Let the official record show, 4-H was founded in Ohio. Thanks to the efforts of Mike Turner, U.S. representative from Ohio’s 10th congressional district, the 4-H section of the Library of Congress’ Join In: Voluntary Associations in America exhibition has been corrected to reflect that the network of youth agricultural programs was founded in Clark County, Ohio, rather than what it originally read as being founded in Clark County, Iowa, according to a news release from Turner.
In 1902, with assistance from the Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station and The Ohio State University, A.B. Graham started a rural youth program for boys and girls in Clark County to promote vocational agriculture and familiarize students with new agricultural technology. This youth program is considered the founding of 4-H.
Ohio 4-H, the youth development arm of OSU Extension, offers 4-H programs to youth in all 88 of Ohio’s counties. As America’s largest youth development organization, Ohio 4-H, which served 130,859 members in 4-H clubs in all Ohio counties last year, emphasizes leadership and citizenship skills. Ohio youth, ages 5–19, participate in 4-H through community clubs, camps, schools, and short-term experiences.