Learn About 4-H
4-H is about having fun, learning, exploring and discovering. In 4-H, young people make new friends,
develop new skills, become leaders and help shape their communities. Arizona 4-H builds
upon a century of experience as its fosters positive youth development that is based on the
needs and strengths of youth, their families and communities. Youth have the opportunity to
participate in 4-H experiences that strengthen a young person's sense of belonging, generosity,
independence and mastery.
About 8,000 youth are enrolled members of 4-H clubs in Arizona. Another 100,000 Arizona youth
get involved in 4-H through special educational opportunities at school, in after school
programs, or at neighborhood or youth centers. These youth live in cities, suburbs, small towns and rural communities.
4-H gives them a chance to pursue their own interests by enrolling in projects - from photography to computers, from building
rockets to raising sheep. 4-H Project information is available online. They go places - to camp, to state and national conferences,
even to other countries on 4-H exchange programs. They learn to be leaders and active citizens.
In 4-H clubs, youth serve as officers and learn to conduct meetings, handle club funds, and facilitate group decision-making.
They give back to their communities. 4-H members get involved in volunteer projects to protect the environment, mentor
younger children and help people who are less fortunate.
University approved curricula is designed for non-professional use, so that it is easy for anyone to pick up and use at club meetings,
after-school programs or in the classroom. Hands-on learning is the basic design of 4-H educational programs. Participants learn by
doing projects that are designed to fit the needs of youth at different ages. Most 4-H programs have been designed so that older
youth can learn skills and teach younger participants.
While 4-H in Arizona had its beginnings in rural areas, 4-H now serves young people and volunteers from the major urban centers and
suburban communities. Today's 4-H still has science and technology as its foundation. In addition, many projects emphasize project
work and recognize personal growth and development, leadership, citizenship, and healthy lifestyle education.
The University of Arizona is the land grant institution of the state of Arizona which has a three-pronged mission: Teaching,
Research and outreach. 4-H Youth Development is the youth outreach component of cooperative Extension which is the major
outreach component of the University.
Mission
The Mission of Arizona 4-H Youth Development is to provide educational opportunities fo youth to become capable and contributing members of a global society. In support of this mission, we will:
- provide formal and non-formal community-focused experiential learning
- develop skills that benefit youth throughout life, project work, personal development opportunities, leadership and citizenship
- foster leadership and volunteerism in youth and adults
Vision
4-H is dedicated to becoming a world leader in developing youth to become productive citizens and catalysts for positive change to meet the needs of a diverse and changing society.
I pledge:
 My HEAD to clearer thinking
My HEART to greater loyalty, 
 My HANDS to larger service, and
 My HEALTH for better living,
For my club, my community, my country,
and my world. 
In reciting the pledge, a member raises the right hand to the right side of the head when speaking line one; lowers the hand to the heart when speaking line two; and extends hands, palms upward, when speaking line three; and brings hands and arms down the sides of the body to rest when speaking the rest of the pledge.
The 4-H Motto
"To Make the Best Better!" The motto proposed by Carrie Harrison, a botanist with the U.S. Bureau of Plant Industry, was officially adopted in 1927 when the 4-H Pledge was introduced.
The 4-H Slogan
"Learning by Doing" – this is the educational philosophy of the 4-H program. Since young people learn best when they are actively involved in the learning process, 4-H projects are designed to provide "hands-on" experience that is reinforced through group discussion and application - "do - reflect - apply."
4-H Creed
I believe in 4-H club work for the opportunity it gives me to become a useful citizen. I believe in the training of my Head for the power it will give me to think, plan and reason. I believe in the training of my Heart for the nobleness it will give me to be kind, sympathetic, and true. I believe in the training of my Hands for the ability it will give me to be helpful, skillful, and useful. I believe in my country, my state, my community, and in my responsibility for their development. In all these things I believe and I am willing to dedicate my efforts to their fulfillment.
 The green four-leaf clover with the white letter "H" in each leaf is the
National 4-H Emblem. The design, attributed to L.H. Benson, an Iowa
school superintendent, was adopted as the national emblem in 1911.
Once enrolled as a 4-H volunteer leader, you are authorized by your
local Extension office to use the 4-H name and emblem. The 4-H Name
and Emblem are protected under federal statute (Title 18, U.S.C. 707)
and may only be used in accordance with statute requirements. Only
use an official emblem graphic obtained from an authorized 4-H source
which includes the language "18 USC 707" to the right of the stem.
Your Extension office can provide camera ready or electronic
versions of the clover for your use. Text or graphics should
never cross the clover emblem. Download the Official 4-H Clover
Green and white are the 4-H colors. Green is nature's most common color
and symbolizes youth, life, and growth. White stands for purity and high ideals.
4-H: How It All Began - Over 100 Years Ago
In the early years, most clubs were organized through schools, with
teachers serving as leaders. Nationally, the beginning of 4-H dates back
to 1902, when A.B. Graham organized the first 4-H club in the basement of
the Clark County Courthouse in Springfield Township, Ohio. The first 4-H club
in Arizona was organized as the Boys Cotton club in Chandler by George Peabody in 1913.
After the passage of the U.S. Smith Lever Act in 1914, 12 cotton, corn, and grain sorghum
4-H clubs were formed in Arizona. Canning, swine, and poultry clubs were organized in 1915
by Leland Park. He became the first employee to devote full time to clubs for boys and girls.
The 4-H pledge was written by Kansas 4-H leader Otis hall and was adopted during the first national 4-H Club Camp in Washington, D.C. in 1927. Boys’ and girls’ clubs became known as “4-H Clubs” in the early 1930's. 4-H was originally designed not only to educate youth, but also so that these young men and women would bring information home to their parents.
You can learn more about 4-H history with this 4-H timeline. You can also visit the Arizona 4-H Foundation and National 4-H Centennial web sites that include historic 4-H photographs.
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