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4-H
Meigs County 4-H History
The earliest record of 4-H in Meigs County is found in a book of minutes for the Rocksprings Girls 4-H Club in 1923 which notes this was the clubs’ fourth year as a club. However, Karl T. Woodward, Meigs County’s first Agricultural Agent, mentions in his 1920 report, that although there was interest in Boys and Girls Club work, nothing was done. By 1922, he reports there were three boy and girl clubs organized; two for food and one poultry. By 1926 a potato club was formed and in 1928, a cow club was added. From 1923 until about 1930, girls seemed to take clothing projects.
The first 4-H camp was held on a farm near Chester with 21 campers present. Camp locations since are: Linger-A-While (Meigs County) 1926-1928; Keystone Camp (Jackson County, Ohio) 1929-1949; Canter’s Cave (Jackson County, Ohio) 1950 to present. In 1960, club members raised another $500 to meet their quota of $9,500.00 in a ten year period for the purchase and improvement of the Canter’s Cave 4-H Camp. In 2000 over $15,000 was pledged by local donors for Canters Cave for a new Leadership Building. In 2001 50 4-Hers enjoyed Canters Cave 4-H Camp.
In 1928, a 4-H Team Demonstration and girls clothing were exhibited at the Ohio State Fair. 4-H exhibited in a building at the Meigs County Fair, having previously exhibited in a tent, and in 1929, they exhibited in the main building.
4-Her Lawrence Roush of Racine won first place at the Ohio State Fair with potatoes in 1929 and represented Ohio at the National Club Congress in Washington, D.C. in 1930. By now former members were becoming leaders and 4-H enrollment saw substantial growth.
In 1933 4-H club work was first exhibited in connection with other Junior Fair organizations, which included Juvenile Grange, schools and Vocational Agriculture.
In 1942 there was no county fair because of the war. However, in 1943 and 1944, working with 4-H Clubs, the Farm Bureau and Grange, youth exhibited in the gymnasium of the Pomeroy Junior High School, and in 1944, they tied livestock outside for exhibit. The Meigs County Better Livestock Club was organized in 1943 and in 1946, they got their first girl member, Rose Marie Slawter of Rutland . During the war years all 4-H club members participated in the sale of War Bonds and Salvaging Drives.
By 1945, Junior Fair and 4-H were once again being held with the Meigs County Fair and the first 4-H Advisor Banquet was held. In 1946, Quality Cream Meetings were held throughout the county, and Betty Lou Genheimer (Mrs. Earl Dean) and Mary Kathryn Tuttle (Mrs. John Rose) were selected to give team demonstrations on "Proper Methods of Washing Dairy Utensils." They received first place at the Ohio State Fair, entitling them to a trip to the National 4-H Club Congress. Dorothy Holter (Mrs. Horace Karr) and John Phillips attended the first annual Leadership Camp at Camp Ohio.
In 1947, Meigs County presented $1,000.00 to State 4-H, as Meigs County’s quota in the 4-H Foundation program for state-wide development of 4-H club work.
In 1948, John Philips was the State, Sectional and National winner in the Soil Conservation contest. At the National 4-H Club Congress, he was named one of the eight national winners to receive a college scholarship. He also represented Ohio at the National Youth Foundation Camp at Shelby, Michigan
Janice Story was selected as the first Junior Fair Queen in 1955 and in 1956, Doris Ann Well was queen and Duane Barr was elected the first Junior Fair King. By 1962, Junior Fair members had raised $3,000 to pay for a part of the Meigs County Junior Fair Exhibit Building at the fairgrounds.
Seven 4-H members sold eight steers weighing 6,515 pounds at the first Meigs County Steer Club sale in 1965. A few years later, lambs were sold, and today, swine, poultry, rabbits, dairy market steers and market goats are sold at the annual Livestock Sale. In 2001, a total of $127,684.32 of livestock was sold at the Meigs County Fair to benefit Meigs County youth. The highest 4-H enrollment was in 1973 with 1,088 members and 60 clubs. This was attributed to the "Mulligan Stew" films being shown to 5th and 6th graders in the county schools and 3rd and 4th graders contacted through Awareness Team presentations. By the 1980's the number of youth in the county had begun to decline and 4-H enrollment reflected this trend. During the 1990's, the Cloverbud program was added, allowing children 5 through 8 (or through 2nd grade) to become 4-Hers.
In January 1992 David R. Haggerty was hired as Meigs County’s first full-time 4-H Agent. Prior to this, responsibility for 4-H was divided between the Agricultural and Home Economics Agents. Hal Kneen, Extension Educator - Agriculture, filled the position as acting 4-H agent from 2002 through 2005. Cassie Turner began as Extension Educator - 4-H in January 2006.
Since 1996, The Meigs County 4-H Advisory Committee has raised and contributed over $15,000.00 to the Ohio 4-H Foundation. This Committee awards up to three scholarships each year from interest received on this money. Scholarship winners to date are: 1998 - Jamie Drake, Billee Pooler and Sara Craig; 1999 - Christina Kennedy, Josh Hager and Tricia Davis; 2000 - Christina Kennedy, Julie Spaun and Joseph McCall; 2001 - Chad Hubbard and Christopher Parker; 2002 - Ben Holter, Ashley Hager and Billie Jo Welsh; 2003 - Jenifer Chadwell, Tricia Congo and Jessica Justice; 2004 - Brook Bolin, Alyssa Holter and Robert Weddle; 2005 - Jeffrey Baughman, Abbie Chevalier and Ross Holter; 2006. - Autumn Hauber, Whitney Thoene and Amanda Windon; 2007 - Mallory Hill, Miranda McKelvey and Josh Nelson.
4-H remains the largest organized Meigs County youth program with 500 youth in 35 clubs and 78 advisors in 2007 and counts many successful adults as its alumni.
Researched and compiled by Margaret A. Parker for Meigs County 4-H
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