By Robert Chalifoux
Enquirer contributor

HAMILTON - Even as farm populations shrink, 4-H keeps growing 100 years after the first club in Ohio helped sow what became a nationwide youth program.

And while members can still learn about raising livestock and canning food, today's clubs also get involved in everything from urban clean-up campaigns and teen driver safety to money management and the creative arts.

"We had around 400 horse projects at this year's (county) fair," said Julie Dalzell, an extension agent for 4-H youth development in Butler County. "But we also had lots of model rockets and creative arts projects. We had more than 30 members do the creative writing project."

4-H CENTENNIAL BOOK

To commemorate its centennial, the Ohio 4-H club published Ohio 4-H: One Hundred Years of History and Growth.   The book chronicles the history of 4-H clubs in all of Ohio's 88 counties. The book was put together by Erin Deel Dailey, extension agent for 4-H youth development in Shelby County, as part of her master's thesis in human and community resource development at Ohio State University.   For the book, county 4-H offices submitted histories and pictures of the 4-H clubs in their counties.   Jim Graham, grandson of 4-H founder A.B. Graham, contributed pictures and articles, as well as his own memories, about his grandfather.   The book costs $35.00 plus shipping and can be purchased through extension offices.

The 4-H Club, which just completed its centennial celebration, was founded in Ohio in 1902 by A.B. Graham. Graham, superintendent of Clark County schools, started what he called "The Boys and Girls Agricultural Experiment Club" to teach rural children new farming methods and help supplement education in rural areas.

"Back then, 99 percent of kids (in rural areas) were going to grow up to be farmers," said Kara Colvin, an extension agent for 4-H youth development in Warren County. "Kids in rural schools weren't learning things that were practical for their home lives. Graham wanted to give them hands-on experience."

In 1902, 103 children ages 10-15 participated, said Keebler Holley, extension agent for 4-H youth development in Hamilton County. Boys worked with crops and livestock and girls did canning projects.

The club approach caught on, eventually spreading to all 88 Ohio counties and 50 states. Now, 4-H estimates nearly 7 million American youths participate in nearly 100,000 clubs nationwide. Managed nationally through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the local clubs are sponsored by the cooperative extension services of state universities (Ohio State University in Ohio). The organization estimates that today, only about one in 10 members nationally lives on a farm.

Today, 4-H programs focus on projects.

"I usually try to do two or three projects," said Joe Breen, a 16-year-old 4-H club member in Warren County. "But it depends on what type of project I'm doing."

The Springboro High junior said his past projects included horsemanship and woodworking.

Other 4-H projects involve first aid, gardening, photography and money management. Members also can create a self-directed project.

"At the fair, we may have no more than 10 beef projects," Mr. Holley said. "But gardening projects get lots of kids."

The projects do more than teach responsibility, said Steve Brady, a youth development extension agent in Warren County. They teach children about leadership and applying what they learn.

Some projects can lead to careers, Mr. Holley said. The culinary arts project teaches cooking, but also delves into the business side of owning a restaurant or bakery.

4-H also offers several types of summer camps. Members can participate in the county general camp, as well as specialized camps for such things as sewing or horse riding. Older members serve as counselors at the county 4-H camp.

"I've been a camper ever since I was old enough," Joe said. "And I've been a camp counselor for the past three years."

There also are different after-school programs children can join.

Hamilton County 4-H offers all-female after-school programs at Mount Healthy North and South middle schools, said Mr. Holley. The AWESOME (Achieving With Extension Students Of Master Excellence) program meets once a week after school.

"I liked the last meeting," said North Middle School seventh-grader Maria Compton. "We talked about relationships with boys and peer pressure."

The 13-year-old girl joined the program because she thought it would be fun after some friends joined the year before.

Another 4-H offering is the CARTeens (Caring And Responsible Teen) club, a diversion program for first-time juvenile traffic offenders.

Participation in the program is mandated by Juvenile Court, said Mary Alice Shupp, a CARTeen club adviser for Butler County. The program, which is about two hours long and meets every other Wednesday, is run by teens.

"We like to educate kids on the laws," said CARTeen president Cory Jackson. "We refresh the stuff they might have forgotten."

The 18-year-old Ross High School senior has been a member of the CARTeen program for three years.

Recently, some members of Warren and Hamilton county 4-H clubs did a two-day service project in downtown Cincinnati.

"We went around and helped clean up some neighborhoods," Joe said. "It was cool because normally 4-H is focused on making the kids better, but having youth helping the community benefits everyone."