Penn State 4-H in Bedford County Celebrates Centennial Year
Mary and Francis Wilson, longest serving 4-H volunteers celebrating their 40th year of service to the Bedford County 4-H program. Standing from left is Commissioner Morris, Dwayne Hay, Extension Educator and 4-H Coordinator, and Commissioner Howsare
The Bedford County Commissioners at their meeting on Tuesday proclaimed March 11-17, 2012 as 4-H Week in Bedford County. This year marks the 100th Anniversary of 4-H in Pennsylvania.
Each year in mid March, Pennsylvania 4-H clubs celebrate 4-H week across the state with a variety of events to kick-off and promote a new program year. Bedford County 4-H clubs have planned a Spring Kick Off event at the Pro Care Sportsplex next to the Walmart Plaza on Saturday night, March 10th from 6 to 9:00 p.m. New members are welcome to attend.
4-H is a youth development and community program of Penn State Extension. Over 110,000 youth are involved in the 4-H program across the state. Nearly 2,000 youth participate in the 4-H programming here in Bedford County.
The first 4-H club in Pennsylvania was organized in Mercer County. The first 4-H project was the planting and harvesting of new seed corn varieties.
According to Dwayne Hay, Extension Educator and Coordinator of the 4-H program in Bedford County, the first 4-H club in Bedford County was in 1920 in the New Paris area. Members of this club learned about the use of the Babcock Milk Test for determining butterfat content of milk from their family’s dairy cow herd. Members also learned the factors that affect butterfat content in milk.
Today, 4-H offers a wide variety of project interests for youth to learn. For more information on 4-H clubs and projects in Bedford County, contact the Penn State Extension office at 623-4800.
