4-H: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

The 4-H youth organization, now administered by the United States Department of Agriculture Cooperative Extension System, was founded in 1904 by G.C. Adams in Georgia and now serves over 1.6 million members in almost 100,000 clubs in kindergarten through high school.

The name 4-H stands for "Head, Heart, Hands, and Health", and a four-leaf clover is their logo. The program aims to educate youth in agriculture-related arts and sciences and encourage fellowship and service opportunities. With continued urban sprawl and the admission of women decades ago, 4-H continues to develop new projects for its members to study beyond agriculture and animal husbandry, including photography, conservation, cooking, rhetoric, history, art, and other pursuits. The organization is often associated with summer camps, county fairs and state fairs. 4-H has spread out across the world, and regularly awards and sponsors IFYE international youth exchanges, trips, and cultural events (see external links).

Still, 4-H retains a real connection to its roots in agriculture and associated values of thrift, invention, education, compassion, conservation, encouragement, service, and general happiness and well-being.