About 4-H

What is 4-H?

• 4-H is the youth component of the Cooperative Extension System in the United States.  It serves young people in grades K-13 (one year out of high school).  These youth participate in individual and group learning opportunities in a safe environment that teach skills through an experiential process. 
• 4-H Motto
  • “To make the best better.” 
• 4-H Colors
  • Green and White are the 4-H colors.  The 4-H Flag is a green clover with a white H on each leaf and a white background. 
• What do the 4-H’s stand for?
  • Head:  4-Her’s learn about new project areas, try new skills, and gain new knowledge and experience. 
  • Heart:  4-Her’s learn about who they are and what they stand for, along with gaining many new friends. 
  • Hands:  4-Her’s learn about helping their community and are involved in a wide variety of service projects. 
  • Health:  4-Her’s learn about healthy lifestyles and to make choices that will have a positive impact in their lives. 
• 4-H Pledge 
  • I pledge: 
    • My HEAD to clearer thinking (right hand points to forehead)   
    • My HEART to greater loyalty (right hand over heart) 
    • My HANDS to larger service (arms slightly bent, palms up) 
    • And my HEALTH to better living for my club, my community, my county and my world (arms at side)
• 4-H History 
  • Early 1900’s  Girls’ canning clubs and boys’ corn clubs began to develop
  • 1914  Smith-Lever Act was passed creating Cooperative Extension Service.
  • 1915  The first Wisconsin State Fair was organized in West Allis. 
  • 1916  Wisconsin State 4-H Leader identified that green and white were the national colors
                and the four leaf clover was the emblem.
  • 1918  First State Club Week (State 4-H Congress) and the first county agent to  work with
                4-H.
  • 1920  The national motto was changed to “Make the Best Better.”
  • 1927  The 4-H pledge and motto were officially adopted nationally.
  • 1939  The 25^th Anniversary of organized club work in Wisconsin.
  • 1941  Elizabeth Upham Davis and Caroline Upham Keene memorialized their parents by
                donating 310 acres near Wisconsin Dells to youth programs.
  • 1956  4-H bulletins now refer 4-H as a program for all youth, urban and suburban, village
                and farm.
  • 1962  Wisconsin’s 50^th Anniversary of 4-H club work.
  • 1967  The 4-H program officially became known as the State 4-H Youth Development 
                Program.
  • 1969  Wisconsin 4-H initiated its involvement in the federally funded Expanded Food and
                Nutrition Education Program as a way to reach new groups.
  • 1983  Wisconsin 4-H reached over 100,000 young people.
  • 1991  A plan was introduced for integrating the experiential learning cycle into the 4-H
                Curriculum Handbook at a National 4-H Curriculum Conference.

• Click here for more information about Wisconsin’s 4-H program.

•   Contact Information
  • For any questions or for more information please contact:
    • UW Extension Office
      Michelle Grimm, 4-H Youth Development Agent
      925 Donald Street, Room 103
      Medford, WI 54451
      (715) 748-3327
      michelle.grimm@ces.uwex.edu