1908 Corn Clubs for boys begin in Louisiana to teach boys new ways to grow corn; other
agricultural clubs for boys developed later were modeled after the Corn Club
demonstration methods.
Louisiana State Fair awards first prize to a Corn Club member.
1909 V.L. Roy hired as the first state club leader; he was largely responsible for starting the
first Corn Club in Louisiana.
1910 Demonstration trains showcase Corn Club crops and more.
Louisiana starts the first swine club in the nation.
1911 Tomato canning clubs for girls begin in Louisiana; other domestic clubs soon followed
using demonstration methods.
4-H clover brands the canned goods prepared by Tomato Canning Clubs nationwide and
eventually becomes the national emblem for boys’ and girls’ club work.
1914 Smith-Lever Act establishes federal funding for Extension Services, which support boys'
and girls' club work.
First Short Course held at Louisiana State University (LSU).
1915 Educational films shown around state using power from a Model-T car.
Cotton clubs and poultry clubs established.
1918 The term “4-H Club” first appears in a federal document to describe the activities of the
various agricultural and domestic clubs formed nationwide and supported by funding
from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Short Course at LSU canceled due to an influenza epidemic.
Parish Short Courses begin; they become the precursors to rallies and Achievement Days.
1920 4-H Clubs organized nationwide according to a standard plan with minimum requirements.
1921 First youth State Executive Committee formed at Short Course at LSU.
1922 First Louisiana 4-H camp held on grounds of the future Camp Grant Walker.
1923 Louisiana 4-H'ers participated in National Club Congress, which was established in 1922.
4-H camps held in tents in several locations around Louisiana.
1927 4-H Pledge and Motto adopted at the first National 4-H Camp, Washington, D.C.
1928 Capper-Ketcham Act provided federal funding for Extension Services and 4-H Clubs during
the Depression.
"Short Course Daily" newspaper published to keep LSU Short Course attendees
informed of activities.
1930 First Short Course held at Southern University.
1932 4-H Club work publicized on radio for the first time as part of a National 4-H
Achievement broadcast.
1935 Camp Grant Walker developed as a “state” 4-H camp as a W.P.A. project.
1936 First state 4-H livestock show held with a showing of 43 calves; the grand champion was
sold at $0.26 a pound, more than twice the market price.
1937 First wildlife and forestry camps held at Camp Grant Walker.
1939 First 4-H agent camp held at Camp Grant Walker where the first State 4-H Advisory
Committee was established.
1940-45 For World War II service projects, Louisiana 4-H'ers grow Victory Gardens, lead the nation
in an ambulance fund, collect scrap and raise $3.4 million to pay for a Liberty Ship,
the Floyd W. Spencer.
1942 Louisiana Legislature allocates funds for livestock shows.
4-H Club membership divided into two groups: Junior Clubs for elementary school
students and Senior Clubs for high schoolers.
1946 Short Course at LSU canceled due to a polio epidemic.
1948 First black regional 4-H camp in the nation held at Southern University.
First Jr. Leadership Camp held at Camp Grant Walker.
1952 First 4-H Adult Leader Training Camp held at Camp Grant Walker.
1953 Achievement Days held in all 64 parishes for the first time.
Groundbreaking for Camp Jesse Harrison.
International Farm Youth Exchange Program started.
1954 4-H Key Award Program established to recognize outstanding 4-H'ers.
1956 First Junior Forestry Camp held.
59.6% of Louisiana 4-H'ers lived in nonfarm or urban areas.
1965 National mandate to integrate schools begins integration of 4-H Clubs.
1970s New projects and programs extend 4-H to urban youth.
Junior Leadership Clubs organized.
1973 “…and my world” added to the 4-H pledge.
1976 Statewide 4-H celebrations of America’s Bicentennial.
1978 Louisiana 4-H Foundation is created.
1980s Collegiate 4-H takes root.
Environmental awareness and concerns for youth-at-risk lead to new projects and
programs.
1984 4-H established as a co-curricular activity in public schools.
1990s Character education programs begin.
Recruitment of volunteers accelerates.
4-H Web sites developed as computer use increases.
Special-interest camps organized.
1999 Louisiana 4-H shooting sports program begins as part of the national outdoor skills program.
2002 First Annual 4-H Day at the Capitol.
2004 Short Course restructured and renamed “4-H University.”
2005 Camp Grant Walker serves as an evacuation shelter for 600 people after hurricanes Katrina
and Rita.
4-H'ers across the state assist with hurricane relief projects.
Afterschool 4-H programs piloted.
2006 Project portfolio now accessible to 4-H'ers through the Internet.
2008 4-H Centennial Celebrations held across the state.
4-H Hall of Fame established with 100 inductees.
Louisiana 4-H Museum opens in Mansura, La.