4-H beginnings traced to Newton County

Members of the first Boys Corn Club in Newton County, organized by G.C. Adams, are pictured in 1904-1905. This club was one of the forerunners of the

modern 4-H Club. Historical Society of Newton County

4-H beginnings linked to Newton County

By PHILLIP B. HUBBARD

phubbard@covnews.com

As it stands in 2021, the 4-H program is one of the largest youth organizations in the world. There are approximately 6.5 million members of the nationwide program.

Interestingly enough, the current organization began right here in Newton County, Georgia, well over 100 years ago.

G.C. Adams, the Newton County School System Superintendent at the time, had an idea for a youth organization to help educate children.

So, in 1904 Adams got a group of boys together to form the Georgia Boys Corn Club.

The whole purpose of the club was to teach kids how to grow and harvest corn. Adams and his members were so successful that they went around to various fairs and festivals. At those events, they won multiple awards and prizes because they had the best tasting corn around.

However, this club excluded young girls who were interested in doing some of the similar things.

Therefore, the girls at that time went 69 miles down to Hancock County to start a club of their own.

As a result, they formed the Girls Tomato Canning Club.

With the club, the girls did the same thing with tomatoes as the boys did with corn. But the girls wanted to one-up their contemporaries by going another step to can their tomatoes that they just grew and harvested.

And both programs’ formations led to the beginning stages of 4-H as people know it today.

Since the organization’s inception, 4-H has evolved.

Its motto is “To make the best better.” Its logo is also a four leaf clover that has four H’s in it that stands for Head, Heart, Hands and Health.

Youth members are provided opportunities to improve on public speaking, participating in science lessons and to assist in “Helping Hands” activities, which is basically community service projects.

After being active in the educational part of 4-H, students go around the state to participate in various competitions with other 4-H programs. Whether it’s at Rock Eagle in Eatonton, or the Georgia National Fairgrounds in Perry, students are exposed to various experiences to enhance their connections throughout the organization.

In Newton County, Charlene Scott and Kim Lawrence organize monthly meetings for Newton County School System to help grow the program. They have 4-H nights and other local events to help get and keep students involved. Even during the pandemic in 2020, Newton County’s 4-H program remained active by using Canvas and Zoom. Every ounce of effort by 4-Hers everywhere helps carry out the vision set forth by Adams 117 years ago. And that was to teach children skills that they’ll apply to the rest of their lives.