LEXINGTON, Ky. – There are 4-H clubs in each of Kentucky’s 120 counties, accounting for 6,000 youth engaged in 5,000 projects.

The county with the oldest 4-H club in the state is Fayette.

The club was first known as the Fayette County Corn Club, organized in 1909 by Professor George Roberts and Nannie G. Faulconer. Roberts was from the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station at the time and Faulconer was the superintendent of Fayette County Schools. The club was formed to encourage farm families to adopt new farming practices and encouraged children on these farms to try these new techniques on a small portion of the farm.

The thought was that the children’s success with these practices would lead to greater acceptance by the adults.

The success of the Fayette County Corn Club led to the development of what is known today as Kentucky 4-H, with camping activities beginning in 1920. (The name “4-H” was added in 1939.)

The boys grew one acre of corn and reported their yield and production cost at the end of the growing season. From that successful beginning, Extension personnel chose what was later to be called Junior Agricultural Clubs as one avenue to promote their services.

Kentucky was not the first state to have such clubs. Ohio started its corn club in 1902, thanks to A.B. Graham. (Graham is credited being the founder of 4-H). The first club work in the south began in Mississippi in 1907 at a time when the boll weevil had become a serious threat to cotton-growing states.

On the heels of corn clubs in Kentucky, other similar clubs became prevalent: pig clubs, poultry clubs and canning clubs. Pig clubs began in 1911. Poultry clubs and canning clubs for girls started in 1912.

Agricultural Extension leaders wanted to take advantage of the very successful club movement and in 1912 formed a boys’ camp at the State Fair Grounds. About 100 boys attended that first camp and they showed corn, poultry, pigs and cattle to compete for prizes. The first 4-H educational exhibit was introduced at the 1913 State Fair.

In 1914, girls took interest in poultry and pigs and by the end of the year some clubs began to be referred to as “Boys & Girls Club Work.” Statewide enrollment totaled 1,250.

By 1917, war efforts caused clubs to expand, spreading to 42 Kentucky counties and including 4,000 boys and girls.

In 1924, the four-leaf clover became the official symbol for the clubs. Enrollment in Kentucky rose to 18,548 that year.

In 1927, J.M. Feltner of Kentucky coined the 4-H Pledge, “To Make the Best Better.”

In the 1930s, for the first time, youth who did not live on a farm joined 4-H and by 1935 25,000 Kentucky youth enrolled in 4-H. On the national scene, enrollment exceeded one million. By 1939, 4-H clubs were established in all 120 Kentucky counties.

For the next four decades, 4-H expanded rapidly nationwide. The 1970s were years of expansion of 4-H in Kentucky, with 254,000 youth and 45,000 volunteers involved. The theme for billboards, TV spots and print media was “4-H: It’s Where You’re At.”

In 2009, Kentucky celebrated the 100th anniversary of 4-H.

Today, 4-H is a youth development program that has grown into a national organization with six million members and 25 million alumni.

Today’s Fayette County 4-H is spearheaded by Fayette County Extension Agent Amanda Clark. Clark was a 4-Her in McCracken County in western Kentucky.

“I attended camp from age 9 until I turned 22,” she said. “I was a camper, counselor and staff member.”

She’s aware of Fayette County’s place in Kentucky 4-H history, adding that 4-H in Fayette has a booming future.

“We offer many different disciplines in 4-H here in Fayette County,” Clark said. “We have 12 clubs going on right now, clubs that offer sewing, cooking and livestock to name a few. Our STEM Club offers members a wide range of hands-on experiences, including wilderness medicine, CPR, dissection and first aid training.

“We have a livestock club and it’s more than just about showing animals. Members learn about animal anatomy, proper care and feeding, and develop a wide range of valuable agricultural skills.

“In all, we about 260 youth who participate in a number of clubs and programs. We are also very involved in a lot of school activities as well. We are taking around 320 campers to 4-H camp this summer.”

Perhaps the biggest project for any 4-Her in Kentucky is the Country Ham Project.

“Fayette 4-Hers compete in this as well,” Clark said. “Since its inception in the late 1990s and with just 40 participants, the Country Ham Project has grown to include over 1,000 4-Hers from across the state. At the state fair, participants presented their cured hams for judging and delivered a 3-5 minute speech reflecting on their experiences. This project not only teaches where their food comes from, but also instills pride in Kentucky’s agricultural traditions and builds valuable public speaking skills.”