A 'Night To Remember' Resulted In Decades-old Tradition

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The famous International Live Stock Exposition in Chicago was the largest expo of its type in the world. The event coincided with the National 4-H Club Congress in Chicago, planned and coordinated by the National Committee on Boys and Girls Club Work... later known as National 4-H Council.

The National Committee was organized in 1921. Guy Noble, who worked for Armour & Co. Became the first director. He was the only staff person, working at a borrowed desk loaned by the National Farm Bureau Headquarters, along with a part-time secretary... also on loan. 1921 is also considered the first National 4-H Congress.

In 1924 – three years later – a few weeks before the Livestock Expo and National 4-H Congress were scheduled to begin, Mr. Parkhurst, the president of the Stock Yard Company which managed the Expo, called Guy Noble into his office. He asked if Noble would consider having the delegates to Congress form a parade in the arena one evening of the expo, directly following the horse show. Noble – who was always a promoter – agreed.

Noble composed slogans for signs to be used in the parade, telling about the overall achievements of 4-H and listing the principal projects. Signs were made for each state. The signs were built and painted, the larger signs measuring four feet by 10 feet with a standard at each end so they could be held aloft when carried.

The night the parade was to be staged, the 2,000+ boys and girls and their leaders were being entertained by Thomas E. Wilson at his meat-packing plant a mile from the Amphitheatre where the horse show was taking place.

Noble recalled that when he emerged from the Wilson auditorium his heart sank. He said, "It was drizzling and miserably cold – December in Chicago. There was no means of transportation to the International Amphitheatre, yet he had promised the parade and he wanted to deliver." Noble rounded up a few state 4-H leaders who agreed to hold the club members in line and march to the Exposition through the freezing rain along poorly lit streets.

As the 4-H'ers stood shivering outside waiting for the horse show that was going on to come to a close, the signs were quickly passed out and as the doors opened, Noble led the group into the arena.

Noble recalled, "All was hushed and quiet for the first minute – it seemed to me an hour – then the exposition band struck up a march. I circled the arena at the head of the group, marching four abreast. The group went around the arena once, and upon reaching the point of entrance, to my amazement the group was still coming in. Mr. O'Connor, assistant manager of the Stock Yard Company, jumped down from the judges' box and headed me back. So we went around a second and a third time until the entire arena was filled with the fresh young faces of the boys and girls."

The event was totally unscripted, but by then delegations had taken things into their own hands and were singing and giving State yells. The 8,000 spectators from many states – there to attend the Livestock Exposition, not Club Congress – responded by yelling and cheering back at the young people, and soon the Amphitheatre rocked with noise.

The spectacle was climaxed by the 4-H parade and audience standing to sing The Star Spangled Banner. It happened to be the Silver Jubilee Anniversary of the International Live Stock Exposition and President Calvin Coolidge was in the audience. Earlier that year Coolidge had become the first President to accept the Honorary chairmanship of the National Committee on Boys and Girls Club Work, a tradition that continued on through the 1990s.

4-H Congress delegates in the Arena of the International Livestock Exposition during a later year.

It was reported that the President was seen to enjoy one of his few hearty laughs in public as the club members were parading carrying a sign reading "We like Coolidge 'cause Coolidge likes us."

After the event Barney Heide, manager of the Exposition came racing into the press box with unashamed tears streaming down his cheeks and told the media, "Gentlemen, this is the greatest thing that has ever happened at the International."

The next morning 4-H got its first headlines – the front page of the conservative Chicago Tribune. It told about the march in the rain and waiting to get in – and the songs and yells. Never again were reporters to look blank when they heard "4-H." Club work had become big news.

Likewise, the tradition of the 4-H Congress delegates parading in the Arena during the International Live Stock Exposition continued the following year and annually for nearly half a century more.

Thousands of 4-H Congress delegates over the years recall their marching in the arena during the Live Stock Exposition, but probably few realize the significance of the story behind the very first parade in 1924. And, yes, it really was a great marketing event – 90 years ago.

President Coolidge was very much involved with the 1924 4-H Congress. In addition to viewing the parade in the arena of the Live Stock Show, history tells this story: Anna Obrecht and Helen Hartwig of Franklin County, Iowa comprised a bread-baking team, showing off their skills in a demonstration at the National 4-H Club Congress. Apparently their bread was good... President Coolidge ate their loaf of bread for breakfast the following morning! After the President returned to Washington he sent the girls a note of appreciation. He also sent a similar to note to Geneva Amundson of Galesville, Wisconsin, who had won the first National 4-H 'Style Show' at Congress in 1924. And, it can be assumed that he may have sent similar notes to other top winners.