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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.
Read more about 4-H History

  • National 4-H History
  • National 4-H History Preservation Program

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

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

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Related Content

  • AZ 4-H Home
  • AZ 4-H History
  • AZ 4-H Museum
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