Jessie
Field Shambaugh
"There
has been some discussion as to who was the 'Daddy' of boys
and girls
club work, but there isn't the slightest doubt on the part of anyone
as to who is the 'Mother' of the 4-H club movement. That great
honor goes to Miss Jessie Field."
— R.K. Bliss, 1948
Jessie
Field Shambaugh founded the modern 4-H movement. Born in 1881
on a farm near Shenandoah, Shambaugh taught country school, creating
practical farm and home courses for her rural students as part
of the regular curriculum. She introduced clubs and competitions
in modern agriculture, such as soil testing and corn judging,
for both boys and girls. Later, as Page County superintendent
of schools, she expanded these clubs and contests to include
all rural children. Within three years, her methods attracted
national attention and the national 4-H youth movement was begun.
Shambaugh wrote several books including Country Girl's Creed,
which memorializes the 4-H movement. In 1912, she became national
YWCA secretary for rural work. Shambaugh died in 1971 at age
90. Shambaugh was inducted into the Iowa Women's Hall of Fame
in 1977.
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