`Recall, relive the fun at ’99 4-H reunion`

“4-H Fun That Lasts a Lifetime” is the theme for the 1999 4-H year. I am sure that everything involved in 4-H is fun but it does help prepare and develop young people to become productive citizens.

The first 4-H club in Pennsylvania was started in Mercer County in 1912, or some 87 years ago. Mercer County’s 4-H program is a strong program and there an several reasons for this.

One important reason is a terrific group of 4-H leaders of which many are former Mercer County 4-H members. The fact that a large number of the 4-H members remain in or return to Mercer County really adds strength to the 4-H program as well as the county and communities.

Many of the present 4-H members, leaders and 4-H Development Committee members are second or third, maybe even fourth, generation 4-Hers. There are probably more than these but I can think of a dozen or so families that would probably have had three generations involved in the 4-H program such as the Woods, Pfaff, Dixon, McCullough, Shipton, Tait, Paxton, Baxter, McDowell, Kerins, Moose, Hunter, Cannon, McGhee and Duncan families.

Some members of these families will be at Sunday’s 4-H Reunion at the Mercer County 4-H Park. I have not seen the reservation list but some former extension staff members will most likely be attending — Ken Maxwell and Les Firth. Maybe some members of the first 4-H Development Committee which was instrumental in getting the 4-H Park back in 1964; such as, James Ellenberger, Dr. William Crawford, Alex Sharp, Ruth Chenoweth, and D. R. Thompson.

Mercer County 4-H has been blessed with many hardworking families and young people dedicated to the principles of 4-H — to help youth develop life skills that can improve the quality of their lives.

Sunday will be an exciting day at the 4-H Park as the present 4-H Development Committee welcomes back 4-H Alumni. Meeting the recent graduates of the program as well as those seasoned veterans of 4-H, this combination will hopefully fill in some of the historical blanks that exist in our records.

The Baby Beef and Lamb Club, one of the oldest clubs still meeting under its original club name, must have been started 65 or so years ago. Quincy Tait was a leader for 35 years and Tom McCullough has been a leader for 31 years. I can remember seeing pictures of cattle being shown in front of Isaly’s on Pitt Street in Mercer. Maybe someone can provide us with information as to when the Baby Beef and Lamb club was organized. Was Quincy Tait the first leader of the club? I am proud of the Mercer County 4-H program and the people involved in it. It would be great to have had more young people involved in the program but there is no way to reach everyone with the 4-H program or the combination of all the youth programs but we continue to do all we can to try to reach as many as possible.

Anyone involved in the 4-H program or who has been involved as a 4-H member, 4-H Development Committee Member is invited to attend the reunion picnic. It begins at 3 p.m. at the Mercer County 4-H Park. The Sunshine Band will start playing at 6 p.m.

Come and bring a well-filled picnic basket and any photos, scrapbooks and stories. Beverages and table service will be provided. Reservations are requested but not necessary; call Julie Philson 475-2631 or Beth Kish 662-4059. I urge you to come and join in the fun and fellowship. See for yourself “4-H Fun That Lasts a Lifetime.”

If you have ever been involved in the Mercer County 4-H Program, I hope to see you Sunday!

Robert E. Calvert is Mercer County Cooperative Extension’s livestock agent.

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Updated June 11, 1999
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