Family Guide to 4-H

2002

How It All Began....

A.B. Graham

This special Centennial Edition of the Ohio 4-H Family Guide is memory of the founder of 4-H, Mr. Albert B. Graham. It was 100 years ago when A.B. Graham, Superintendent of Schools for Springfield Township in Clark County, Ohio, made an effort to recruit some local students to join what he called a "Boys' and Girls' Agricultural Experiment Club." The first meeting of this club was held on January 15, 1902 in the basement of the Clark County Court House in Springfield, Ohio. Approximately 85 children from 10 to 15 years of age attended and began what would be called a "4-H Club" within a few years.

Even though 4-H has grown and evolved over the last 100 years, Mr. Graham's educational philosophy of "Learning By Doing" is still going strong. Today, 4-H programs are conducted in all 50 states and in more than 82 countries worldwide.

4-H Membership Information

Eligibility for Ohio 4-H membership begins at age 5 or Kindergarten as of January 1 and ends December 31 the year when a youth reaches 19 years of age. Membership begins when an eligible individual is enrolled in a club or group that is under direction of a trained adult and within the scope of Ohio State University Extension.

Youth in 4-H "learn by doing" as they participate in more than 200 projects and hundreds of other activities designed to help them develop as individuals and become responsible, productive members of society.

Last year, more than 286,000 Ohio youth were involved in 4-H.