The 4-H youth organization, now administered by the United States Department of Agriculture Cooperative Extension System, was founded in 1904 by G. C. Adams in Newton County, Georgia, and now serves over 1.6 million members in almost 100,000 clubs from kindergarten through high school.

The name 4-H stands for Head, Heart, Hands, and Health, and a four-leaf clover is their logo. The program aims to educate youth in agriculture-related arts and sciences and encourage fellowship and service opportunities. With continued urban sprawl and the admission of women decades ago, 4-H continues to develop new projects for its members to study beyond agriculture and animal husbandry, including photography, conservation, cooking, public speaking, history, art, and other pursuits.

The organization is often associated with summer camps, county fairs and state fairs. 4-H has spread out across the world, and regularly awards and sponsors IFYE international youth exchanges, trips, and cultural events (see external links).

While having embraced many new fields of endavour over the years, 4-H retains a real connection to its roots in agriculture and associated values of thrift, invention, education, compassion, conservation, encouragement, service, and general happiness and well-being.

Camping programs

Every U.S. state runs their own camping program independently of other states. The Georgia 4-H camping program boasts the largest youth center in the world, known as Rock Eagle .

See also

• National 4-H Council
• Future Farmers of America

External links

• 4-H USA.org - the national youth 4-H site.
• California 4-H Youth Development Program - state 4-H website for California, maintained by 4-H members in the California 4-H Computer Corps.
• National 4-H Headquarters
• 4-H World Atlas - overview and links to 4-H (and associated) organizations all over the world
• National 4-H Council - private sector partner of 4-H
• Georgia 4-H
• The Changing Face of 4-H from the Indianapolis Star