Happy National 4H Week!

“What is 4-H?”  That is a question that many have been asking since 1902.   A.B. Graham of Clark County, Ohio, started one of the first 4-H clubs.  Graham called it the “Tomato Club” or “Corn Growing Club” to attract the farming community.  Studies had shown that farmers weren’t growing with technology and not accepting the new ways so Graham and many others reached out to the children to teach their parents.  In 1912, these clubs were named “4-H clubs” after Jessie Shambaugh developed the four leaf clover pin. 

 Since 1902 4-H has changed in many ways.  The main idea of 4-H is simple: help young people and their families gain skills needed to be active in their communities to create an innovative economy.  Through these clubs, members gain communication skills, life skills and leadership skills from ages 8 - 18.  Members can also participate in many conferences where they develop some of these qualities and make friends from all over the state of Pennsylvania.

Many think that 4-H is made for kids that live in the countryside and all you do is raise animals.  There are two assumptions in that last statement that are wrong!  Did you know that Jackie Kennedy, former US First Lady, was a 4-H member along with Faith Hill, David Letterman and even former Vice President Al Gore?  They took the skills that they developed through 4-H and used it to their abilities to help make a better life for themselves!  As for only raising livestock, that is one of the more than 150 projects that members can choose from!  Members can learn to quilt, to sew, to make ceramics, and even grow their favorite vegetable in their backyard.

I have recently finished my last year of 4-H and developed so much from it that I still use today.  I started with my projects of quilt, glass etching, tye-dye, cake decorating, flower arranging and public speaking. Over the years, I learned to sew many things and even sewed 4 of my 6 homecoming dresses for my high school homecoming dances!  Through public speaking, I’ve gained many friends and the confidence to speak in front of people.  Doing these projects gave me qualities to fix simple things such as a tear in my jeans, liven up my apartment with some artificial flowers and even quilt a t-shirt quilt that represents my high school years.  4-H has taught me so much more than just agriculture so why not get your child involved.  If they are between the ages of 8 and 18, contact the Huntingdon County 4-H Extension Office at 814-643-1660 to learn more and get the contact information for the leaders of our 19 4-H clubs in Huntingdon County!