About 4-H: History

History of 4-H in Illinois

4-H had its national beginnings around the turn of the century, and Illinois was there from the start! The groundwork that led to 4-H, as we know it today, was laid by pioneers in educational work and leaders of farm organizations who realized the value of leisure-time group activities for young people.

In 1899, W.B. Otwell, Secretary of the Macoupin County Illinois Farmer's Institute, furnished small packages of seed corn to 500 boys who were to grow corn and make an exhibit for the next gathering of the Farmer's Institute. This resulted in the organization of the first boys corn club. In 1904, at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis, Missouri, 8,000 Illinois farm boys contributed to the corn exhibit at the Palace of Agriculture under the direction of Mr. Otwell.

O.J. Kern, Superintendent of Schools in Winnebago County, Illinois, organized the Farm Boys Experiment Club in 1905, in cooperation with the agricultural college. Similar groups were started soon after in Texas and in Iowa.

4-H was very much a part of the
home effort during World War II.

Sketches of the early cloverleaf emblem showed an ear of corn in the center and an "H" on each of the three leaves standing for "Head, Heart, and Hands". Records show that the four-leaf clover emblem, with the fourth H designated for health, was officially adopted in 1911.

With passage of the Smith-Lever Act by Congress in 1914, funds became available for employing Extension workers for boys and girls club work.

The first 4-H club in Illinois was the Union Pig Club organized by C.C. Coots in Macoupin County in the spring of 1915. By 1917 over fifteen thousand members were enrolled in Illinois. Not only were there corn and pig clubs, but the work now included canning, sewing, garden, strawberry, and calf clubs.

The first National 4-H Club Congress was the designation given to the national 4-H event in Chicago in 1922. A parade of delegates in the arena of the International Amphitheater and a National 4-H Dress Revue were first-time highlights.

During the years of World War II, 4-H membership fluctuated considerably, an inevitable result of the rapid turnover of agents and general preoccupation with war-related activities. After the war, interest in 4-H increased around the world. Seven English young farmers and representatives from the Canadian 4-H Program attended National 4-H Congress. Occupation forces began 4-H in Germany and Japan. 4-H started in Austria, Korea and other counties.

In the 60's, a study of urban 4-H was undertaken with support of the Ford Foundation in 100 metropolitan areas where 4-H was organized. Illinois had launched an earlier start in Chicago in 1955 with a grant from the Coats & Clark Company.