Highlights of a 4-H

Career as a

Young Iowa Farm Boy

in the 1950s



I was twelve years old in 1952 when I had a
Baby Beef Steer named "Ike" for a 4-H
Project.  You can see my brother in the
background.  He had a female Baby Beef Project.
Her name was Miami.  You can guess who
was President in 1952!





I believe that I was thirteen or fourteen when I began
showing sheep at the Clayton County Fair.





All of my siblings had Jersey Milk Cows and Heifers
for 4-H Projects.  Here we are showing a group of four.
I do not remember the awards we received, but I do
recall the fun, as well as the work we performed to show our
Jersey Projects.





We were all members of the Jefferson Go-Hawks 4-H Club.
The club had members from Jefferson Township therefore
our name.  Every year the Fair Association awarded prize money
to the clubs with the best barn decorations.  I was the decoration
chairman in my club for several years.  If I recall correctly, we usually won
first prize.

I have wonderful memories of when I was a young Iowa Farm Boy and my involvement in 4-H Club Work.

It certainly developed a sense of responsibility in a young person.  We were responsible for the feeding, grooming and showing of our projects.  Sure, we had parents to assist us, but their role was usually limited to guidance and recommendations as to what needed to be done.  I always took great pride in being able to show any animal project I had.  We bathed them clipped them, shined their hooves and trimmed the hair around their heads.