The 4-H is an organization composed of boys and girls, ages 9-19. The purpose of the organization is to assist these young people to prepare for careers and to develop into good citizens and leaders. The motto of the organization is:
"To make the -best better." The 4-H is explained in the Pledge
"I pledge my Head to clearer thinking,
My Heart to greater loyalty;-
My Hands to larger service, and
My Health to better living for
My club, my community, my country, and my world."
The symbol is the four-leaf clover and the colors are green and white. The green is symbolic of living and growing things; white is symbolic of purity and character.
The method of teaching is through the use of group and individual projects. There are 50-100 projects that maybe selected. These projects have been expanded to include the youngster from the city as well as the rural area. The member receives a booklet that explains the requirements for the project. It also contains information to help to learn about his subject. The leaders and county agents help to teach more about the particular topic through monthly meetings, judging events, and demonstrations. The climax for the year is to take the completed project with the record book explaining the steps followed for completion to the County Achievement Day or Fair. Here it is judged and awarded ribbons with an explanation of the good and poor points of the work.
The clubs are organized with their own officers who conduct the meetings, thus providing training in parliamentary procedure.
Other incentives to do the best that they can are scholarships to other functions that may be earned. Some of these are 4-H Conservation Camp, 4-H Conference held at Fargo, 4-H Club Congress, Chicago; 4-H Conference held in Washington, D.C., and participation in the International Farm Youth Exchange, as well as pins for the amount of time spent in the club.
The State 4-H Conference is held on the NDSU campus in Fargo. In 1980 400 delegates spent five days attending classes and discussions and special recreational activities. Delegates are chosen by the accomplishments they have achieved since belonging to a 4-H club.
The 4-H Club Congress meets in Chicago just after Thanksgiving vacation. Delegates to this meeting are determined by various activities held on the state, district or national level. While at the congress the young people discuss problems that affect the youth in the U.S. They also hear speeches from leaders in Agriculture, government, industry and science. As many as 1600 delegates attend the congress.
Washington, D.C. is the site for the National 4-H Conference. Approximately 250 delegates attend a week session to help plan the nation wide 4-H program.
The National 4-H Foundation manages the
National 4-H center whose headquarters are in Washington, D.C. Club members may come here for summer courses on leadership and citizenship. It also sponsors the International Farm Youth Exchange (IFYE) program. This is a program of exchange of youth from the U.S. to visit foreign countries. During the same period equal number of young people from other countries come to the U.S. Representatives are chosen by the work they have done in their clubs.
The Foundation is supported by contributions of various businesses.
To help administer and plan the 4-H program there is the 4-H council and the 4-H Leaders organizations.
Milking on a winter evening. (Ross Bloomquist)
After supper was over Mother and Dad dressed in their outdoor clothing, lit the kerosene lantern and went out to do the milking. Sometimes I went along. As we stepped out into the darkness the winter stars sparkled in the pitch-black sky. My dog Snookum appeared from somewhere and greeted us with vigor, tail wagging. As we walked the 100 feet to the barn the dim light of the lantern cast queer extremely elongated shadows of our legs on the snow. When we slid the barn door open just wide enough for us to creep in, Snookum always went first. The horses paid little attention to us; they knew that they were not going to be fed. As we walked to the back toward the cow stalls the light of the lantern did little to illuminate the recesses of the stalls. However, when Dad hung the lantern on the high peg the cows in their stalls showed well enough.
Mother picked up the one-legged milk stool, sat down at the right side of the cow and the streams of milk began to make a rhythmic sound against the side of the tin milk pail. The three cats, the black and white tomcat, the calico female and the half-grown red kitten watched intently knowing that they soon were going to be fed. The tomcat sat on his haunches begging for a stream of milk to be directed at him. Finally Mother relented and aimed the milk at his face. It hit him in the mouth and he drank in what he could while the rest spattered all over his nose and eyes. One squirt did not satisfy him but he had learned that that was all he was going to get. He walked off a little way and started to lick up what he could from the splashes on his fur.
When the cow was stripped dry Mother stood up and as she walked away the cats clustered around her mewing. She filled their tin dish as they arranged themselves around it and lapped up the milk quickly without quarreling. As soon as all was drunk they went off a ways, sat down and started washing their faces. The cats repeated their performance when milking the second and last cow was finished.
In the meantime Dad checked the horses to see that all were properly tied. I played with the cats and sometimes for fun climbed on the back of one of the cows. They did not mind but their backbones were a little sharp to sit on. Dad carried the pail of milk and Mother held the lantern as we left the barn. We tried to coax the dog to stay in the barn but he preferred to be outside where he could keep watch over the farmyard. I stopped midway between the barn and house to take a good look at the star filled sky."
From the beginning in 1933 there were 11 clubs organized with a total membership of 158. In 1983 the membership was 175 in 11 clubs.
Source: A History of Foster County 1983 Page 101