Tagged with: history
Posted on
02/06/2018
at 3:45 PM
Adams County is a very rural county in southwest Iowa and is recognized as the smallest population county of the state with less than 4,000 residents in 2015. 4-H remains strong at about 90 club members in 3 traditional Adams County 4-H clubs. The county also has a Clover Kids...
Posted on
12/22/2017
at 8:55 AM
History of Cedar County 4-H
4-H officially started in Cedar County in the year 1918 with 2 boys and girls clubs organized and 25 youth involved. Of the 25 youth, there were 14 boys interested in the baby beef contest with only four boys completing the year. Part of this project...
Posted on
12/19/2017
at 11:56 AM
Hancock County Extension – 4-H History
Extension work started in Hancock County as a result of the extension program and Farm Bureau being discussed by representatives of Iowa State College at the Farmer’s Institute held at Britt in 1917. During the first few years of extension work in the county the...
Posted on
12/18/2017
at 9:23 AM
Story of 4-H and Youth Development in Des Moines County
Around the turn of the 20th century, clubs for youth were formed to teach youth life skills. With the passage of the Smith-Lever Act in 1914, county agents in Iowa began to organize local clubs with the help of local...
Posted on
12/18/2017
at 9:18 AM
In the Beginning… Iowa County 4-H
4-H officially started in Iowa County in 1918 when D. H. Zentmire was hired as the County Agent. He started the boy’s commodity club work. The change to community club took place in 1929. Girl’s 4-H has always been on the community basis.
In April...
Posted on
04/24/2017
at 3:19 PM
The first Palo Alto County 4-H Club started as a Purebred Gilt Club in July of 1920. Twenty young people signed up and six members actually starting with hogs. Agent France casually reports that five of the six originators completed the project with the sixth member unable to do so...
Posted on
04/24/2017
at 11:59 AM
4-H in Mills County had its beginning following a trip to the Iowa State Fair in 1920 by Mrs. Will Bradley. She returned from the fair enthusiastic about the work of the 4-H clubs she saw there and joined with Ray Hilton and the county agent Fred Farquar in forming...
Posted on
04/24/2017
at 9:13 AM
4-H has played an important part in the lives of many youth and adults. 4-H had a simple beginning in Grundy County. L.W. Plager formed the first Baby Beef Club in 1916 and in 1917 a Market Pig Club was added. From this simple start, more clubs grew. The Grundy...
Posted on
04/12/2017
at 8:53 AM
Iowa State College was doing extension work with rural boys and girls before the Extension Service was established in 1906. During the first year of extension in the fall of 1906, corn and livestock judging contests were held in connection with fairs and institutes and with the schools; Clinton County...
Posted on
04/12/2017
at 8:30 AM
20’s
The 4-H program in Butler County has been expanding the lives of youth for 90 years. It was first documented in 1925. At that time, the Farm Bureau served as the local governing body for the County Extension Service. They shared facilities and the Farm Bureau supplied 50% of the...
Posted on
04/12/2017
at 8:13 AM
Fayette County’s first 4-H club was organized late in 1918. During the year 1919, Holstein calf, baby beef, and corn clubs were organized. The 4-H club program continued to grow and local clubs for the above projects were formed in other communities.
In 1925 townships had poultry clubs with local leaders....
Posted on
04/11/2017
at 10:10 PM
With the passage of the Smith-Lever Act by the United States Congress in 1914, the Cooperative Extension Service was established. Its purpose was diffusing useful and practical information on subjects relating to agriculture, home economics, and community affairs among the people of the United States. In Louisa County, Farm Bureau...
Posted on
04/11/2017
at 9:59 PM
The first record of women’s activities in the county was in 1919 and was stated in the negative when the Farm Bureau Board voted not to sponsor home project work because of lack of funds.
The year 1923 (April) a county-wide women’s organization meeting was held and the women asked for...
Posted on
04/11/2017
at 9:17 PM
Starting back in 1922 -1923, 24 boys and girls clubs, 335 members. It was a clothing year for girls. Some of the club names were Merry Maids, The Lively Nine, and The Little Women. For boys the project clubs were Hereford Calf, Sow & Litter, Jersey Calf and Garment.
In 1924-1925,...
Posted on
04/11/2017
at 8:03 AM
In July, 1946, Ruth Streicher of Wapello County was elected state president of the Iowa Girls 4-H club at the convention in Ames. Ruth is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Streicher of Cass Township who operate a 560 acre farm along the Des Moines River near Chillicothe. In...
Posted on
04/10/2017
at 4:44 PM
Monona County’s first 4-H Club started in 1923 called the Jordan Sunshine 4-H Club with Mrs. Joe Bellis as leader. In 11925, Agnes Larsen and Alice Norby, members of the Jordan Sunshine Club, went to the state fair with a clothing demonstration and won 4th place.
In 1932, the Spring Valley...
Posted on
04/08/2017
at 6:57 AM
Boys’ 4-H club work first began in 1919, but was then dropped for several years and then started again. Girls’ 4-H club work began in 1925 with the organization of 11 local clubs that were primarily clothing clubs. The purpose of the club was to develop 4-square girls; this means...
Posted on
04/08/2017
at 6:25 AM
In April 1921 4-H was organized in Benton County through the efforts of the Home Demonstration Agent, Cecile Manikowski. ·
Actually it started in 1920 when Mrs. Maud Inman of Eden Township organized a Girls club called the Sewing Circle. Miss Grace Sparks, Home Demonstration Agent at the time was interested...
Posted on
04/08/2017
at 6:02 AM
Change is constant, and being flexible, the 4-H program in Humboldt County has continued to have an important role in the community. These changes, as well through the years, involve organization, projects, emphasis, leadership, age, and even uniforms.
The Cooperative Farm Bureau and Iowa State Extension Program was organized in September,...
Posted on
11/06/2014
at 3:10 PM
Generations of memories live in the heads, hearts, and hands of East Pottawattamie County 4-H members. Avoca, Iowa, is the home of the original Pottawattamie County Fair established in 1896 . . . six years before 4-H officially began. Bringing 4-H to this wonderful fair was the perfect addition and...
Posted on
11/06/2014
at 2:25 PM
The first 4-H club in Ida County was established in 1919, with the county agent, M.L. Henderson, acting as 4-H leader. In 1920, the first 4-H fair was held. The first fair lasted three days, and it was considered a great success.
A purebred sow and litter club and was active...
Posted on
11/04/2014
at 4:49 PM
The 4-H Program in Jackson County is very large and well known in our community. The 4-H involvement in Jackson County started in 1921 with the club Miles Baby Beef, an all boys club. By 1928, three girls clubs had formed the XL Club, Hawkeye Hustlers, and Wide Awake Club....
Posted on
11/04/2014
at 4:36 PM
As our world evolves, so does the 4-H program in Humboldt County. The Cooperative Farm Bureau and Iowa State University Extension Program was organized in September 1916. Club work for boys and girls did not become a major program in Humboldt County until 1926. However, some townships developed clubs as...
Posted on
10/07/2014
at 4:22 PM
Who were the pioneer people whose impact made a difference in your county as well as beyond?
Mrs. Clyde (Achsah) Maxwell was one of those responsible for beginning 4-H clubs in Washington County. She had read accounts of the new and almost unknown idea of teaching and of bringing college work...
Posted on
10/07/2014
at 4:20 PM
Throughout the last 80 years, 4-H in Union County has provided healthy activities for young people and has created positive youth development programs in our communities. The projects and methods of 4-H clubs and members have evolved during that time, but the goals and values have been maintained.
In the fall...
Posted on
09/12/2014
at 3:55 PM
Crawford County 4-H is rich in its heritage. Many things have changed in 4-H over the years, but many have stayed the same. Early history of Crawford County’s 4-H club members and their work seems to have been lost in the files in the Farm Bureau office, although scattered records...
Posted on
09/12/2014
at 3:49 PM
The Farm Bureau and Extension Service were organized in 1918, but 4-H Clubs did not organize until 1925.
Eight townships were organized, but there were only seven clubs, as two townships were organized together.
There were seven Home Economics leaders.
At that time the projects were 1st and 2nd year Clothing, 1st and...
Posted on
08/26/2014
at 3:43 PM
Early 1900s
The earliest Extension Council report of 4-H activity in Winneshiek County is from the year 1925. It mentions an ex-member, no longer eligible because of his age, who had been a member the three previous years, which would indicate clubs as early as 1922. In 1925, 26 boys and...
Posted on
10/07/2013
at 5:57 PM
4-H an organization for young people, started in Emmet County about 1919. The beginning was a pig club with eight members. In 1920 a purebred sow and litter club was organized with 18 members; in 1921 a dairy calf club, a poultry club and corn club was added. In 1923...
Posted on
10/07/2013
at 2:37 PM
The 4-H Club program in Shelby County evolved from very small beginnings. Early records indicate that there were six members enrolled in “pig club” work in 1919. The Farm Bureau Board appointed a club committee in 1920 to help organize clubs and develop the 4-H program. Women were added to...
Posted on
05/03/2013
at 11:46 AM
4-H has been around for over 100 years. 4-H was established in Sac County in the 1920's. Ralph W. Held was the County Agent in 1929, per the Annual Report for 1929-30.
Sac County 4-H staff and clubs offered many annual events for 4-H members and families. Some programs included...
Posted on
05/02/2013
at 12:14 PM
Two words describe the 4-H program in Buchanan County—energy and tradition. These traits have long sustained each other to create a strong and respected 4-H history in Buchanan County. Energy “Buchanan County 4-H’ers have always been go-getters,” according to 2005 Buchanan County’s 4-H State Hall of Fame nominee Marvel Dennie....
Posted on
05/02/2013
at 12:07 PM
The first county agent in Henry County was Don E. Fish. His responsibility entailed both agricultural consultations and boys’ club work advisor. Naturally, with 4-H clubs springing up in Iowa, Henry County also joined in by organizing clubs. Henry County agents and directors are as follows:
Don E Fish March...
Posted on
05/02/2013
at 11:58 AM
4-H in Montgomery County has grown through the years. From the time it started, it has gone from an achievement show to a county fair that lasts a week. Many people have grown up with the 4-H program over the years and have learned a great deal of life skills...
Posted on
05/02/2013
at 11:44 AM
The Bremer County girls’ 4-H clubs were organized in 1920 with special project clubs such as: Food Club, Own Your Own Room Club, Garment Club, Expense Account Club, Health Club, Bread Club, Canning Club, and Home Furnishing Club. In 1921 the girls' 4-H clubs started with 3 clubs and 16...
Posted on
05/02/2013
at 11:40 AM
The Farm Bureau and Extension Service were organized in 1918, but 4-H Clubs did not organize until 1925. Eight townships were organized, but there were only seven clubs, as two townships were organized together.There were seven Home Economics leaders. At that time the projects were 1st and 2nd year Clothing,...
Posted on
05/02/2013
at 11:35 AM
Marshall County 4-H has been blessed with many long term, dedicated volunteer leaders over the years, who share their passion for 4-H and what it stands for with their club members. 4-H is built on volunteerism. Our volunteer’s are what keeps the program going… their commitment to providing opportunities to...
Posted on
04/25/2013
at 11:06 AM
Historical Highlights The earliest records show that Cooperative Extension work in Franklin County began in 1918 with the organization of the Franklin County Farm Bureau. Extension work was a service offered by the Farm Bureau. One of the first things the Farm Bureau did in the county was organize 4-H...
Posted on
01/09/2013
at 1:33 PM
The history of 4-H in West Pottawattamie goes back to 1918. The beginnings were a little rocky considering that as “4-H work” was growing in the schools, hiring a 4-H club agent in West Pott. county was turned down by school directors. Encouraged by a state 4-H agent, the county...
Posted on
01/09/2013
at 1:04 PM
2007 The Fremont County Fishing Club was very successful. This was the last year for it. A big success was the revival of the 4-H County Council. High school youth from each club serve on a county committee planning 4-H youth activities and events. It continues to be very active...
Posted on
01/09/2013
at 12:52 PM
As we look back in time to the history of Carroll County 4-H, we are amazed at the similarities that existed in the 1900's and now. In May, 1925, Mrs. Barker, Assistant State Leader, organized four 4-H clubs in Carroll County. Clothing was their project with appropriate underwear as the...
Posted on
10/18/2012
at 11:37 AM
Guthrie County has a very strong tradition of 4-H. Livestock and agriculture history in Guthrie County started in 1858 when a group of local farmers started showing livestock at the first Guthrie County Fair. Local farmers and their families would come to Guthrie Center to attend the county fair on...
Posted on
09/28/2012
at 10:02 AM
What we know as 4-H today, first started in Lyon County in 1920. The first clubs began around Inwood. Below is the first report kept from 1920. “Junior Club Work. The interest in a pig club seemed to be of most interest to the boys and girls in the spring...
Posted on
09/27/2012
at 11:11 AM
4-H made its roots in Plymouth County in the mid 1920’s with around 25 clubs being organized in the first few years. Records show that they were primarily girls clubs or boys clubs. They didn’t mix until later years. The boys raised livestock and the girls worked on home making...
Posted on
09/27/2012
at 11:06 AM
4-H had it’s beginnings in Calhoun County just like it did in many other Iowa counties. It started with boys and girls groups supported by the local school. Boys were active in the baby beef, sow and litter, poultry, and corn projects. Girls focused on activities like cooking, sewing and...
Posted on
09/06/2012
at 8:43 AM
MONROE COUNTY EXTENSION Pioneer leader, G.A. Lineweaver, was the county extension agent and later served as the Iowa State Boy’s club leader. He went on to serve as the first executive secretary of the Iowa 4-H Foundation. Achievements of 4-H Members Patty Judge was an eight year member of a...
Posted on
09/04/2012
at 2:40 PM
In 1925, county agent R.E. Yockey stated," Boy's and Girl's club work is being recognized more by local people". These are the earliest available records of 4-H club work in O'Brien County. A market pig club was organized in the Sutherland area in 1925 with 11 members. Four boys participated...
Posted on
08/14/2012
at 10:40 AM
4-H History in Delaware County – 1919-1929 In 1919, the first 4-H clubs were organized in Delaware County. In 1919 – 1920, seven clubs were listed: Baby Beef, Purebred Calf, Market Pig, Purebred Gilt, Poultry, Dairy Calf, and Sow and Litter. Ninety boys were enrolled, but only 21 completed a...
Posted on
08/11/2012
at 8:36 AM
4-H has been the guiding force for many Pocahontas County youth. They often share fond memories of club meetings, fair activities and life learning experiences. Just as all across Iowa, Pocahontas County 4-H began with project clubs in townships and met the needs of the youth dictated by the times.
Interest...
Posted on
08/11/2012
at 8:24 AM
County 4-H clubs were first recorded in 1918 as a beef club in Meriden. Another early recording of a baby beef club was in 1920 in Grand Meadow Township. These first clubs were project-driven and separated between boys and girls. Project clubs became common with garment clubs and bread clubs...
Posted on
06/29/2012
at 1:10 PM
Compiled spring of 2012
Introduction
Youth have been learning and developing through the 4-H program in Story County for nearly a century due to the efforts of many volunteers, parents and extension staff. The history below has been written to create a picture of a few of the happenings in each decade....
Posted on
06/28/2012
at 9:32 AM
Dickinson County Extension is located in northwest Iowa in the city of Spirit Lake. 4-H has long been a rich part of history for this county extension office. We can trace programming back to 1916 with W.H. Sawhill serving as the first “county agent.” During the roaring 20’s many 4-H...
Posted on
06/15/2012
at 10:45 AM
In 1918, youth education had a presence in the lives of children and families in Ringgold County. Children from Jefferson, Tingley, Union, Mount Ayr and Rice Townships were involved in Boys and Girls Clubs, a total of 215 youth. Many of the children were in small, rural country schools not...
Posted on
06/11/2012
at 3:23 PM
The 4-H Program in Worth County has a rich history with its roots as deep as four generations. Over the years, young people have learned, experienced and benefited from all 4-H has to offer. Worth County records began in 1924 with around 200 4-H members who gathered as clubs, such...
Posted on
05/24/2012
at 9:22 AM
Boys 4-H in Hamilton County started out in 1919 as county-wide livestock clubs, and the first recorded club was a Purebred Sow and Litter club. Each member had a sow and litter, and they raised an average of seven pigs per litter. A sale was held at the county fair;...
Posted on
05/24/2012
at 9:09 AM
The history of Clayton County 4-H dates back to 1918 when the Clayton County Farm Bureau was officially organized on February 28, 1918, in the Court House in Elkader. The Farm Bureau movement was started by a small group of farmers who believed they needed an organization to represent them,...
Posted on
04/19/2012
at 4:51 PM
4-H in Buena Vista County as in other counties has always involved the four ‘H’s’, the head, the heart, health and hands for the local club, the community, the country and the world. Many people involved in 4-H, either as a 4-H member, a 4-H volunteer, a 4-H parent, or...
Posted on
04/19/2012
at 4:19 PM
C. J. Gauger’s Place In 4-H’s Past C.J. Gauger was Iowa State 4-H leader from 1959-1979. In Iowa, he brought the boy’s and girl’s 4-H programs together. Gauger also had a national impact as chair of a national committee that took 4-H in a life skills direction. Whether at the...
Posted on
04/19/2012
at 4:08 PM
Early Years In the summer of 1907, Mr. A.C. Minear arranged for an educational camp for boys in the Stockport area of Van Buren County. The camp included livestock judging, livestock management, and corn production lines. Mr. Minear then arranged to hold a boys camp again during the summer of...
Posted on
04/19/2012
at 3:46 PM
The following information was taken from a booklet entitled Through the Years with 4-H Clubs in Lee County 1916-1946. The information was gathered by the Lee County 4-H Committee in 1946. “Lee County had some canning clubs as early as 1916, but no records of their activities were kept. The...
Posted on
04/16/2012
at 3:48 PM
For most of us, a trip to Washington, D.C. the see our nation’s capital is something pretty special. This is particularly true if the trip is your very first exposure to this historic setting, the impressive national monuments, the halls of Congress and our government, The White House, the national...
Posted on
03/19/2012
at 9:57 AM
In September 2012, Extension in Harrison County will be 100 years old! 4-H helped to spread new ideas by first exposing new methods to the more receptive youth through their 4-H projects. As a result, the parents would often watch their children experiment with new methods and eventually adapt these...
Posted on
03/13/2012
at 8:36 AM
1925 Five original township clothing clubs were: Concord, Table Mound, Vernon, Washington and Prairie Creek. The first team to go to State Fair was Bertha Fitzpatrick and Thelma Quade from the Table Mound Township with their leader Mr. Glen Christman. The first presentation was called “Approved Underwear.” 1926 Every Club...
Posted on
03/12/2012
at 4:30 PM
The earliest records available at the Boone County Extension Office are from 1925. Photographic history shows that one of the first clubs in Boone County was formed in 1922, the HHHH club. Extension records show youth clubs organized in eight townships to learn about baby beef, dairy heifers, sow and...
Posted on
03/08/2012
at 5:00 PM
ISU President William Beardshear’s Place in 4-H’s Past
photos courtesy of Iowa State University Special Collections
When teachers began organizing meetings, contests and clubs for Iowa youth to learn practical skills such as baking and corn growing, they did not call these activities “4-H.” Years passed before people commonly used the...
Posted on
03/08/2012
at 4:53 PM
By Nancy Burright – Former Woodbury County 4-H member and currently a 4-H Volunteer
4-H in Woodbury County, as in all of Iowa, has from the beginning been concerned with teaching youth skills that make everyday life better while developing responsible, productive citizens.
Early records show livestock 4-H clubs organized...
Posted on
03/08/2012
at 4:45 PM
Throughout the year 1919 the ground work for 4-H Clubs in Polk County was laid. In 1920 the organization was official when Don Merrill, the County Extension Agent, began the all important work of forming clubs. Polk County Extension had already expressed an interest by sponsoring many project areas such...
Posted on
03/08/2012
at 12:26 PM
Scott County 4-H History
By Becky Bray, County Extension Education Director
(Editor’s note: 4-H started in Scott County between 1910 and 1920; county records for 4-H start in 1921. Those records and memories were used for additional articles that follow.)
4-H Programs Present and Past
Scott County 4-H held a Farm Youth...
Posted on
03/08/2012
at 12:08 PM
As I research the history of 4-H in Davis County, I am again reminded of the importance of record keeping. Records of project work are important as a learning tool to teach youth a life skill. Records of events surrounding the 4-H clubs in our county are an important tool...
Posted on
03/08/2012
at 11:01 AM
THE 1920’S 1920 seems to be the year when boy’s club work started in the county. At that time there was a purebred guilt club and a poultry club. Twenty-six members fed purebred Hampshire and purebred Poland China gilts. Twenty-five of these were exhibited at the County Fair. Even in...
Posted on
03/08/2012
at 10:46 AM
As early as 1918 we find evidence of activity with youth in corn, beef, and pig project work. Most of the club work prior to 1924 was carried out on an individual basis rather than through organized 4-H clubs.
In 1924, a baby beef club was organized through the efforts...
Posted on
03/06/2012
at 4:13 PM
The Early Years “The work of the Kossuth County Farm Bureau did not begin until April 1, 1917, which was approximately the date of the declaration of war.” So begins the Narrative Report of the early work that would be the beginning of the 4-H program in Kossuth County, Iowa....
Posted on
12/15/2011
at 1:21 PM
One of the first actions taken by the Taylor County Farm Bureau board was to select a 4-H boys’ club committee. The Taylor County Farm Bureau was the only organization that actively sponsored and developed an extension program in the county during this time. Club Organization 4-H clubs were not...
Posted on
12/15/2011
at 11:23 AM
In the fall of 1918, a meeting was held in Atlantic for older boys and men with an interest in pig feeding, to discuss the possibility of starting a club for the young people in Cass County. The next spring of 1919, a meeting of those same boys and girls...
Posted on
10/31/2011
at 2:37 PM
In 1896 the County Institute was formed. This was the basis for extension in Cerro Gordo County. The families that were active in the development of the Institute were the ones that sponsored special short courses that eventually developed into the county extension work on September 1, 1916. The local...
Posted on
10/27/2011
at 7:20 AM
Johnson County 4-H has a long history, dating back to the 1918 Smith-Lever Act of the United States Congress that established County Extension Services, with County Farm Bureaus as sponsoring organizations. The first Johnson County Extension Agent was Ed F. Graff, who began work in Johnson County in about 1918....
Posted on
10/27/2011
at 7:07 AM
Many of the ideals that developed and strengthened the Webster County 4-H Program in the early years are just as important today. Evidence abounds that communication, citizenship and leadership skills were taught to early 4-H members. Today, these same skills are the backbone of helping 4-H members become successful adults...
Posted on
10/03/2011
at 3:42 PM
"4 H is 100!" (compiled for the Centennial of 4-H in 2002.) This marks the hundredth year for 4 H. Keokuk County played a strong role in 4-H becoming the successful youth organization it is today. A file drawer in the Keokuk County Extension Office has clippings, brochures, letters, etc....
Posted on
09/29/2011
at 5:11 PM
4-H and the Clay County Fair
Many people associate 4-H in Clay County with the Clay County Fair. The 4-H program played a significant role in the creation of an annual fair. Regular fairs had been held in the 1870s and 80s but, while interest remained, there is no evidence...
Posted on
09/06/2011
at 1:05 PM
Page County is proud to be the birthplace of 4-H. In 1901 Jessie Field began teaching at Goldenrod School in Fremont Township. She taught “science, in simple ways, as well as the other academic subjects.” The students planted and tended a garden before school, during recess, and at noon. After...
