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Show With War Problems Licked, 4-H Turns To New Program for Better America By V. J. DRYDEN WNU Farm Editor. THE development of 4-H clubs in America to a membership of 1,700,000 boys and girls between the ages of 10 and 21 cannot be credited to the achievements of any one individual in-dividual or institution. It represents the accumulated experiences of a number of rural communities spread over America that followed a succession succes-sion of pioneer leaders. From a membership of 125,000 in 1914, it has grown into one of the largest and most effective education- : al groups in the world. Four-H club members work on such varied activities as owning and managing farm animals according to the latest scientific method, planning plan-ning for efficient use of rural electric elec-tric facilities, mapping their own and their neighbors' farms as to soil types and soil erosion, planning and preparing nutritious meals, cultivating cultivat-ing a garden to supply those meals and surplus vegetables for the market, mar-ket, introducing new seed varieties, landscaping the family home or the schoolhouse or church, developing parks, baseball diamonds, or organizing organ-izing recreational activities for the community, organizing discussion groups on the problems of international interna-tional peace ,or current economic problems. In fact, they can be found working on almost any activity activ-ity important to the home or the community. Contests of All Sorts. Many civic and commercial organizations or-ganizations sponsor contests and enterprises en-terprises such are a part of every 4-H club congress. Shown on this page are some of these enterprise winners at the recent congress held in Chicago. For the past four years, 4-H clubs have concentrated most of their energies en-ergies on growing "food to feed a a changing world; choosing a way to earn a living; producing food and fiber for home and market; creating better homes for better living; conserving con-serving nature's resources for security se-curity and happiness; building health for a strong America; sharing shar-ing responsibilities for community improvement and serving as citizens in maintaining world peace. In short, the same objectives will be pursued as in the past. Almost Universal. Four-H clubs are now organized in every state in the Union; in the conducted by the department of agriculture, ag-riculture, the state colleges of agriculture, agri-culture, and the counties co-operating. Four-H club work is a specialized spe-cialized educational enterprise for rural young people, who may become be-come members of organized clubs under the supervision of county extension ex-tension agents and local volunteer leaders. The big event of the year for the members is the annual 4-H club congress. con-gress. In Chicago last December these American farm youths won the hearts of thousands who saw their accomplishments and learned to know the fine-type girls and boys who carry on 4-H club work. fighter.' Now the war is over, territories of Hawaii, Puerto Rico youth, with training and some dl- and Alaska. Some 20 foreign coun- rection, can play an important part tries have adopted its principles, in meeting the knotty problems of Approximately one million dollars peace. in prize money is provided annually Future program of the organiza- by private citizens and corporations tion will emphasize the developing to encourage the movement, of talents for greater usefulness; The clubs are' a part of the na- joining with friends for work, fun tional system of extension work in and fellowship; learning to live in agriculture and home economics |