1966] WATTS: PENNSYLVANIA 4-I-1 CLUB 53

NEWS AND REVIEWS

P E N N S Y L V A N I A 4-H C H I P P I N G P O T A T O CLUB I

JAMES WATTS 2

The 4-H program, as we know it today in the United States, dates back to about 1920. It is primarily a program for farm boys and girls and is administered by the extension agencies of the various states. Although the program is administered by the state universities, it has received widespread support from business and industry both local and nationwide. The roots of this organization, however, go back much further than 1920. In fact, the very informal beginning may have been in 1856 when a young man named Franklin Spaulding of near Watertown, N. Y. won a $50 prize for producing a top field of 76 bushels of corn on an acre project. The donor of the prize was Horace Greeley, the famed newspaper editor. The idea of 4-H Clubs, although conceived in the U. S., has spread to some 70 countries throughout the world.

4-H is not just a number and a letter, it has a nmch deeper meaning: The four "H ' s" represent four powerful words: Head, Heart, Hands, and Health. As early as 1902 some educators were advocating building stu- dent character "not by means of the three R's" but rather by means of the three H ' s : Head, Heart, and Hands.

The avowed objectives of the 4-H Club program are to convince; to help; to initiate; to prepare; to stimulate.

The 4-H Club pledge which is repeated at every regular meeting 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.

The 4-H Club motto is the familiar "to make the best better." With this brief historical background of a farm youth organization

which has had 20 million young people on its membership rolls in its 45-year life span and annually enrolls more than two million members, I am pleased to have an opportunity to tell you about The Pennsylvania 4-H Chipping Potato Club Program.

Plans were originated in 1957 by the United States Federal Extension Service to organize a pilot program in three states for the formation of 4-H Chipping Potato Clubs. The program was sponsored jointly by the Federal and State 4-H organizations and the Potato Chip Institute In- ternational. Pennsylvania was selected as one of the three states. Three potato-growing counties were selected to organize clubs and three potato chip manufacturers were contacted. Each arranged to sponsor one club. From this rather small beginning, 4-H Chipping Potato Clubs have evolved into a program which appears to fill a particular need for Pennsylvania Potato production.

Pennsylvania, incidentally, is a state which has approximately 70 potato chip manufacturers. From ~ to ~ of our crop of potatoes goes

1Accepted for publication July 30, 1965. Presented at the 49th Annual Meeting of The Potato Association of America, Mexico City.

~Wise Potato Chip Company, Berwick, Pennsylvania.

54 AMERICAN POTATO JOURNAL [Vol. 43

for chips, and 30% of potatoes used for chips in Pennsylvania are grown in other states.

During the eight years of existence approximately 425 boys have par- ticipated in the program. The success is attributed to cooperative effort on the part of potato chip manufacturers, he Exension Service of Penn- sylvania Sate University, and interested potato growers in the counties participating.

The program is unique in 4-H Club work as each club has a com- mercial sponsor. Boys between the ages of 11-18 are enrolled in these industry-sponsored clubs. Each member grows one a c r e of potatoes of a specified variety, following practices recommended jointly by University extension personnel and the sponsoring chipper. Complete cost records are maintained and the sponsoring chipper purchases the potatoes har- vested - - either on contract or market, or a combination of both. In the case of Wise Potato Chip Co., we contract to purchase 200 cwt from each club member at our usual contract price and purchase the balance of the crop at marekt price. The logic of this practice is to give the club members an opportunity to evaluate the vices and virtues of contracting. tn case of a crop failure, the club member is guaranteed the cost of the seed, fertilizer, and spray materials.

The 4-H Chipping Potato Club program offers many advantages for the sponsor, the club members, the Extension Service personnel, and for the potato industry in general.

Potato-growing techniques which make for better-quality potatoes for chips can be developed under commercial conditions. There is one county in Pennsylvania which has ideal soil and environmental conditions for the production of quality potatoes. This county, however, is relatively undeveloped. The few potato growers there grow a limited acreage and during the years have developed a habit of planting potatoes late and harvesting late. We have sponsored a 4-H Chipping Potato Club in the county for several years. This fact has enabled the extension personnel fo the Pennsylvania State University to develop contacts which were not possible before. Gradually, growers have observed the advantages of earlier planting and harvesting. We anticipate expanded and improved potato production in this county in the future.

Potato-growing techniques of adult potato growers are improved by working with their sons. I believe everyone will agree that one of the better ways to convince an adult that his production methods can be improved is to have his son out-produce him. This usually results in painful but hasty change.

The 4-H Chipping Potato Club places the sponsor in a position to encourage the production of specific varieties most desirable for his par- ticular needs. If the variety the chipper chooses to promote really has merits, production is readily expanded.

Potato production can be encouraged in areas considered most desir- able by the processor. The 4-H Chipping Potato Club offers a world of opportunity in this respect. The processor in many cases can actually open up new areas for production within a low freight rate radius of his plant.

The 4-H Chipping Potato Club offers an ideal opportunity to im- prove the relationship between shippers, growers, and college extension

1966] WATTS: PENNSYLVANIA 4-H CLUB 55

personnel. This, perhaps, is one of the outstanding contributions which 4-1-I Clubs of this type can make to the potato industry.

One of the most rewarding benefits of the program is that in many cases the profits from these project acres of potatoes enables the club member to accumulate a sizeable bank account which is often used to further his education.

A sincere attempt is made to keep the program on a realistic basis. Minimum cost figures for each item involved in potato production are worked out by the sponsor and Extension Service personnel. We pur- posely refrain from granting any special financial concessions to club members. We do, however, offer several non-economic benefits. Club trips to major league baseball games, marketing centers, major potato producing areas, and trips to experimental plots have been sponsored. Cook-outs and banquets are also usually worked into each year's pro- gram. The sponsor, in cooperation with the PCI, also presents a "Chip Off the Old Block Award" to one club member in each county who is judged to be outstanding, in both the field of potato production and in exemplifying the principles of 4-H.

The success of a 4-H Chipping Potato Club project does not just happen. It is the result of deep-rooted interest and dedicated service on the part of the sponsor, University Extension personnel in general, and county agents in particular, the parents of club members, and perhaps most important of all the adult leader of each club.

The 4-H Chipping Potato Club program in Pennsylvania has by all measurable standards been successful. We feel it is worthwhile. It most certainly exemplifies the results which can be obtained by close associa- tion of industry, the Extension Service, and the potato grower himself.