A small village in Manitoba’s Pembina Valley may have love to thank for being Canada’s oldest 4-H club.
History says that E. Ward Jones, an employee with the provincial agriculture department, used his influence to start the program in Roland as a to way help a local school teacher, Adelaide Graham.
Graham was going to be the 4-H leader in Roland, and Jones, a secret admirer, offered her every assistance.
The couple eventually married and Roland’s 4-H club became Canada’s first in 1913.
Read Also
Going beyond “Resistant” on crop seed labels
Variety resistance is getting more specific on crop disease pathogens, but that information must be conveyed in a way that actually helps producers make rotation decisions.
The club celebrated its 100th anniversary May 31.
In those days, the agriculture department gave each new 4-H member one dozen eggs from good laying hens, seed potatoes and good quality seed of fodder corn. In the fall, the communities held a fair where the chickens, corn, and potatoes were judged.
Seven other 4-H clubs started in Manitoba in 1913 in the towns of Darlingford, Manitou, Neepawa, Oak Lake, Starbuck, Stonewall and Warren.
In 1952, the name was changed from Boys and Girls Clubs to 4-H in keeping with the name of the 4-H clubs in the United States.
4-H started with a rural and agricultural focus, mainly as a way to train new farmers. However, its programs are much more diverse today with an emphasis on life skills.
The four Hs come from the pledge: “I pledge my head to clearer thinking, my heart to greater loyalty, my hands to larger service, my health to better living for my club, my community and my country.”
Manitoba has more than 200 4-H clubs with more than 3,500 members. More than half live on farms, 30 percent live in rural non-farm areas and 14 percent are urban. Beef, horse, food and woodworking programs are the most popular.
“To be a part of 4-H, you don’t have to live on a farm,” said Kyla Orchard, head leader of the Roland Home Ec Club and curator of the Roland 4-H Museum.
“There are beef and horse projects, but there are also sewing, cooking, photography and many more projects to choose from.”
Orchard was a member for nine years and has been a leader for 16 years.
“4-H has always been a part of my life,” she said.
“My family has always been a part of 4-H.”
The Roland Club had 15 members this year from seven to 16 years of age.
The village has one club today, but previously had as many as three: a home ec club, a beef club, and a canter-horse club.
“We’re all one program, but the projects and happenings in each club are different,” she said.
“I hope 4-H will continue growing and teaching the youth life skills they need.”
The 4-H museum is housed in a former Bank of Hamilton building built in 1902. It is open from 1-4 p.m. Monday to Friday in July and August.
The club will mark its 100th anniversary by rededicating the cairn that was originally erected for the 50th anniversary.
