Schuylkill County's first Extension agent, A. L. Hacker, arrived in 1916. However, he was quickly reassigned to Lehigh County after a quarrel between the Schuylkill County government and the local Farm Bureau. Two years later, the groups resolved their differences and wholeheartedly supported the county's first permanent agent, Walter L. Bollinger. On June3, 1918, Bollinger formed the county's first extension youth club-the Boys' and Girls' Pig Club. As Schuylkill was a predominantly rural county, its 4-H clubs initially offered agricultural and home economics-related projects-topics that young farm residents could apply to their daily lives. Four-H photos from the 1940's and 1950's reveal a farm-oriented program, with club activities like exhibiting swine and poultry, judging vegetables, growing corn, and sewing clothing. A 4-H Corn Club, a 4-H Tractor Club, and the Blue Mountain 4-H Camp program all appear in photographs from the mid-1900's.

In 2003, Schuylkill County remains a primarily rural area, and many of its clubs are still of the traditional sort. Horse and livestock clubs still make up the majority of the county's 22 4-H clubs. However, in the 21 st century, Schuylkill County youth may also join a variety of other 4¬H groups. Available clubs range from the 4-H Archery Club to the Wilderness Explorers Club and include clubs offered to young people in resource-stressed communities through the 21st Century After School Program.

--Contributed by Kirsten Kauffman

 

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