized. This organization now is called the Texas 4-H Youth Development Foundation 1958 Fiftieth anniversary of Texas 4-H Club Work.
1962
The Texas 4-H Youth Development Foundation was created and operates as a nonprofit corporation under the state laws of Texas.
1967
The first Extension Youth Camp for Disadvantaged was held at Huntsville, Texas. 1969 With a grant from the Sears-Roebuck Foundation, a youth development agent was employed to initiate the new urban project to reach youth from lower socioeconomic families within the city of Houston.
1973
The first Texas 4-H Congress was held in Houston, Texas. The theme for this Congress was "Values in Transition."
1974
Groundbreaking ceremony was held for the Texas 4-H Center, Brownwood.
1975
The Texas 4-H Center was completed.
1976
4-H Volunteer Leaders' Association of Texas (VLAT) was organized.
1978
The Texas 4-H Center was officially dedicated on November 8.
1983
The first Texas 4-H Legislative Congress was held at The State Capital in Austin.
Seventy-fifth Anniversary of Texas 4-H & Youth Development Program.
1986
The Texas 4-H Management System was implemented to expand and enhance role of 4-H volunteers.
1987
The Phase II addition to Texas 4-H Center was dedicated.
1989
Texas 4-H "Making the Grade" Congress focusing on youth issues was held in San Antonio.
Grand opening ceremonies were held at the Leadership Lodge at Texas 4-H Center.
1990
Texas initiated a state-wide 4-H Strategic Planning effort and adopts a vision, mission and values to guide the 4-H program into the 21st century.
1992
4-H enrollment in Texas surpassed 500,000 members for the first time.
1995
The first 4-H Youth Issues Congress was held in Memphis, Tennessee. Thirty-one Texas delegates attended.
1996
The first Texas 4-H Reunion was held at the Texas 4-H Center to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the 4-H Volunteer Leaders' Association and of the Texas 4-H Center. A time capsule was buried at the Texas 4-H Center.
4-H Friends and Alumni Association of Texas was organized.
1997
National Youth Voices and Action Campaign Partnership was established.
Texas 4-H "Go4It" Marketing Campaign was established
1998
Texas 4-H celebrated its ninetieth anniversary.
Texas 4-H faculty member were assigned in all 12 districts.
The Texas 4-H Management System was introduced statewide
1999
Texas 4-H enrollment exceeds 800,000.
Texas 4-H Youth Development Foundation scholarship program exceeds $1 million.
2001
Texas 4-H and Youth Development Program enrollment exceeded 1.17 million youth.
2002
4-H in America celebrates it 100th Anniversity with a year long celebration.
2004
Texas 4-H Roundup sponsors the largest state community service project by assisting the Brazos Valley Habitat for Humanity. More than 100 youth and adults helped build a house in Bryan and more than $15,000.00 was raised statewide.
2006
Mr. Richard Wallrath provides an endowment of 71 - $10,000 scholarship to Texas 4-H High School Seniors through the Texas 4-H Opportunities Scholarship Program.
Texas 4-H Roundup features Columbia recording artist and former Texas 4-H Council member, Trent Willmon during a concert.
Educational workshops are offered to 4-H members to participate in during Texas 4-H Roundup.
Texas AgriLife Extension Service celebrates the 100th anniversary of the County Extension Agent in Texas. The first agent was located in Smith County (Tyler).
2007
Texas 4-H and Youth Development Program kicks off year long celebration of the 100th Anniversary of 4-H in the state.
2008
Blue Bell Creameries honored Texas 4-H with own ice cream flavor, Centennial Cupcake.
A delegation of forty-six 4-H members, volunteers, county Extension Agents, and 4-H faculty traveled to Washington DC to meet then President George W. Bush in the East Room to commemorate the Texas 4-H Centennial.
2009
Texas 4-H Youth Development Foundation celebrated 50 years of provided scholarships to the youth of the Texas 4-H and Youth Development Program.
one day 4-H was introduced as a day of state-wide community service projects for 4-H members to give back to the communities and county's. More than 10,000 youth from 185 counties participated in the event.
References: • Kelsey, Lincoln David and Cannon Chiles Hearne. Cooperative Extension Work. Ithaca, NewYork: Comstock Publishing Associates, 1955, pg 19. • Reck, Franklin M. The 4-H Story: A History of 4-H Club Work. Ames, Iowa: The Iowa State University press, 1951. • Wessel, Thomas and Marilyn Wessel. 4-H: An American Idea, 1900-1980: A History of 4-H. Chevy Chase, Maryland: National 4-H Council, 1982.
