Cornell University Cooperative Extension of Onondaga County 
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4-H and Cornell Cooperative Extension Timeline

 
 
  • Beginning 1896-Liberty Hyde Bailey of Cornell University and Albert B. Graham, superintendent of schools for the Springfield Township, Ohio spoke out about the importance of rural secondary schools that were lacking.  Bailey used appropriate funds by New York for extension fund to make a series of nature study leaflets to rural schools. Cornell University organized clubs to ensure the natures study leaflets were used.  The leaflets expanded into magazines, and Cornell’s efforts had an effect. 

  • 1901-Graham consulted with students and teachers in Springfield to establish clubs outside of school hours. Parents agreed, they thought it would keep their kids out of trouble. 

  • 1901-Will Otwell’s annual corn growing contest began to gain much recognition.

  • 1902-4-H Begins. Grahams first meetings. Graham asked students to test the soil on their farms with litmus paper and select best seed corn from their fathers’ crop for future plating in test plots. Graham also introduces knot tying and rope splicing, and also used a microscope for viewing milk droplets and blood from a frog. The first symbol of 4-H was a three-leaf clover designed by Benson and Field. Wallace’s farmer magazine sponsored a corn-growing contest.

  • 1903-Graham sought outside help through the Ohio Agriculture Experiment Station at Wooster and the dean of agriculture at Ohio State University.  He needed a way to communicate with the state’s farmers. With the help of the agriculture union and the university Graham organized clubs through the township.

  • June 1903-Over 100 club members visited the Ohio state campus to inspect laboratories and explore barns.

  • 1904-Thirteen township-wide clubs were operating under the direction of school superintendents.  Each club elected officers and established yearly progress exhibits. Club members increased to 3,000. In Illinois the similar work of O.J. Kern was recognized in the United States Department of Agriculture yearbook.

  • 1905-Graham was invited to be the state’s first superintendent of Extension due to his efforts. Clubs grew and spread for state to state over the next few years.

  • 1908-Girls clubs included baking, sewing and basketry.  Boys clubs included seed selection experiments, milk testing and road improvement.

  • 1910-Field Shambaugh developed a clover pin with an H on each leaf.

  • 1911-The four leaf clover became the 4-H symbol meaning Head, Heart, Hands, and Health

  • April 15, 1913- Organization of Onondaga Farm Bureau with Stanley S. Martin employed, as “Agriculturist” office was located in the courthouse.

  • 1914-The Smith-Lever Act passed giving the new Cooperative Extension Service land grant colleges needed for a successful future, meaning 4-H had a permanent home

  • July 1917- Onondaga County Home Bureau organized with Agent Miss Gertrude Bowers located in the courthouse.  The Home Bureau started because of the need for food conservation and as a war emergency measure.

  • November 1918- Onondaga County became the first county in the nation to form a joint Farm & Home Bureau Association.  Syracuse Home Bureau organized and located in the Thrift Kitchen at Franklin and Walton St. Lena Pape employed as Agent. The thrift kitchen was used to show kids how to conserve food during wartime.  SHB was part of the Farm and Home Bureau Association and was the first city home bureau in the country.  

  • 1918-4-H membership grew to 500,000 with 985 paid part-time club leaders

  • During World War I (1914-1918)- The increase for food increased the number of calf, pig, and dairy clubs.

  • 1919-Kansas City meeting established general structure of local clubs, an expansion of projects was encouraged, relations between club work and vocational education in the schools was defined, and the general principle of local initiative was ratified.

  • June 1919-4-H looks to private funding due to the lack of funds from the government because of the war.

  • September 1921-First meeting of the National Committee on Boys’ and Girls’ club work took place in Chicago, this was to encourage private sector support. Onondaga County with Mr. E. E. Cummings employed as Agent with his office in the courthouse.

  • 1922-First National 4-H congress 

  • 1924-Emblem patented

  • 1927-First National 4-H Club Camp. Also, national 4-H pledge and motto approved by state leaders.

  • October 1928- Junior Extension projects became known as 4-H.

  • 1928-Increased public funding of the Extension service, including 4-H was assured by Acts of Congress again in 1935, and 1945 and special appropriations in 1969, 1972, and 1977.

  • 1939-Subcommittee developed to deal with policies and procedures. Congress passed law protecting the 4-H name and emblem.

  • 1947-County 4-H agents organized a national professional association.

  • 1948-International Farm Youth Exchange began.  This is a program that allows students to live somewhere else on a farm and see the difference.

  • 1952-4-H Celebrates its 50th Anniversary, and also extends into Urban areas.

  • January 1956- Separation of Farm Bureau and Cooperative Extension. Agriculture, City and county home demonstration unites and the 4-h club association became known as Onondaga County Extension Service.

  • October 1959- City and county home demonstration units merged and were located at 112 Montgomery St.

  • 1960-1970-TV was used successfully as a 4-H educational method.

  • April 1967- Separation of Home Bureau and Cooperative Extension.

  • July 1974- All program areas were moved to the Cooperative Extension Center at 1050 W. Genesee St, Syracuse.

  • 1976-1977-National 4-H Council was created by the merger of National 4-H Foundation and National 4-H Service Committee.

  • January 1977- Education programs in community resource development.

  • March 1988- Name changed to Cornell Cooperative Extension, Onondaga County to reflect the connection with Cornell and the national system of land grant colleges and universities.

  • 2002-4-H celebrates its 100th anniversary.

  • 2009-As a tribute to 4-H educating young leaders in science and technology a 4-H flag depicting the 4-leaf clover will fly on the Space Shuttle Endeavor.