[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 14]
[Senate]
[Page 19239]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              NATIONAL 4-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM WEEK

  Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I rise today, along with my friend and 
colleague from Oklahoma, Senator Inhofe, to pay tribute to 4-H, one of 
the strongest youth organizations in the country. I am proud to be a 
cosponsor of the legislation that Senator Inhofe introduced recently to 
designate October 6, 2002, through October 12, 2002, as ``National 4-H 
Youth Development Program Week.''
  4-H began in Clark County, OH. Just minutes away from where I grew 
up. In 1902, a century ago this year, A.B. Graham established a ``Boys' 
and Girls' Agricultural Club.'' There were approximately 85 children 
who attended that first meeting in the basement of the Clark County 
Courthouse in Springfield, OH. This was the start of what would be 
called a ``4-H Club'' within a few years. The first projects included 
food preservation, gardening and beginning agriculture.
  4-H has grown from its 85 original members to approximately 300,000 
in Ohio and over 6.8 million nationwide. One out of every six people in 
Ohio has been or is currently involved with 4-H youth development 
programs either as a member, parent, volunteer, or donor. The project 
selection has also grown from the original three to over 200. A 
sampling of today's projects include health, family life, photography, 
aerospace science, bicycles, natural resources, safety, horticulture 
and nutrition.
  We need organizations, like 4-H, to help guide our next generation of 
agriculturists, teachers, and even elected officials toward a better 
tomorrow. I also am proud to say, that my wife, Fran, and I have had 
children go through the 4-H program for 24 straight years now, in fact, 
last year was our eighth and youngest child Anna's first year in 4-H.
  4-H clubs have expanded from rural to urban areas, where they provide 
a new group of kids with essential leadership skills and community 
service involvement. National 4-H conferences have even become 
platforms for presidents and other national officials to voice their 
ideas for agriculture and other policies.
  Although today's 4-H organization may be larger than the original 100 
members and our communication has increased from town meetings to 
Internet chat rooms, the organization's principles of Head, Heart, 
Hands, and Health remain the same. Without question, the lessons and 
skills 4-H members learn will last a lifetime.
  I am pleased to report that in Ohio, 4-H members, Nationwide 
Insurance, and the Ohio Farm Bureau have teamed together to create a 
brand new 4-H Center on the campus of The Ohio State University. The 
groundbreaking ceremony occurred just last month. This new Center will 
provide research, teaching resources, and service opportunities for 
youth, adult volunteers, and community organizations. The development 
of this Center is a result of partnerships, one of the many skills our 
youth learn through 4-H.
  In closing, I take this opportunity to challenge other Senators to 
become involved in 4-H either as a parent or volunteer. I guarantee it 
will be one of the most rewarding experiences of their lives.
  Mr. FITZGERALD. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the week of 
October 6 as National 4-H Youth Development Program Week.
  The need to provide a quality education and opportunities for our 
youth is ever-present. In order to ensure that our country continues to 
progress, we must encourage our youth to take active roles in their 
schools and their communities.
  One hundred years ago, groups of concerned community members 
organized boys' and girls' agricultural clubs to provide better 
agricultural education to young people. These clubs adopted a model of 
learning by doing, and their popularity continued to grow. By 
addressing the needs of the local community, these small boys and girls 
clubs rapidly evolved into the National 4-H Program that now can be 
found in communities across America.
  Today, 7 million youth and 50 million 4-H alumni participate in over 
1,000 4-H programs, ranging from robotics and biotechnology to 
skateboarding and agriculture. These programs provide opportunities for 
youth to participate in innovative programs through which they can 
develop valuable, lifelong skills.
  During my tenure as a U.S. Senator, I have enjoyed meeting with 4-H 
leaders and members throughout the State of Illinois, and have seen 
first-hand how the 4-H program has changed the lives of our young 
people. I have also appreciated the extraordinary dedication that 4-H 
leaders bring to their clubs.
  It was with pride that I cosponsored the resolution submitted by 
Senator Inhofe and Senator Stabenow declaring the week of October 6 as 
``National 4-H Youth Development Program Week.'' I hope that the 4-H 
program will build on the successes of the last one hundred years and 
hold true to the 4-H motto ``to make the best better'' in the years to 
come.

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