4-H Brands From the Farm

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Almost from the creation of the term "4-H" and before the use of the 4-H emblem, enterprising young girls and boys were using the term "4-H Brand" as a "stamp of quality" on their home-grown farm products resulting from 4-H projects... kind of like the "Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval."

Today the 4-H emblem is a federally protected mark that can't be used on products without approval. The 4-H emblem was patented in 1924, and a 1930 law protects the use of both the 4-H name and the emblem.

"Early" 4-H'ers were very keen on the management and marketing of their projects. Accurate record-keeping and accountability were stressed by the leaders and county agents. And, creative marketing was often the key to success... devising ideas on how to market their products that even their parents or leaders had not thought about. So whether it was vegetables from the garden, fruit from the orchard, eggs from the hen house, dairy products from the barn or honey from the 4-H bee hive, creative marketing was important to the young boys and girls.

Those in charge of club work in the federal office strongly supported the use of 4-H brand labels for marketing 4-H produce, encouraging the boys and girls to standardize their products.

At the local level, 4-H "produced" products was perhaps one of the most visible programs outside of the county fair. For a more complete history of 4-H Brand Products from the Farm, go to: