Lake Geneva in Walworth County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Wisconsin's First 4-H Club

Photographed by Paul Fehrenbach, May 15, 2011

1. Wisconsin's First 4-H Club Marker

Inscription. The Linn Junior Farmers Club was the first 4-H Club organized in Wisconsin. Mrs. May Hatch, local community leader, and Thomas L. Bewick, newly appointed State Boys and Girls Club Leader at the University of Wisconsin, organized the club here on the Hatch farm, October 30, 1914.

The club was started five months after Congress passed the Smith-Lever Act which created the Cooperative Extension Service whereby federal, state, and county governments participate in the county agent system.

Four boys and three girls attended the first meeting of the club. Membership grew to 21 during the year with projects in livestock, crops, gardening, canning, cooking, and sewing.

During this period, similar boys and girls clubs were beginning in other states. The movement grew rapidly and the variety of projects with appeal to rural and urban youth increased. By 1970, four million urban and rural members were participating annually in the nation and 4-H had spread to 84 countries of the world.

Erected 1970 by Wisconsin State Historical Society. (Marker Number 175.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this

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topic list: Education. In addition, it is included in the Wisconsin Historical Society series list. A significant historical month for this entry is October 1799.

Location. 42° 32.844′ N, 88° 27.885′ W. Marker is in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, in Walworth County. It is on County Route BB half a mile west of Hillside Road, on the right when traveling east. Marker is located in a wayside area on the south side of the road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Lake Geneva WI 53147, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Wisconsin. It is also in the American Midwest,

on the Great Lakes,

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Historic Indian Trail (approx. 3.3 miles away); The Lake Geneva Seminary (approx. 3.3 miles away); Maple Park National Historic District (approx. 3.3 miles

Photographed by Paul Fehrenbach, May 15, 2011

2. Wisconsin's First 4-H Club Marker

away); The Riviera (approx. 3.3 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 3.3 miles away); The Poppy (approx. 3.3 miles away); Andy Gump (approx. 3.3 miles away); The Whiting House & Hotel Geneva (approx. 3.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lake Geneva.

Also see . . . 4H Club History. (Submitted on May 19, 2011, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland.)

Photographed by Paul Fehrenbach, May 15, 2011

3. Wisconsin's First 4-H Club Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2022. It was originally submitted on May 16, 2011, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,509 times since then and 79 times this year. Last updated on January 30, 2022, by Devon Polzar of Port Washington, Wisconsin. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 16, 2011, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.