In 1919, the first 4-H clubs were organized in Delaware County. In 1919 – 1920, there were 7 clubs listed: Baby Beef, Purebred Calf, Market Pig, Purebred Gilt, Poultry, Dairy Calf, and Sow and Litter. Ninety boys were enrolled but only 21 completed a project. Exhibits came from Delhi, Oneida, Delaware, Elk, Coffins Grove, Prairie, Milo and Colony townships. Three townships had judging teams that were promoted by the schools in Greeley, Oneida and Delhi with the county fair competition won by Oneida.
In 1921 there were 70 boys enrolled in four clubs (sow and litter, market pig, purebred dairy and poultry) and 63 completed their projects. $125.00 in prize money was awarded at the county fair. In 1924, the purebred gilt club replaced the sow and litter club and both boys and girls between the ages of 10 and 18 years were eligible. 18 enrolled including 1 girl. The dairy heifer club divided into a junior and senior club with 24 boys and 2 girls enrolled.
In 1924, there were 7 girls clubs with the clothing project and they were responsible for completing a record book. The first rally day was held at the fairgrounds. The Cheerful Workers were organized in Oneida township during that year but they gradually migrated to Delaware township.
In 1925, the county added a baby beef club and a potato club. 103 boys and 60 girls enrolled and prize money at the fairgrounds amounted to $143.
In 1927, the girls’ project was home furnishings and 16 clubs and 359 members participated. The first club booths were exhibited and also the first county camp was held at the county fair with 50 members participating. In 1929, there was a requirement that boys had to attend 4 meetings.
In 1930, the dairy calf club had grown so big that it was the second largest in the state. There were 8 girls’ clubs with 104 members and 16 boys’ clubs with 350 members. Also in 1930, a lamb club was started.
In 1932, two county events were instituted: a member/leader banquet and a beef club tour of the county. In 1933, there were 9 girls’ clubs and an all club party was held in the county. In 1934, the girls’ enrollment was at an all time low with only 3 clubs (Colony, Milo and Oneida) therefore no rally day was held. In 1935, Rally Day was resumed and Lois Matthews received a Des Moines Register and Tribune award on her 10 year record book- she had canned 750 quarts of food.
In 1941 mother–daughter teas were started among the girls’ clubs and the basketball tournament was organized. 78 boys took part and the county champions took second place in the district tournament.
In 1943 the first leaders’ training in foods was held. During 1948, the 4-H enrollment program was started in October.
In 1949, 4-Hers attended camp at Wapsi Y for the first time. The leaders’ recognition banquet was also begun in 1949. In 1950, welcome signs were placed at the four corners of the county. The 4-H clubs participated with a float in the Manchester Centennial parade.
In 1952, officers training meeting were held and the 4-H Jamboree was held for the first time. The first town club, Manchester Merry Maids, was organized in Manchester in 1955.
4-H exchanges have been held. In 1959, 32 members went to Mississippi County, Arkansas & they came to Iowa in 1960. In 1962, 27 members and 2 leaders went to Ainsworth, Nebraska. In 1965, 20 came from Wayne County Michigan and 1966, 23 went from Delaware county. In 1969, 26 members from Sullivan, Tennessee came.
In 1961, our first youth committee was formed. In July 1961, the first citizenship short course to Washington, DC was attended by 31 delegates and 4 chaperones. A crop and weather reporting club was formed in 1962.
1963: Booster committees were organized to help 4-H functions within the townships. 3 couples in fourteen townships were recruited.
In 1965, presentations took the place of demonstrations with a single contest for boys and girls.
In 1971, there were 23 girls’ clubs and 16 boys’ club who were enrolled in 55 projects. Members had an exchange with Lucas County, Oklahoma.
816 youth were enrolled in 4-H in 1972 with 700 attending Rally Day.
In 1973, the first dogs were exhibited at the fair. In December, 1973, 38 members participated in an intrastate exchange with Plymouth County, Iowa and they returned the visit in March of 1974.
1975: exchange in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.
The peak enrollment was in 1976 with 998 members enrolled in 55 clubs (20 boys and 35 girls) in 53 different projects. There are 74 girl’s club leaders (11 new leaders) and 41 boy’s club leaders (8 leaders). There were 47 project leaders and 45 active booster couples.
In 1978, the county rally night took on a new format with spot and stage lighting. A magician entertained the crowd. Thirty five 4-H members from Manitoba province in Canada visited the county in July. Boys were encouraged to participate in the 4-H Clothing Selection program for the first time this year with 20 boys and 20 girls participating in Clothing Selection and 46 participating in Fashion Revue.
In 1979, four 4-H clubs were organized in West Delaware Schools for 75 special education students during the school day for 1 1/2 hours once a month.
1982 was the eleventh year for the summer 4H/CRD (Community Resource Development) program in the county. Two hundred ninety seven youth in twelve communities completed community service projects. These projects ranged from visiting care centers, picking up roadside trash, painting playground equipment and planting flowers. The purpose of the 4H/CRD program is three-fold: to gain an awareness of their community’s operation and organization, to develop a lasting sense of civic and personal pride and to acquire citizenship and leadership skills.
In 1985, there were 508 members in 33 clubs. There were 248 youth in 12 4-H/CRD groups. Two special interest groups, babysitting and special education, had a total of 89 members.
Four hundred six members and 72 leaders were involved in 4-H in 1987. There were 4-H/CRD in twelve communities with 105 youth participating. A new County 4-H Council was organized in the fall. Freddie 4-H mascot and the new 4-H County Council visited fourth and fifth grade classroom during National 4-H Week in October of 1988. In 1990, there were 454 members and 102 4-H leaders with 2 special interest groups. Four hundred and seventy six people participated in the 4-H Basketball tournament. Forty five youth were involved in a county-wide Photography shoot. (Many of those pictures are framed and hanging in the Extension Office meeting room and hallway.)
In 1992, there were 394 youth involved in 4-H --- 296 members in 27 clubs and 99 in special, short term activities. The Hobby Mechanics program for small engine and auto restoration had 19 members.
Five hundred seventy six members participated in 25 Community Clubs in 1995. 12 Intermediate members toured the Iowa City & Cedar Rapids areas with the Northeast Iowa Area Discover Iowa program. Five Juniors and Intermediate members attended the Area 4-H Camp held near Madrid at the State Camping Center.
In 1997, six high school members attended the weeklong Citizenship: Washington Focus in Washington D.C. Two teens served on the State 4-H Council with three attending Area 4-H Council meetings in Fayette.
In July of 1999, 35 members constructed and launched bottle rockets, dissected hawk pellets, went on a nature hike and creek stomp and made new friends at the County 4-H Day Camp at Bailey’s Ford Park south of Manchester. Six members attended the Area Intermediate 4-H Conference in Fayette. County membership was 446 members in 21 community clubs.
20 senior members attended State 4-H Conference in 2002. Jolene Gibbs served on the State 4-H Council and several senior members served on the Northeast Iowa Area 4-H Council. Ten Intermediates and 10 junior members attended the Area 4-H Camps held at Pine Bluff near Decorah.
In 2004, 375 members (235 girls and 140 boys) were enrolled in 20 clubs. (13 co-ed clubs, 4 girls’ clubs and 3 boys’ clubs) The clubs ranged in size from 6 members to 39 members. We have 47 community club leaders and 13 project leaders. The Hoptown Hurricanes club added the first CloverKids group in the county. CloverKids are youngsters in grades Kindergarten through third grade. The Senior Dairy Quiz Bowl team represented the state at the National 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl in Louisville Kentucky in November.
There were 375 members in 20 community clubs in 2006. Our 4-H Meats Judging team won the state contest and advanced to the American Royal in October. In 2007 our Senior 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl senior team #1 placed first in the state and advanced to represent Iowa in Louisville, Kentucky in November. In 2008, 4 Youth in Action members attended Legislative Day in Des Moines in March. The Northeast Iowa Area Junior and Intermediate 4-H camps at Pine Bluff near Decorah had to be cancelled because of flooding.
In 2009, Delaware County has 339 members in grades 4-12 and an additional 25 CloverKids in two groups of Kindergarteners through third grades. There are 22 FFA members enrolled receiving the 4-H newsletter and eligible to attend project meetings and county fair. There are 67 club and project leaders in Delaware County.
4-H club membership is open to all youth 4th through 12th grade. For anyone interested in joining 4-H, a complete listing of clubs, leaders, and locations along with other information is available at: www.extension.iastate.edu/delaware/news/join.htm or by contacting Marcia Hanson, Delaware County 4-H Program Coordinator at 563-927-4201, marhan@iastate.edu or by visiting the ISU Extension for Delaware County, 1417 North Franklin, Manchester.