The early years of Extension 1914-1939 – 4-H
The Coshocton County Commissioners recently presented OSU Extension with a proclamation celebrating its 100th anniversary. Photo contributed to The Beacon
OSU Extension is celebration 100 years and each week a column sharing some of the organization’s history will be published by Emily Adams. Here’s a look at what will be in this week’s Beacon.
The early years of 4-H were actually before the signing of the Smith-Lever Act which formally organized Extension in every state. Right here in Ohio in 1902 an educational pioneer by the name of A.B. Graham recruited about 85 students to join the Boys’ and Girls’ Agricultural Experiment Club. In a 1904 speech Graham said “Not only must provision be made for the three R’s but for the three H’s as well: the head for wealth of information and knowledge, the heart for moral and spiritual strength and the hand for manual dexterity and skill.” The first 4-H emblem in 1908 was actually a three leaf clover for head, heart and hands. Soon after this a fourth H was added as “hustle.” By 1911 this was changed to “health” and those same 4-H’s remain today over a century later.
A.B. Graham went on to develop and lead the agricultural Extension service at The Ohio State University from 1905-1914. When the Smith-Lever Act was signed in 1914, he moved to the US Department of Agriculture to give national leadership to teaching methods, as well as general encouragement and inspiration to Extension specialists and agents for 22 years.
In Coshocton County, the first 4-H clubs began in 1917 when a corn club and a calf club were organized. When Grover C. Musgrove, the first Extension county agent, was hired in 1919, his duties included both adult and youth education. The first 4-H club advisors in the county were Minna Rahn and Mr. and Mrs. C.V. Croy. The oldest 4-H club in the county began in the 1920s as the Franklin Township Chester White Pig Club and is known today as Winner.
When Harriet Green was hired as the first Home Demonstration Agent in 1936, she began to work with the girls in the sewing and cooking clubs and the agriculture agents worked with the boys in the livestock clubs. Together Harriet Green and Carl Wetherall worked with officer and advisor training, camping and the Coshocton County Junior Fair.
When our youth go to 4-H Camp Ohio for a week during the summer, they may think that they are roughing it. An Ohio Extension history publication describes 1930s camp facilities as “…crude. The youngsters slept in tents on the ground with woolsacks stuffed with straw as mattresses. Cooking and eating were out-of-doors.”
Emily G. Adams is the OSU Extension Educator, Agriculture and Natural Resources, County Extension Director for Coshocton County.
Category: Clubs & Organizations
