by Connie Tabbert
Editor
COBDEN — Past, present and hopefully future 4-H participants and alumni gathered in the barns at the Cobden Fairgrounds Sunday morning and then in the afternoon, inside the Cobden Agricultural hall.
It was a day to celebrate the 100th anniversary of 4-H. Renfrew County 4-H organized the event, even though it is only 81 years old. Prior to 4-H becoming an organization, it was known as the Boys and Girls Club, noted Nancy Schultz, president of the Renfrew County 4-H.
She thanked those who attended Sunday’s celebration.
“You all have a reason why you are here, whether it was a past member, present member, parent, leader, member of OMAF (Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food) or a guest.
“We are glad you took the time to celebrate with us.”
Ms. Schultz spoke about the importance of 4-H as an educational tool.
“4-H teaches our youth to grow to be strong members of our communities, here or away,” she said. “4-H teaches “Learn to do by doing” with our head, heart, hands and health….and we are proud that 4-H is going strong in Renfrew County.”
Lynn Clelland, a board member of Renfrew County 4-H, was emcee for the event.
She noted the agricultural provincial organization to help with 4-H was first Ontario Department of Agriculture, then Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food and then its current name, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA).
Special guests representing these ministries for the afternoon included Doug Lambie, Barb Weese, Dave Little and Susan Humphries.
Reminiscing includes recalling how things were done years ago, Ms. Clelland said, and a special guest was there to recall her time as a 4-H member.
Erma Johnson, well-known author from Beachburg, wrote a poem for the 100th anniversary.
“Some 60 years ago as a young girl, I was fortunate enough to join the many 4-H clubs available,” she said.
Clubs she belonged to included the Garden Club, where she learned of some strange vegetables, including swiss chard, brussels sprouts and broccoli and in a club that had to do with how to be a good hostess and how to set a proper table.
“As I think back, I imagine how frustrated Mrs. Mordy must have been with me as I definitely had no interest in how to make those little sandwiches coloured pink or green or how to fashion delicate little roses from radishes,” she said, bringing laughter from the crowd.
Her most favourite club was the Calf Club, which contributed to her education in real ways.
In the Eye of the Beholder
While cleaning out my junk drawer
One day when things were slow,
I spied this pencil given to me
More than 60 years ago (she holds up the pencil).
This pencil is an antique,
A unique 4-H treasure from days gone by,
For when you tip it up and down
A shorthorn bull goes sliding by.
My grandson asked, “Will I throw this out?
Cause Gran it’s plain to see
It’s old and bent and crooked
And for sure no use to me?”
“This pencil’s not a pencil, Jon,
At least it’s not to me,
For when I take a closer look
This is what I see.”
“I see shorthorn calves and 4-H Clubs;
I see good times beyond compare;
I see Archie Hawthorne (my mentor) and 4-H pals;
I see fun times at the Cobden Fair.”
“I see thrilling days spent at the Ex; (Ottawa)
I see great times at the Winter Fair;
I see the Royal’s Queen’s Guinea Class;
I see life friendships formed, so fare!
“And so, this old and scratched up pen, Jon,
That you’d throw out so fast
Holds memories I’ll cherish, yes, for e’er
Did you note the brand? so appropriate — Everlast!”
Ms. Clelland noted there are sponsors who help to provide various clubs and scholarships for 4-H members in the County.
Dean Matheson of Renfrew County Soil and Crop Association then presented a cheque for two $200 scholarships to Renfrew County 4-H to be given out this fall to 4-H members who are going on to further their education.
The morning portion of this celebration was the 4-H Judging Club’s achievement day and the Renfrew County Judging Competition.
She’s hopeful winners of this morning’s event will put together at least one team for the regional judging competition, which is in August.
She then listed the participants of the morning judging.
“Congratulations to all of you,” she said.
She noted some of the morning’s participants most likely judged things they hadn’t judged before, which was great.
“That’s a real challenge as well and brings out all kinds of skills you didn’t know you had,” Ms. Clelland said.
Township of Admaston/Bromley Mayor Mike Donohue said it was great to see such a large crowd attend the celebration.
“4-H has touched so many lives, not just in Renfrew County, but in rural Ontario,” he said.
Mayor Donohue said from the trauma that occurred when 4-H ceased to be a government agency, it found itself and continued to grow.
“The numbers of members in 4-H is absolutely outstanding,” he said, adding, “On top of that, what I also like to see is that 4-H is also changing with the times.”
The clubs also appeal to those who do not live on a farm, he said.
“One of the things we are learning is we have to constantly educate those who have now grown distant from having a relative who is a farmer,” Mayor Donohue said. “Farmers (for some) might as well be astronauts.
“But, here you have this group that does such a fantastic job of letting them know we are the stewards of the land and that we do care deeply for the animals we raise,” he said, adding, “We want to do things responsibly because you in 4-H, we want this to be available for you to follow in our footsteps.”
Afterwards he admitted he was in 4-H for a short time of six months when he was younger.
Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke MPP John Yakabuski was next on stage.
“I want to congratulate everyone here,” he said.
Looking around at the displays set up, MPP Yakabuski said it’s like going back through time, which is educational, because he was never a 4-H member.
“We were never a farm family, so I didn’t have that kind of a background,” he said. “But I see a lot of people here today, who are also on those walls, going back a long time.”
It’s great to see the people here who are on the walls, such as Mac Coughlin and Harvey Anderson, the MPP added.
Going back to the 1940s and 1950s is great, but it’s also great to see the young people of today at the event, MPP Yakabuski said.
Not many organizations make it to 100 years, he said. There are hundreds of organizations that have come and gone, but not 4-H, he said.
“It not only speaks to the resiliency of the organization, but to the people who have formed that organization and led it over the years,” MPP Yakabuski said.
When it became less of a government organization, it didn’t disappear and many ties were possibly strengthened because of that, he said.
“It possibly became a different shape but it definitely wasn’t weakened,” he said, adding, “And it’s so gratifying to see so many people here who are also celebrating that with us.”
MPP Yakabuski presented a scroll from Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne and another from himself.
Ms. Clelland read aloud a list of local sponsors for the celebration of the Ontario 4-H 100th anniversary.
Susan Humphries is helping to organize the provincial celebration, which is scheduled for the final Saturday of the International Plowing Match in September, which is in Finch, near Cornwall..
“It is really a pleasure for me to be here today and to see many friends I haven’t seen in a number of years,” she said. “It’s also wonderful to hear the names that are now in 4-H that were children of 4-H members who I knew,” she said. “There’s no question that 4-H is alive and well in Renfrew County and it’s certainly due to the volunteers and leadership of many people.”
She introduced Cam Crogie of Douglas, who is the member of the 4-H provincial board representing Renfrew and 10 other counties.
Ms. Humphries is a four-year member of the 4-H Foundation Board, and explained that it gathers dollars to sustain 4-H in the future. It was formed 10 years ago. She encouraged anyone who wants to ensure 4-H continues to donate to the Foundation, either locally or provincially.
Ms. Clelland encouraged those in attendance to donate towards the Renfrew County 4-H Alumni 100th Anniversary Scholarship, which is new for this year. All funds donated will go to one or two students next fall to help with their post-secondary education.
Following the cutting of the cake created for the event, there was opportunity for people to watch a video created by the National Film Board in 1945 about 4-H in Canada. While it was filmed across Canada, Ms. Clelland noted much of it was filmed in Renfrew County. As a matter of fact, local people in the film include Mac Coughlin, Verla Wilson and Everett Elliott (now deceased). There were also opportunities for people to socialize and check out the many displays created on 4-H clubs from the past.
Ms. Schultz said today’s turnout was great.
“It was nice to see all the different generations, past, present and, we hope there’s Cloverbuds for the future,” she said.
Since January, 26 clubs have been running in Renfrew County 4-H, she said.
She noted 4-H is for any child who wants to learn. There are many rural and urban children because there aren’t as many farms, she said.
“A rural child does not live on a farm,” she said. “They may rent a farm house or live in a village.”
For those children who want to participate in 4-H animal clubs but don’t have animals, Ms. Schultz said farmers will allow children to borrow animals as they work together preparing it for show.
“Many farmers children are grown up, but they (farmers) still want to see the 4-H kids showing the animals,” Ms. Schultz said.
While the province is celebrating 100 years, she noted Renfrew County has only had 4-H (formerly boys and girls club), for 81 years.
The 4-H Motto is Learn to do by doing and the pledge is:
I pledge my Head to clearer thinking,
my Heart to greater loyalty,
my Hands to larger service and
my Health to better living
for my club, my community and my country.
