~submitted by Randy and Linda Hedges, longtime Greenbrier 4-H leaders
National 4-H Week is October 4-10. We celebrate the organization and educational program that has been promoting youth development since 1890. It started with nature study and school gardens. Then rural educators, in response to a demand from farm people, introduced boys’ and girls’ clubs to teach an appreciation of rural life while emphasizing rural opportunities.
It wasn’t until 1911 that the 4-H emblem was adopted; and then the 4-H name was first used in 1918. In 1924 “4-H” was accepted nationally as the organization’s name.
Today 4-H is the largest youth-development program in the state of Iowa. About one quarter of the state’s youth are involved in 4-H. 125,000 youth participate from 99 counties and are led by 11,000 volunteers.
Currently all young people may participate in the community clubs and special interest groups. Where else can youngsters get involved in anything from robotics to photography, child development to gardening, and on the way build skills like communication, leadership, citizenship, goalsetting, and responsibility?
Greene County 4-H is celebrating this week by wearing 4-H shirts and decorating around the county. The Greenbrier Club put large 4-H signs in Scranton, Churdan, Paton and Jefferson.
Autumn Stevens (left) and Cody Stephenson with a 4-H sign in front of Peoples Bank in Scranton. 
Greenbrier 4-H members Bailey Anderson (left) and Becca Anderson posted a 4-H sign in Paton.
Our communities will all benefit in the future from the time and energy devoted to the 4-H program now. Providing opportunities for families and youth to work together has been a good combination for more than 100 years and still strengthens our communities today.
