4-H Story: 1902-1929

THE MICHIGAN 4-H STORY

1902-1929


4-H starts in Iowa and Ohio.	1902
	1903	Wilbur and Orville Wright fly the first airplane in North Carolina on December 17. They set an example for lots of future 4-H model building clubs. Edward Binney and C. Harold Smith produce the very first box of eight Crayola crayons. Thank goodness! What would 4-H craft time be without them?
	1904	The New York Subway System officially opens, creating a new way to "go tubing." 4-H'ers in Michigan "go tubing" in the season's first snow. The ice cream cone was invented in St. Louis, Missouri, by Charles E. Minches, who later debuts it at the St. Louis World's Fair. 4-H dairy project members have a yummy new reason to milk those cows!
4-H starts in Michigan in Muskegon and Mason Counties.	1908
The four-leaf clover becomes the national symbol with the H's - head, heart, hands and health.	1911
The Cooperative Extension Service formed by the Smith-Lever Act. Edward C. Lindemann becomes the first Michigan 4-H director.	1914
	1916	President Woodrow Wilson declares June 14 Flag Day! But 4-H'ers didn't need a special day to pay attention to the flag. No club meeting started without a pledge to the U.S. flag and, of course, to the 4-H flag.
	1917	The United States fights for the next two years in World War I. 4-H'ers write letters and send care packages to soldiers.
	1918	Michigan beats the United States in amending its constitution to give women the right to vote before the ratification of the 19th amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Don't tell our forefathers, but 4-H girls always had a vote in the clubs they shared with boys and in all-girl 4-H clubs.
	1919	The first Mother's Day is celebrated on May 9. 4-H'ers create cards for moms during craft time in their 4-H club meetings.
First 4-H club charter offered by USDA.	1922	THE 4-H PLEDGE: I pledge my HEAD to clearer thinking, My HEART to greater loyalty, My HANDS to larger service, My HEALTH to better living, For my club, my community, my country and my world. THE 4-H MOTTO: To make the best better.
The 4-H Clover is patented.	1924
The National 4-H Supply Service opens, offering clover merchandise to 4-H fans.	1925
The National 4-H pledge and the 4-H motto are approved by state 4-H leaders at the National 4-H Club Camp in Washington D.C.	1927
Legislation expands 4-H and Home Economics programming, resulting in the hiring of official county 4-H youth agents.	1928
INTRO. > 1902-29 > 1930-59 > 1960-1979 > 1980-2002 >

For more information contact:
Michigan 4-H Youth Development
160 Agriculture Hall
Michigan State University Extension
East Lansing, MI 48824-1039
Phone: 517-432-7575
E-mail: msue4h@msu.edu