AMES, Iowa--Oct. 7-13, 2007, is National 4-H Week. Here are some things to know about 4-H.

4-H is the nation’s largest youth organization.  It has more than 7 million participants. It is in all 99 Iowa counties, in all 50 states and in more than 80 countries. One quarter of Iowa’s young people are involved in 4-H.

4-H is a part of Cooperative Extension.  4-H takes research-based information from the nation’s land grant universities to youth in urban, small town and rural communities. In Iowa, 4-H is headquartered on the Iowa State University campus in Ames.

4-H follows the philosophy of learning by doing.  Youth develop life skills through hands-on projects that range from citizenship to expressive arts, communication to foods and nutrition, and leadership to science and technology.

4-H is for youth in grades 4 through 12. Youth can belong to 4-H individually or as members of clubs and groups.  They can make new friends, visit new places, go on trips, attend workshops and conferences, host meetings and help their communities.

4-H uses a four-leaf clover for its emblem. Each leaf carries an H; all four H’s stand for Head, Heart, Hands and Health. The idea for the clover came from Clarion in Wright County, Iowa.

4-H annually displays youth exhibits at the Iowa State Fair. More than 4,000 youth exhibits are displayed in the 4-H Exhibits Building as well as some 3,000 4-H animal exhibits in the fair barns and show rings.

4-H partners with the Army Youth Development Project (AYDP). Together they serve children with parents in the military through Operation Military Kids (OMK).

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