The History of 4-H

4-H began as a simultaneous response to needs throughout the country, rather than as the idea of one individual. The goal of the program was to extend agricultural education to rural youth by organizing boys and girls clubs and through "learning by doing."

While the concepts that led to the organization of 4-H began in many places across the country in the same time frame, Iowa is credited with first using a three-leaf clover emblem with an imprinted H on each leaf that represented "head, heart and hands" around 1903. The fourth H - health was added in 1911.

The first use of the term "4-H Club" in a federal document appeared in 1918 in a bulletin written by Gertrude L. Warren. By 1924, wider usage of the name "4-H" was adopted. This was used thereafter throughout the world.

The first emblem design was a three-leaf clover, introduced by O.H. Benson, sometime between 1907-08. From the beginning, the three "H's" signified Head, Heart and Hands. A four-leaf clover design with H's appeared around 1908. In 1911, Benson referred to the need for four H's -- suggesting that they stand for "Head, Heart, Hands, and Hustle. . . head trained to think, plan and reason; heart trained to be true, kind and sympathetic; hands trained to be useful, helpful and skillful; and the hustle to render ready service, to develop health and vitality. . . " In 1911, 4-H club leaders approved the present 4-H design. O.B. Martin is credited with suggesting that the H's signify Head, Heart, Hands and Health -- universally used since then. The 4-H emblem was patented in 1924 and Congress passed a law protecting the use of the 4-H name and emblem in 1939, slightly revised in 1948.

Otis Hall, State Leader of Kansas, was responsible for the original wording of the 4-H pledge, officially adopted by the State 4-H Leaders at the first National 4-H camp in 1927. The pledge remained unchanged until 1973, when it was revised to include "and my world."

4-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT MISSION STATEMENT

4-H empowers youth to reach their full potential working and learning in partnership with caring adults.

NEBRASKA 4-H LIFE SKILLS

We all need to develop skills used throughout our lives as we build relationships, work, manage families and homes, participate in communities and use leisure time. Life skills, we call them in 4-H. They include:

• thinking critically
• solving problems
• respecting self, others and the environment
• communicating
• preparing for a career
• serving others
• choosing healthy lifestyles
• managing change and challenges

4-H IN NEBRASKA

E.C. Bishop was credited with conceiving the notion of Boy's and Girls Clubs in Nebraska (later to be known as 4-H clubs). He believed in making education more relevant to youth by involving them and their families in many activities such as agriculture and home economics groups as well as sports groups. In 1906 he wrote:

"The greatest encouragement to our work must come from the home. Parents should encourage children to learn by experience and by studying the best possible way to care for plants and animal life and the best way to do the ordinary tasks around the home."

NEBRASKA 4-H GATHERINGS

The first mention of a state-wide gathering of teen-aged youth was from the period of 1905-1911, referred to as meetings of Boys' and Girls' Clubs. No record of group meetings was found from 1912-1916. Various gatherings occurred until 1922. Since then, there has been an official 4-H meeting of teens at a 4-H event, with the exception of 1943 and 1945 due to war conditions. This event has been known as Boys' and Girl's Club Week, 4-H Club Week, Nebraska State 4-H Conference, Expovisions, and, most currently, Get a "NU" Life Career Exploration Camps.

NEBRASKA 4-H LEADERSHIP

It is impossible to list or name all those volunteer leaders, Extension staff, and others who have contributed to the continuous growth of 4-H in Nebraska. The following individuals have directed this growth with their experience, enthusiasm, skill and leadership.

1905-1910	E.C. Bishop	1949-1950	E.W. Janike
1911	Val Keyser	1951-1974	W.M. Antes
1913-1914	Hulda Peterson (Girls) L.T. Skinner (Boys)	1975-1994	W.E. Caldwell
1915	Hulda Peterson (Girls) C.H. Besson (Boys)	1994-1996	D.D. Dearborn
1916	L.T. Skinner	1997-2001	G.L. Heusel
1917-1918	C.W. Watson	2002 - Present	E.A. Birnstihl
1919-1948	L.I. Frisbie

EARLY DEVELOPMENT

The roots of 4-H began at the turn of the century when progressive educators started to emphasize the needs of young people and to introduce nature study as a basis for a better agricultural education. Boys and girls clubs and leagues were established in schools and churches to meet these needs. To spark the interest of young people, Farmers Institutes cooperated with school superintendents by promoting production contests, soil tests and plant identification. By March 1904 several boys and girls clubs had already exhibited projects. Most states organized clubs outside the schools with rural parents acting as volunteer leaders and County Extension agents provided materials. Farmers saw the practical benefits and public support and enthusiasm for 4-H grew throughout the nation.

TIES TO FORMAL EDUCATION AND U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA)

The Morrill Act of 1862 provided federal lands to establish land-grant colleges and universities. In 1890, colleges and universities for black citizens were established in the southern region to insure that all people were served. The state land-grant universities and the Cooperative Extension Service of the USDA maintained close contact with the development of 4-H. The land-grant institutions recommended organizing a distinct administrative division in each land-grant institution to direct the many Cooperative Extension activities that were developing. By 1912, virtually all of the land-grant institutions in the southern states had signed cooperative agreements with the USDA and had organized Extension departments.

FORMAL ESTABLISHMENT OF 4-H

Congressional appropriations to the state land-grant institutions began in 1912 for development of early Extension work within the states. In 1914, the Smith-Lever Act established the Cooperative Extension System within the USDA, the state land-grant universities and the counties. Since the early legislation Congress has continued to support 4-H.

RECENT HISTORY

Through the years, the overall objective of 4-H has remained the same: the development of youth as individuals and as responsible and productive citizens. 4-H serves youth through a variety of methods:

• organized clubs
• 4-H special interest or short term-groups
• 4-H school enrichment programs
• 4-H school-aged child care
• 4-H instructional TV
• 4-H camping
• 4-H activities
• 4-H centers or
• as individual members

In 2002, 4-H celebrated it's centennial with state and national celebrations.  Nebraska took the centennial as an opportunity to establish "4-H Visions: A Road Map for Nebraska 4-H in the 21st Century".  This road map is comprised of goals which are divided into 5 theme areas:

• Create additional opportunities for youth and adults to partner in the community, school and 4-H
• Develop out-of-school and summer programs that attract youth and adults from a variety of backgrounds and provide learning and service opportunities.
• Strengthen the 4-H program through marketing plans that result in the involvement of potential members, staff and financial supporters of diverse backgrounds.
• Recognize youth and adults for their positive accomplishments and contributions to their communities.
• Create and encourage inter-generational mentoring programs that provide opportunities for youth and adults to learn from one another.

4-H Visions: A Road Map for the 21st Century has been developed to provide direction for Nebraska 4-H to reach these youths. The plan content is based on local youth development conversations held in two-thirds of Nebraska counties earlier this year that involved nearly 2,000 youths and adults. The local conversation results served as guidelines for the approximately 175 youths and adults who came together at the state centennial conversation in February to further develop themes for meeting the needs of young people in the future. Nebraska 4-H established 4-H Visions: A Road Map for the 21st Century to take advantage of the invaluable conversation input.

Resources:

National 4-H Council web pages

4-H: An American Idea 1900-1980, Thomas and Marilyn Wessel

The History of 4-H in Nebraska, John Orr
4-H Visions: A Road Map for the 21st Century, Kathleen Lodl and Elizabeth Birnstihl