4-H History

4-H began in Arizona in 1913, when volunteer leader George T. Peabody organized a Boy's Cotton Club in Chandler. When the U.S. Smith-Lever Act was passed in 1914, Professor Stanely F. Morse, of The University of Arizona, College of Agriculture Experiment Station, organized 12 cotton, corn, and grain sorghum 4-H clubs. Canning, swine, and poultry clubs were organized in 1915 by Leland Park, a University of Arizona State Agent who became the first employee to devote full time to clubs for boys and girls. In the early years, most clubs were organized through schools, with teachers serving as leaders. Boys' and girls' clubs became known as "4-H Clubs" in the early 1930s. In recent years, 4-H Youth Development programs have been organized in the communities with a continued emphasis on a balance of experiences for young people in project work, personal development opportunities, leadership and citizenship.
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National 4-H Hall of Fame

Beginning in 2002, the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents 4-H honored the first laureates - volunteers, supporters, staff, pioneers - who made major contributions to 4-H at local, state and national levels. New members are inducted annually at National 4-H Conference. Visit the National 4-H Hall of Fame site.

2002 – Jim Kolbe
2003 – Sarah Harman
2004 – Beryl Jeanne Burt
2005 – Bartley Cardon
2006 – Oliver Anderson
2010 – Graham Wright
2014 – Dan Klingenberg
2018 – Marifloyd Hamil
2019 – Bill Peterson

Arizona 4-H Hall of Fame

2002 – Inagural Inductees On Saturday, October 12th, 2002, Arizona 4-H honored 21 outstanding individuals with the Inaugural Clover Award. The honorees consisted of 21 individuals who exemplified the true spirit of 4-H. This was a great event to celebrate and recognize outstanding volunteers to the Arizona 4-H Youth Development Program.
2004 – Inductees
2006 – Inductees
2008 – Inductees
2010 – Inductees
2012 – Inductees
2014 – Inductees
2020 – Inductees

4-H Legacy Award Recipients

Arizona 4-H is proud to recognize award recipients at the National 4-H Legacy Awards, sponsored by National 4-H Council. These awards are given to individuals with distinguished accomplishments in their personal and professional lives. These individuals attribute their success in part to their 4-H participation.

2018 – Ethel Branch (Navajo Nation alumni), 4-H Luminary
2019 – Bob Baffert (Santa Cruz County alumni), Distinguished 4-H Alumni Medallion