[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 137 (Monday, October 5, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S11500]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 TRIBUTE IN HONOR OF NATIONAL 4-H WEEK

 Mr. GRAMS. Mr. President, I rise today as a former 4-Her to 
pay tribute to the participants and volunteers of 4-H, in honor of 
National 4-H Week, which takes place October 4-10.
  Although it is not known exactly when or where the 4-H program began, 
Minnesota was one of its originators. The 4-H program, initially known 
as the Boys and Girls Clubs, was founded sometime around the turn of 
the Twentieth Century by representatives of a wide range of community 
interests; specifically, farm families, agricultural scientists, school 
teachers, administrators and concerned citizens. The instrumental 
founder of 4-H in Minnesota was Theodore A. ``Dad'' Erickson, a Douglas 
County School Superintendent.
  During its formative years, a three-leaf clover was used as the 
symbol of the Boys and Girls Clubs representing three ``H's'': head, 
heart and hands. In 1924, Mr. O.H. Benson used the four-leaf clover 
symbol in Iowa; in his design the fourth leaf represents health. Today, 
4-H emphasizes projects that improve the four ``H's'': head, heart, 
hands, and health.
  4-H evolved from an organization which first focussed on advancing 
agricultural technology for young men and home economics skills for 
young women, into a program which helped develop self-confidence and a 
sense of community responsibility for all youth participants. Today, 4-
Hers not only continue to be involved in vegetable gardening, bread 
baking and sewing, which have been around since the program's 
inception, but have branched out into new areas to keep in tune with 
today's ever-changing world, such as computer, bicycle and electrical 
projects. Ultimately, 4-H continues to expand upon its primary goal: 
the development of young people.
  Nationwide, there are 6,009,997 members between the ages of five and 
twenty-one and 624,967 volunteers who participate in the 4-H program. 
As for Minnesota, 4-H is the largest youth organization in the state 
and consists of over 250,000 members and 14,000 volunteers. In 
addition, there are more than 4,000 4-H clubs in the state of 
Minnesota.
  There are many activities that 4-Hers and their clubs undertake, such 
as cleaning up trash in their communities, helping in literacy 
projects, and delivering food to hospice patients. 4-Hers participate 
in local county and state fairs, showing off months of hard work by 
presenting vegetables they have grown in their gardens, various shop 
projects they have built or refurnished, and recipes they have 
perfected. They also show various animals ranging from domestic pets to 
livestock they have trained and groomed for competition. 4-Hers have 
the opportunity to attend various camps, state 4-H youth gatherings, 
national 4-H Congress, national 4-H Conference, and International 4-H 
youth exchange.
  Mr. President, 4-H would not work without the commitment from 
America's youth and the dedication of the volunteers who continue to 
make 4-H an ever-expanding success on a local, state, national and 
global level. Again, as a former 4-H member, I believe 4-H provides our 
youth of today the skills necessary to survive in our evolving world. I 
commend all of those involved for their hard work, service, and their 
pledge to honor to follow the 4-H motto: ``To make the best 
better!''

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