4-H Fun!

For many rural Minnesota children growing up in the troubled years of the depression, 4-H Clubs represented opportunities to learn new skills through project work, gain self-confidence through competition, help out on the family farm, and socialize with other children.

The first club of its kind was founded in Ohio in 1902 by A.B. Graham, a rural school teacher who saw the need for connecting his students' farm environment with their learning. Theodore A. (T.A.) Erickson (1871-1963), a teacher at the University of Minnesota's College of Agriculture, began the first club in Minnesota in 1904. The clover emblem was first used in 1907, initially with only three leaves, representing "Head, Heart, and Hands." In 1911 a fourth leaf was added, which today stands for "Health." The Smith-Lever Act, passed in 1914, established the Cooperative Extension Service and provided funding for boys' and girls' clubs nationwide. The term "4-H" was first coined in 1918.

As members of 4-H clubs, both boys and girls could participate in projects that would teach them about raising farm animals and poultry; crop, livestock, and dairy production; soil conservation; home economics (cooking, clothing, room furnishing, and home management), health, gardening, crafts, music, and theatre. All children of school age were eligible to join 4-H, and could continue to compete until graduation from high school.

The county fair was the highlight of the 4-H year, when completed projects were judged and ribbons awarded. In addition to individual projects, each club created its own display. Those meriting top honors in each category were awarded a coveted trip to the Minnesota State Fair for a chance to be named state champion.

Citations:

• History of 4-H. 4-H Centennial Web Site, 2005.
• Person: T.A. Erickson, founder of 4-H in Minnesota, 1940.
• Object: 4-H Handy Book, 1936.
• Smith-Lever Act of 1914. Wikipedia.org, 2006.
• Photo: Boy holding two pigs to be entered into the 4-H club contest, 1935.
• Photo: A 4-H miss with her poultry, 1935.
• Photo: Lloyd and Lester Shold conducted a milk testing demonstration at Cook County 4-H Achievement Days, 1939.
• Photo: 4-H bread baking demonstration, 1930.
• Photo: Style Queen from Benton County, Eleanor Burke, State Fair, 1935.
• Photo: Room furnished by 4-H team, State Fair, 1930.
• Photo: Roadside Garden, Washington County 4H Club project, 1930.
• Photo: 4-H Thespian winners Miriam Evans and Winifred Dickinson, Windom, win trip to Minnesota State Fair, 1935.
• Object: Morrison County fair ribbon, first premium, 1936.
• Object: Minnesota State Fair poultry ribbons, first, second and third premium, 1933.