{"id":8761,"date":"2021-01-06T15:51:54","date_gmt":"2021-01-06T21:51:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/agrilife.org\/ftbend4h\/?page_id=8761"},"modified":"2025-02-28T11:40:50","modified_gmt":"2025-02-28T17:40:50","slug":"what-is-4-h","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/agrilife.org\/ftbend4h\/all-about-us\/what-is-4-h\/","title":{"rendered":"What is 4-H?"},"content":{"rendered":"

4-H is a youth development program of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service focusing on the needs, interests, and concerns of young people. Its aim is to help youth acquire a positive self-concept, rational social behavior, knowledge and problem-solving capabilities. Children from 3rd grade to 12th grade regardless of social-economic level, race, color, sex, religion, handicap, national origin or geographic location may participate. For more information about Texas 4-H<\/a>,\u00a0District 9 4-H<\/a>, and\u00a0National 4-H<\/a>\u00a0programs.<\/p>\n

4-H offers youth opportunities to:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Develop Leadership \u2022 Practice Democracy \u2022 Acquire and Advance Knowledge and Skills \u2022 Develop New Interests \u2022 Make New Friends \u2022 HAVE FUN!!!!!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a> Where It Started\u00a0\"\"<\/a><\/h2>\n

The first county Extension agent in Texas was appointed in 1906, 8 years before the organization of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
\nService. Two years later, T.M. (Tom) Marks, county agricultural agent, organized the first boys\u2019 \u201ccorn club\u201d in Jack County. Marks found that he was more successful teaching new production technology to the youth than to the adults.<\/p>\n

Within a matter of years, \u201cpig clubs,\u201d \u201cbeef calf clubs\u201d (Coleman County, 1910) and girls\u2019 \u201ctomato clubs\u201d (Milam County, 1912)
\nwere also initiated. The stage was set for the rapid expansion of educational programs directed to rural youth. Within a span of 91
\nyears, 4-H enrollment in Texas has grown from the original 25 corn club members in Jack County in 1908 to more than one million
\nyouth in 2000.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a> 4-H Today \"\"<\/a><\/h2>\n

4-H is America\u2019s largest youth development<\/strong>
\norganization.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In 4\u2011H programs, kids and teens complete hands-on projects in areas like health, science, agriculture and civic engagement in a positive environment where they receive guidance from adult mentors and are encouraged to take on proactive leadership roles. Kids experience 4\u2011H in every county and parish in the country through in-school and after-school programs, school and community clubs and 4\u2011H camps.<\/p>\n

As the youth development program of the Cooperative Extension System of land-grant universities, Cooperative Extension of 1862 and 1890 land-grant universities provide the leadership to engage young people in 4-H in all 3,007 counties of the United States.\u00a0 The impact of the Cooperative Extension partnership is profound, bringing together National Institute of Food and Agriculture of USDA, land grant universities and county government to resource learning opportunities for youth.<\/p>\n

Through America\u2019s 110 land-grant universities and its Cooperative Extension System, 4-H reaches every corner of our nation\u2014from urban neighborhoods to suburban schoolyards to rural farming communities. With a network of more than 6 million youth, 540,000 volunteers, 3,500 professionals, and more than 60 million alumni, 4-H helps shape youth to move our country and the world forward in ways that no other youth organization can.<\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
4-H Pledge<\/strong><\/p>\n

I Pledge<\/p>\n

My HEAD to clearer thinking,<\/p>\n

My HEART to greater loyalty,<\/p>\n

My HANDS to larger service,<\/p>\n

My HEALTH to better living,<\/p>\n

for my club, my community,<\/p>\n

my country and my world.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

4-H Logo<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

4-H Motto<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u201cTo Make the Best Better\u201d<\/p>\n

4-H Slogan<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u201cLearn by Doing\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

4-H Prayer<\/strong>
\n\u201cHelp me, O Lord, to live so that the world may be a little better because Thou didst make me.\u201d \u2026Amen<\/p>\n

4-H Colors<\/strong>
\nGreen \u2013 Nature’s most common color is emblematic of springtime.
\n\u2013 LIFE AND YOUTH
\nWhite \u2013 Symbolic of purity and high ideals.<\/h4>\n

4-H Emblem<\/strong>
\nThe four-leaf clover with the letter \u201cH\u201d on each leaflet, meaning foursquare development of HEAD, HEART, HANDS, and HEALTH, is the accepted emblem. The emblem is protected by a United States Department of Agriculture copyright.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

4-H is a youth development program of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service focusing on the needs, interests, and concerns of young people. Its aim is to help youth acquire a positive self-concept, rational social behavior, knowledge and problem-solving capabilities. Children from 3rd grade to 12th grade regardless of social-economic level, race, color, sex, religion, handicap, national origin or geographic location may participate. For more information about Texas 4-H,\u00a0District 9 4-H, and\u00a0National 4-H\u00a0programs. 4-H offers youth opportunities to: \u2022 Develop Leadership \u2022 Practice Democracy \u2022 Acquire and Advance… Read More →<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1100,"featured_media":0,"parent":7772,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-8761","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWhat is 4-H? - Fort Bend 4-H<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"4-H is a youth development program of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service focusing on the needs, interests, and concerns of young people.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/agrilife.org\/ftbend4h\/all-about-us\/what-is-4-h\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What is 4-H? 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