4-H is a non-profit youth development organization that was founded by A.B. Graham in 1902. Today, it boasts a total membership of 6.5 million American children in 90,000 clubs. This organization is over one hundred years old and still a popular choice for youths in the United States and 80 other countries.
4-H Prepares Today's Youths to be Tomorrow's Leaders
Today, all 4-H members recite the same club pledge created at the 1927 National 4-H Club Camp. The "4 Hs" stand for Head, Hand, Heart and Health. Members dedicate themselves to improving their club, community, country and world by using their heads for clearer thinking, their hearts for greater loyalty, their hands for larger service, and their health for better living.
The 4-H mission is to empower youth to reach their full potential by working and learning in partnership with caring adult volunteers.
The 4-H motto is "To Make the Best Better." By participating in educational experiences, 4-H inspires its youth to continue learning and growing and to make their best efforts better.
As A.B. Graham originally envisioned, learning by doing is an integral part of everything that 4-H does. Today, its members complete millions of individual and club projects each year. These projects are showcased at more than 3,000 county fairs throughout the country, and the very best projects are featured at the nation's state fairs.
Due to its agricultural roots, 4-H is traditionally considered to be a rural organization. However, today's 4-H has a lot to offer both rural and urban youths. It is focused on the personal growth of members. By doing projects and participating in events that promote life skills development, 4-H helps children grow into contributing, productive and self-directed adult members of society.
4-H Facts and Figures
Originally started in Ohio, 4-H is now managed by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture under the authority of the USDA. Its 6.5 million members can be found in every county in the United States plus 80 additional countries.
4-H would not survive without the dedicated work provided by its 3,500 staff members and an amazing 518,000 volunteers.
History of 4-H
In 1902, A.B. Graham and others like him recognized the value of introducing rural young people to new agricultural technologies. This was a good way to pass information along to their parents. In order to accomplish this, he started a youth agricultural program in Ohio. A number of similar clubs were started around the same time. These clubs bore the original seed of what became 4-H.
Because the U.S. Government recognized the value of educating future farmers, these youth agricultural programs gained the support of the nation's 106 land-grant universities. Today, these research universities offer a strong professional backing for the organization.
For more information about joining 4-H, contact a local university extension office or go to The National 4-H Council website.
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