Virginia Tech in Blacksburg in Montgomery County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Virginia 4-H State Congress

Photographed by Stephen Escalera

1. Virginia 4-H State Congress Marker

Inscription. Virginia’s first annual 4-H Boys’ and Girls’ State Short Course was held in Aug. 1919 on the campus of Virginia Tech. The weeklong event provided instruction in agriculture and home economics to 167 young people from 39 counties. An annual short course for African American youth began at Hampton Institute in Aug. 1923 and moved to Virginia State College in 1931. The course was desegregated in 1966 and became known as Virginia 4-H State Congress in 1967. The premier event for Virginia’s 4-H participants, its mission is to instill life skills and leadership abilities by providing competitive and non-competitive educational experiences.

Erected 2020 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number KG-27.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Education. A significant historical month for this entry is August 1919.

Location. 37° 12.641′ N, 80° 25.567′ W. Marker is in Blacksburg, Virginia, in Montgomery County. It is in Virginia Tech. It is on Southgate Drive north of Bypass U.S. 460, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Blacksburg VA 24061, United States

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of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southwest Virginia,

in the Blue Ridge Highlands,

and in the New River Gorge.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

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,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (here, next to this marker); Founding of the Future Farmers of Virginia (here, next to this marker); Smithfield (a few steps from this marker); Cemetery Landscape (approx. 0.4 miles away); Preston Cemetery (approx. 0.4 miles away); William Ballard Preston (approx. 0.6 miles away); Revolutionary War Patriots (approx. 0.6 miles away); Liberty and Justice for All (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map

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of all markers in Blacksburg.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 6, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 23, 2026, by Stephen Escalera of Roanoke, Virginia. This page has been viewed 8 times since then. Photo 1. submitted on March 23, 2026, by Stephen Escalera of Roanoke, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.