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Youth Clubs are Formed
A. B. Graham started a youth program in Clark County, Ohio, in 1902, which is considered the birth of 4‑H in the United States. The first club was called “The Tomato Club” or the “Corn Growing Club”. T.A. Erickson of Douglas County, Minnesota, started local agricultural after-school clubs and fairs that same year.
http://4-h.org/about/history/ -
Clover Pin
Jessie Field Shambaugh developed the clover pin with an H on each leaf in 1910.
http://4-h.org/about/history/ -
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Extension System is Created
The passage of the Smith-Lever Act in 1914 created the Cooperative Extension System at USDA and nationalized 4‑H.
http://4-h.org/about/history/ -
WI State Fair
The first State Fair exhibit of boys and girls club work was arranged at West Allis. Potato, dairy calf and pig projects were featured.
http://www.uwex.edu/ces/4h/about/historydates.cfm -
State 4H Congress
First State Club Week (State 4-H Congress) was held at the University of Wisconsin College of Agriculture in Madison. First county agent to work with boys and girls club programs was W.R. Dunwiddie, Dane County.
http://www.uwex.edu/ces/4h/about/historydates.cfm -
Handbook
The State Club Staff issued the original Wisconsin volunteer 4-H leaders handbook.
The word "achievement" came into 4-H club vocabulary. Wisconsin was one of the first states to encourage achievement with award pins.
Early 20's The term "4-H" replaced previous titles such as boys and girls clubs and canning and corn clubs.
The national 4-H Club motto was changed from "Not Our Bit, But Our Best" to "Make the Best Better."
http://www.uwex.edu/ces/4h/about/historydates.cfm -
Clover Emblem
By 1924, 4‑H clubs were formed and the clover emblem was adopted.
http://4-h.org/about/history/ -
Dress Revue
Staging of the first state 4-H Girls Dress Revue at State Fair.
http://www.uwex.edu/ces/4h/about/historydates.cfm -
Upham Woods - Camping
Elizabeth Upham Davis and Caroline Upham Keene chose to memorialize their parents, Horace and Mary Upham, by giving 310 acres of land near Wisconsin Dells to the University of Wisconsin to be used as a nature laboratory and youth camp. Wakelin McNeel (Ranger Mac), Assistant State 4-H Club Leader, was instrumental in procuring the land, to be known as Upham Woods, for use by 4 H clubs and other people cooperating with the University.
http://www.uwex.edu/ces/4h/about/historydates.cfm -
Key Awards
Fifty-nine counties participated in the first annual presentation of the Wisconsin 4-H Key Awards.
http://www.uwex.edu/ces/4h/about/historydates.cfm -
Dairy Days
The first annual District 4-H Dairy Days program was held at three locations in the state.
http://www.uwex.edu/ces/4h/about/historydates.cfm -
Judging
Face-to-face judging was introduced at county fairs as a way of improving the educational value of evaluating project exhibits.
http://www.uwex.edu/ces/4h/about/historydates.cfm -
Growing 4-H
For the first time in its history, Wisconsin 4-H reached over 100,000 young people: 53,859 in 4-H clubs; 46,772 in short-term special interest programs; and 13,244 in other programs. Mid 80's There was an increase in staff attention to community youth development resulting in more cooperative work with other youth serving agencies.
http://www.uwex.edu/ces/4h/about/historydates.cfm
