What's the oldest 4-H Club?

By Ann Marie Ames ( Contact ) April 24, 2008 - 8:30 a.m.

I got an e-mail from a reader about Lima 4-H's upcoming 80th anniversary.

The club is hoping for some coverage in the paper, and I plan to oblige.

But there are lots of 4-H clubs in Rock County, and I don't want to leave anyone out.

I'm working with the UW Extension office to get a complete list of the clubs and contact people so I can research founding dates.

But extension agent Donna Duerst has already told me the master list of club founding dates has been "lost to time."

I know I can find the information, but if anyone wants to make my life easier and help, that would be great. Click on my name at the top of this blog to find my contact information.

I was a member of Lima 4-H in the late 1980s and early '90s. But I bet I had at least one friend in every club. Many more than that in some.

I look forward to connecting with you again!

BayMom
Apr 24, 2008 at 11:50 p.m.
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Linn 4-H, in Walworth County, is the oldest in the state. It didn't take long after it's founding for 4-H to spread throughout the area.

"The Linn 4-H Club meets monthly in the Town Hall. This was the first 4-H Club in Wisconsin and began October 30,1914. There is a Historical Marker on County Road B at the sight of the Hatch Farm where the first meetings were held."

http://townoflinn.com/History.htm

Here's the official Wisconsin Historical Marker in Linn that has been there since 1970 and gives the story.
http://img.groundspeak.com/waymarking/di...

LaGrange 4-H (also Walworth county) must be as over 80 years old as well. I have an aunt's collection of year pins from that club. She turned 18 in 1935, and was in 4-H for ten years, so it must have been founded in 1925 at the latest.

justbrowsin
Apr 24, 2008 at 8:27 p.m.
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Linn 4-H club was the first club in Wisconsin

NVgrf
Apr 24, 2008 at 4:05 p.m.
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The very first 4-H Club in America was established in 1902 in Clark County, Ohio. It was called "The Tomato Club."

twerp13
Apr 24, 2008 at 2:42 p.m.
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LaPrairie was founded in 1930.

chelleandlou
Apr 24, 2008 at 10:21 a.m.
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Magnolia 4-H is pretty 'old' as well.

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