From the files of the August 15, 1957 edition of the Ellsworth Reporter.

BRIEF HISTORY OF

COUNTY 4-H

ORGANIZATION

In this area where the farm and its environment is the hub around which the economic life of community revolves, the youth through the 4-H club organization has played a major role in improving the living standards of the farm and keeping alive the interest in the agricultural phase of the industry.

In 1939, H. L. Rucker, who was agent of Ellsworth county at that time was instrumental in bringing the 4-H club movement to the county. He suggested the organizational idea to O. J. Silverwood, who was school superintendent at that time. The two men consulted with several women leaders interested in home demonstration units, as to the feasibility of organizing the farm units into the 4-H Clubs, which were already going strong within the state, and well on the way to becoming a national and international organization.

Rucker and Silverwood met with favorable cooperation and in the spring of 1930, 4-H Clubs were born in the county. Four clubs were organized at this time, one in the Black Wolf community, one in Ash Creek, one at Buckeye, and one in the Holyrood-Lorraine area, each club having about six charter members, and the membership reaching to around the 20 mark in each club during enrollment.

The following year, 1931, the first all-club county get-together was held, later coming to be designated as Achievement Day., The first banquet was held in the old Methodist church basement, with the parents of the members as guests, and the social rooms were crowded.

For several years after the clubs came into existence there were no fairs, but as the members progressed with the development of the numerous projects, the sentiment for displaying the results of their efforts became paramount, and so in 1931 the first 4-H Fair was held, which with the passing of time became state-wide in scope, and now Ellsworth county is one of the outstanding counties in the 4-H competition at the annual state fair at Hutchinson.

At the start the clubs were under the supervision of the county agent, with a man leader being appointed to direct the projects for the boys, and a lady was in charge of the girls projects. In 1937, the county hired its first home demonstration agent, with Maxine Hoffman coming to the county office, and under her able leadership the clubs as well as the demonstration units reached a high level of accomplishments. The work of both organizations went along much more smoothly because of the creation of this new office.

In 1950, the final step in a well organized rural co-operative order was inaugurated in Ellsworth county, when a separate office for 4-H clubs was created under the management of a county agent, with James W. McAnelly coming here on January 1, 1950 and serving until August 31, 1951. He was followed by William G. Willis, from September 24, 1951 to December 15, 1954; John Ferrell from March 1, 1955 to April 31, 1957. County Agent James Doering followed Ferrell, and is the county’s present agent.

The 4-H club movement was first organized to help farm children with the problems of farm life, and adopted the motto,“To make the best better.” The clubs emblem is the four-leaf clover, with each leaf imprinted with a capital “H”, with the four H’s creating the members’ pledge: “I pledge my head to clear thinking; my heart to greater loyalty; my hands to greater service; and my heart to better living in my club, my community and my country.”

This week, during Ellsworth’s 90th Anniversary Celebration the 4-H’ers have been given deserved recognition in the two-day annual 4-H Fair, and we, the pioneers of the county salute these young folks, and may they carry on the tasks so courageously and with such great efforts originated by those early pioneers ninety years ago.

...

DOLLAR DAY

WINNERS

In the August Dollar Day matching number awards, there were eight lucky people, two from Kanopolis, one from Wilson, and five from the Ellsworth area. In the Kanopolis group were Ida Nichols, two meals at the Ellsworth Cafe; and Tom Flanders, Jr., $2 in cash at the Pla Mor. Mrs. Margaret Stehle of Wilson won $12 in trade at the Seitz Drug Store; and Ellsworth folks winning prizes were: Mrs. Carl Johnson, Sr., $2 in trade at F&M Drug; Jesse Crane, $2 in trade at Gambles; Mrs. Will Nienke, $12.00 in trade at Kirk’s; Mrs. Gerald Slaight, $2 in trade at Nemechek & Benson; and Mrs. Ed Zvolanek, $5 in trade at Novak’s IGA.

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MARRIAGE

LICENSES

Probate Judge Gerhard Haase issued three marriage licenses this past week: Ray K. Richert of Sarasota, Fla., and Bernadine Urbanek, of Holyrood; Harold Ploutz and Shirley Erhardt, both of Ellsworth; and Michael Richmeier and Minnie Gorin, both of Grand Island, Nebr.

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PROBLEM STILL

EXISTS

The policing problem existing at the Lake Kanopolis reservoir area is still as unsettled as it was several months ago, as the county authorities and United States Engineers are unable to come up with a solution to the problem.

At the regular session of the county commissioners last Monday afternoon, a session at which this issue was discussed was attended by the three commissioners, County Attorney R. E. Miller, Sheriff Charles Zavesky, representatives from the United States Engineers Office at Kansas City; and D. M. Gaithers superintendent at the Reservoir. When the meeting ended, the assembly had not come to any decision as to how to enforce law and order at the lake, or who was to be in charge of the enforcement.

...

DYNAMOMETER

DEMONSTRATION

The Weinhold Farm Equipment Company held a meeting Wednesday evening, August 7th for the purpose of demonstrating a new tractor testing dynamometer to the Ford Tractor dealers in this area.

The Weinhold Equipment Company has recently installed this new machine. It is one of the first in the area as well as in this county. Mr. Weinhold states its main feature is testing the horsepower, fuel consumption, and timing on all makes and models of tractors.

Otis Boyer of Beloit, field representative of the K. C. Tractor and Equipment Company was present for this meeting as well as dealers from Lucas, Smith Center, Salina, Lincoln and other surrounding towns.

...

OBITUARIES

MRS. ANNA VOPAT

Mrs. Anna Vopat died Wednesday morning, August 14, 1957, at the Ellsworth Good Samaritan Home, at the age of 87 years, 4 months and 12 days. She was born April 2, 1870 in Bohemia.

Mrs. Vopat is survived by one son, Ralph Vopat, of Brookville; one daughter, Mrs. Mary Pistora of Ellsworth; thirteen grandchildren and twenty-four great grandchildren. Funeral services will be held on Friday morning, Aug. 16, at ten o’clock in the Grubb Funeral Home, with Rev. Hayden White conducting the service. Burial will be in the Ellsworth cemetery.

...

BEARDS HAVE

BEEN JUDGED

The beards, which have enlisted the male population of this area in the “Brothers of the Brush” organization for the past four months came before the public Tuesday evening and for a time confusion reigned among the judges as to which candidates to pick, for the entries were many and many were outstanding. There were short beards, long beards, straight beards, curly beards, and as to quantity, many hid the contestant’s face completely.

For the grand champion, where qualifications demanded a super groomed beard which was outstanding in all the other classes combined, the prize of $20 went to Al Ptacek. He sported as heavy a black beard as any of his ancestors ever could of displayed. The beard leaving only his forehead, eyes and nose visible.

The other prizes went to Ernie Doubrava, $10, age 19, as the youngest best groomed beard; a $10 prize went to Walter Belt, age 71, as the best groomed beard by the oldest contestant, a $10 prize was awarded to Bill Daniels for the most attractive beard; and the grand prize of $50 was drawn by Vernon Pistora as a Brother of the Brush from the whole group of contestants.

The historic items on this page appear as they did in the original publication.