Page 6 2024 Fall Farm Outlook Lincoln Daily News Oct 2024 What is the largest out-of-school youth program in the country, with six million members? That would be the 4-H program with 200,000 members just in Illinois. Most rural schools are familiar with this program and if they are not, they should be because every county in Illinois has a 4-H program. The 4-H motto is “To make the best better” and the slogan is “Learn by doing.” The origins of 4-H can be traced back to 1862 with the Morrill Act which established landgrant universities that conducted agricultural research. However, these schools had a tough time sharing their findings with the local farmers who were typically unwilling to adapt to changes or ideas of teaching children. However, in 1902 A.B. Graham started the first 4-H club in Clark County, Ohio and he called it ‘The Tomato Club’ because the focus was on one single topic, you guessed growing and harvesting tomatoes. By 1911 Jessie Field Shambaugh designed a four-leaf clover with an ‘H’ on each leaf, meaning ‘Head, Heart, Health and Hands’, and by 1910 the 4-H Club was born and became a national youth organization in 1924. Shortly after that in 1934 girls started taking notice 4-H Making the Best Better with and the ‘all-girls’ clubs focused on sewing projects like taking a feed sack and making a slip out of it and learning cooking and baking tips and tricks. In the 1930’s this grew into the 4-H coed club we see today. Today, most clubs focus on various subjects to entice a wider audience such as technology, engineering, science, healthy living, and citizenship. In addition to being in the United States, 4-H Clubs are in 83 countries with more than 110 program areas available. The 4-H program advertises that you get to be yourself and encourages students from all backgrounds, all interests, and geographics. It promotes learning about the things kids like to do with opportunities to meet and learn from mentors, and other kids, learn about careers they may be interested in, and explore new places. Bhayleigh Osborn has been in Hollanders 4-H Club for three years and has shown hogs at local County Fairs as well as the Illinois State Fair. Bhayleigh states that being involved in this club has allowed her to meet other kids her age and learn more about animals that she doesn’t directly raise, like goats and cows. By Continued --
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