Facts about Iowa 4-H & Iowa

2012 Iowa 4-H Youth Development Program Statistics  Did you know Iowa had almost 106,000 youth participating in 4-H programming? This is over 21% of the 504.400 eligible K-12 youth in Iowa reached through the Iowa 4-H program.  Over 23,700 of these youth are registered in 4-H community clubs.  11% of Iowa 4-H’ers have been in the program more than 8 years upon high school graduation.  There are over 1,500 Community and Project Clubs in Iowa.  10,000 adult and teen volunteers give leadership to the Iowa 4-H program.  Only 53% of Iowa 4-H’ers live on farms, 38% are rural or from small towns under 10,000 population, and 9% are from larger urban areas.  Almost 10,000 registered Iowa 4-H’ers are in 4th through 6th grade, 8,200 in 7th through 9th grades, over 5,700 in 10th through 12th grades.  Females comprise almost 60% of Iowa 4-H’ers.  Project areas with enrollments over 10,000 (in rank order) include: Photography, Food and Nutrition, Beef, Visual Art, and Home Improvement.  Every year at the Iowa State Fair over 4,700 Static Exhibits, Communications, and Clothing Event entries are judged and showcased in the 4-H Exhibits Building, while in the barns and arenas over 4,600 4-H livestock entries are judged for top premiums.

Other Interesting Facts about Iowa  Iowa State University is the oldest land grant college in the US.  Iowa produces 10% of the nations food supply.  Iowa is the nation's third most productive agricultural state, following only California and Texas in the value of its yearly farm output.  Quaker Oats, in Cedar Rapids, is the largest cereal company in the world.  Iowa is the only state whose east and west borders are almost 100% formed by water—Missouri and Mississippi rivers (less about 2 mi of the SW border)  The name Iowa comes from Ioway, the French word for the Bah-kho-je Indian tribe that lived in the area. It means Beautiful Land or This is the Place.  State Nickname - Hawkeye State  State Motto - "Our Liberties We Prize and Our Rights We Will Maintain"  Iowa is the only state to have a name that starts with two vowels.  Iowa’s average annual temperature is 49 degrees F.  Iowa State Fair attracts some one million visitors each year, mostly because you can get anything you want to eat deep-fried on a stick, including pineapple, cheese, pork chops and salad (although that’s not likely fried.)  Iowa celebrated the Sesquicentennial in 1996; The Iowa State Fair celebrated its Sesquicentennial in 2004; and 4-H celebrated its Centennial in 2002.  Iowa has historically placed a strong emphasis on education. In 2012, Iowa second highest average ACT scores. In 2010 Iowa had the highest average SAT scores.  Iowa has the highest literacy rate in the nation 99% of Iowans can read.  The red Delicious apple (the most popular in the US) was first propagated in Peru, Iowa.  1942 the first digital computer was invented by George Atanasoff at ISU.  1928 Sliced bread is invented by Otto Frederick Rohwedder of Davenport.  The “Des Moines Register’s” Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) attracts thousands of cyclists from across the United States each summer. Participants are limited to 8,500 week long riders and 1,500 day riders.  The National 4-H Hall of Fame, began in 2002. Iowans recognized in the National 4-H Hall of Fame: Theodore “Ted” Hutchcroft, 2012, Information Director, National 4-H Club Foundation, Hometown: Mediapolis, IA; Florine Swanson, 2010, former Executive Director, Iowa 4-H Foundation, Galt, IA; Paul C. Taff, 2007, Assistant Extension Director and State Club Leader, Iowa State Extension, Hometown was Guthrie Center, IA; Duane Johnson, 2007, Professor Emeritus, Extension Agent, State Specialist & State 4-H Program Leader, 13 year Iowa 4-H member; Max Exner, 2006, State Music Specialist, 4-H Song Arranger & Composer, Ames, IA; Cap E. Miller, 2005, County Superintendent of Schools, Sigourney, Keokuk County, IA; Edwin T. Meredith, 2004, Publisher, Born in Avoca, Iowa; C. J. Gauger, 2003, Iowa State 4-H Leader, 1959-79, Ames, IA; George Washington Carver, 2003, Researcher, Teacher, 4-H & Extension Pioneer in Iowa; Oscar H. Benson, 2002, Wright County Iowa School Superintendent; Jessie Field Shambaugh, 2002, School Superintendent, Page County, IA (1906-1915), Hometown was Sentinal, OK; Fannie Buchanan, 2002, Writer of 4-H Songs; Seaman Knapp, 2002, “Father of Cooperative Extension”, Benton County IA.  The Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame was started in 2002. Each county can nominate a person, couple, or family, each year. Awardees are recognized at a program in the 4-H Exhibits Building during the Iowa State Fair. March 2013