Be Local: Get the Kids to Their Garden!
School is out! What better time to get the kids to apply what they have learned, dig a few holes, plant a few plants, and make their gardens great.
How did 4-H start at OSU?
"The roots of 4-H in Oregon reach back to 1904 when Alderman, then Yamhill County school superintendent, organized the first boy’s industrial club in his home community of Dayton. The idea spread and industrial club work appeared in Yamhill, Polk and Benton counties in 1905. Done through the schools, the industrial club movement consisted mainly of a fair at which boys and girls could show articles which they had made or animals they had raised."
What did kids do in that first year?
"[T]en activities were selected for club work. Club projects were corn growing, potato growing, vegetable growing, poultry raising, pig raising, dairy herd record keeping, sewing, cooking, canning, and woodworking. Over 11,000 youngsters participated."
There sure are a lot of pictures of Portland in this set... What's the link?
"Oregon became the first state to offer 4-H work in a metropolitan area. Portland school grounds were used for victory gardens in World War I. Seymour worked to bring these groups into 4-H with support from the Portland school district, the PTA, and others at the end of 1918-1919 school year. The Portland School District provided funds to help hire and Extension agent to do 4-H work in the city. For many years there were two Extension offices in Multnomah County. An office in Gresham was responsible for urban 4-H and
home economic programs before being combined with the Portland office."
Learn more on the "Glimpse of Oregon 4-H" page.
Want to do some research on your own? We have plenty to keep you busy through the first frost!
Guide to the 4-H Photograph Collection, 1913-1988
Guide to the Oregon State University Extension
Association/4-H Records, 1977-1996
Oregon State University Collegiate 4-H Club Records, 1929-1985
Extension Service Records (RG 111) 1903-2002, (inclusive) 1911-1995 (bulk)
