Iowa 4-H History By County - Iowa 4-H Foundation

Iowa 4-H History By County

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Iowa County, 4-H History

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...

Palo Alto County, Iowa 4-H History

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...

Mills County, Iowa 4-H History

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...

Grundy County, Iowa 4-H History

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...

Clinton County, Iowa 4-H History

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...

Butler County, Iowa 4-H History

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...

Fayette County, Iowa 4-H History

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....

Louisa County, Iowa 4-H History

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...

Chickasaw County, Iowa 4-H History

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...

Jefferson County, Iowa 4-H History

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,...

Wapello County, Iowa 4-H History

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...

Winnebago County, Iowa 4-H History

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...

Benton County, Iowa 4-H History

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...

Humbolt County, Iowa 4-H History

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,...

Pottawattamie (East), Iowa 4-H History

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...

Ida County, Iowa 4-H History

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...

Jackson County, Iowa 4-H History

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....

Humboldt County, Iowa 4-H History

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...

Washington County, Iowa 4-H History

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...

Union County, Iowa 4-H History

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...

Crawford County, Iowa 4-H History

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...

Wayne County, Iowa 4-H History

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...

Winneshiek, Iowa 4-H History

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...

Emmet County, Iowa 4-H History

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...

Shelby County, Iowa 4-H History

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...

Buchanan County, Iowa 4-H History

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....

Henry County Iowa 4-H History

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...

Buena Vista County, Iowa 4-H History

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...

C.J. Gauger's Place in 4-H Past

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...

Van Buren, Iowa 4-H History

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...

Lee County, Iowa 4-H History

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...

Harrison County, Iowa 4-H History

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...

Cerro Gordo County, Iowa 4-H History

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...
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