Better farming and homemaking standards and citizenship development have been encouraged by the Crow Wing County 4-H program since it started in 1919.
The clubs were first called boys' and girls' clubs and were formed under the leadership of E. G. Roth, county agent and J. W. Taylor, club agent.
The first year of the organization showed a great deal of enthusiasm by many county young people, said Glenn Smith in the Brainerd Dispatch, 1958. At the end of 1919, the enrollment in club work was about 700 boys and girls working in 23 different clubs in the county. Some of the first projects were raising potatoes, bread baking, canning and alfalfa raising.
One of the big problems in the early years was holding the interest of the high number of members enrolled in 4-H work. The fact that the county is relatively large and transportation was slow hindered county wide activities.
Because of this inability to reach all clubs and all members in a newly organized program, enrollment suffered. Also, the fact that most clubs were under the leadership of inexperienced 4-H club leaders contributed to the lack of interest and loss of enrollment.
However, much of the 4-H program was continued and directed by teachers and workers in the local schools. The organizing of school groups into 4-H clubs was one of the first methods of organizing new members. Project clubs were developed with the members taking part in only one project.
In 1925, two potato clubs were organized, one at Little Pine and one at Crosby. At the same time, gardening clubs at Riverton and Crosby enrolled about 70 boys and girls. Other project clubs at this time included alfalfa, dairy, poultry, food, canning, clothing and health. Support and encouragement to 4-H members and clubs from other organizations have been important to this program. Two good examples of this in the early years were shown by the Crosby Commercial Club and the Brainerd Lions Club in 1928 when prizes and awards were set up for boys and girls winning animals in local dairy calf shows.
These winners competed again at the county fair. The same year, the winning calves competing at the county fair were taken to the state fair to compete against other counties. Severn Anderson, won a trip to the national dairy show at Memphis, Tenn. In the same year, the Fair Board provided meals and lodging at the county fair for 4-H exhibitors. They stayed at the club camp under the direction of Mr. and Mrs. 0. F. Hawkins.
In 1932, the annual 4-H club camp was started at Lum Park. The enthusiasm grew with 300 members and leaders taking part in 1934. A full three days of instruction and recreation was provided.
In 1936, six fully-equipped dormitories with a capacity to hold 400 4-Hers were built at Lum Park. This produced a surge of enthusiasm and increased the 4-H club membership.
The picture changed in the early 1940's with many of the older 4-H club members and past members going into the armed forces. Club activity changed with more emphasis placed on raising food stuffs and conservation of natural resources.
The clubs took part in scrap rubber, aluminum and iron drives. More gardens and crops were raised and less meetings were held due to the rationing of gasoline. A standing motto for this period was "Produce for Victory" and each 4-H club member had his or her shoulder to the wheel.
In 1942, nearly every 4-H club member with available space produced a home garden for food for the family. 4-H members did their part in wartime.
From an enrollment of 600 in 1919, a few years later, 1923, it dropped to 163 reflecting the lack of leadership in many clubs.
Between 1930 and 1940, the enrollment stood solidly at 500 to 600. World War II made another impression as the number of members dropped to about 480. Immediately after the war, more members were picked up for an all time high of 720 in 1950.
At the end of 1957, there were 513 members. During 1970, there were over 600 young people enrolled in the 4-H program on a yearly basis. From indications of the trend over the past years, it appears that 4-H enrollment will continue to increase. Adult leaders for the county's 32 clubs totaled 102 as organized leaders, and 121 as leaders for work in project areas. In 1968, 800 additional young people were involved in the 4-H program by the use of television.
The 4-H program is now de-signed for the rural and the urban young people. This shift is due to the trends that have taken place in rural areas. No longer does agriculture require the large number of people it did years past. It's now estimated that only 10 to 15 per cent of the youth growing up on farms enter into farming as a profession in adulthood.
Along with this fact, and the other technological advances, 4-H in Crow Wing County and nationally has developed project activities related to the interests of modern youth.
Projects in 4-H: arts and crafts, knitting, veterinary science, small engines, dogs, horses, citizenship and leadership, beef, dairy, swine, sheep, poultry, rabbits, shop, tractor, agronomy, conservation, forestry, fruit, flower gardening, indoor gardening, lawn and landscape design, potato, vegetable gardening, and plant pathology.
