Posted on March 13, 2026 at 4:26 PM by Emily Saveraid
Since the early 1920s, 4‑H has been a vital part of Adair County. Our earliest records date to 1925, when 178 youth participated in Clothing, Pig, and Poultry clubs. By 1935, the project clubs had expanded to include beef, dairy, sheep, draft colt, corn, garden, forestry, and a bread‑baking club. By the mid‑1940s, the county had grown to 9 girls’ clubs and 16 boys’ clubs with a total enrollment of 619 youth. Many Extension workshops for adults and 4‑H’ers focused on victory gardens, preserving food, repairing or tailoring clothes, and growing the healthiest animals. There were also workshops addressing labor shortages due to the war and on how to train and integrate labor forces once the war ended.
The 1950s saw the separation of Extension from Farm Bureau into two distinct organizations. The addition of Winter Camp gave 24 4‑H youth the opportunity to experience camping — in February! There were 507 youth enrolled that year who produced 946 articles of clothing and 247 farm projects for the county fair. October brought the establishment of the Junior Halloween Party and costume contest. During the fall and winter, 9 junior and 11 senior teams participated in a boys’ basketball tournament.
By the 1960s, Adair County had grown to include 31 4‑H clubs with 472 members. 4‑H Rally Night and Family Night events drew more than 300 youth and parents to learn about 4‑H opportunities. Other youth programs included Veishea campus visits during Career Day at ISU, Winter Camp, Intermediate Summer Camp, 4‑H agricultural tours, and the Junior Halloween Party. In 1965, the first beef carcass show was held at the county fair.
In the 1970s, 485 youth in 30 clubs participated in an advanced crochet class, a 10‑day 4‑H youth exchange trip to Utah, and a statewide Tractor Operator Contest. In 1975, static project judging changed significantly. Previously, projects were submitted and judged in a closed session. That year, judges sat with the 4‑H members to discuss the project and provide comments before assigning a ribbon.
The 1980s saw membership of 363 youth across 23 clubs. In 1985, the Share‑a‑Calf program began, pairing a cattle producer with a 4‑H’er to raise and enter a market beef animal at the county fair. The sale price of the animal was divided between the producer and the 4‑H’er.
Five hundred seventeen youth participated in 4‑H and youth development activities in the 1990s. The Bucket/Bottle Calf Show was created at the county fair. The very first SOFA (Speak Out for Agriculture) field trip was held. A New Year’s Eve lock‑in party and a 4‑H Intermediates’ skating party welcomed all youth, including non‑members. The Summerset Citizens 4‑H Club received the Youth Service Volunteer Award from the Iowa Governor.
The 2000s saw the evolution of the Clover Buds program into Clover Kids as its own entity. A formal dance fundraiser sponsored by the Youth Action Committee for middle school students helped support the Micah Ronald McDonald House in Omaha. The 4‑H Youth Council participated in a preschool literacy program by reading to students and distributing gift‑wrapped books. A junior bowling party was held for 4th–6th graders.
4‑H’ers supported the “Pop Tabs for Jacy” project benefiting the Ronald McDonald House. The goal was for each county to collect 100 pounds of pop tabs.
The Bucket of Junk welding contest was created with three age divisions, challenging youth to create a welded project using supplied “junk.” Several years later, the Bucket of Scraps quilt square challenge was added, inviting youth to make a 12‑inch quilt square using provided fabric.
In 2021, a grant funded the Clubhouse Wolverine after‑school program, which began offering STEM learning opportunities.
As Adair County moves into its second century of 4‑H, it remains a vital resource for the youth in our community.
Categories: Adair
