In the countryside is a bright and shining younger generation so genial and enthusiastic as to dispel centuries-old notions of a dour, rather stupid peasantry. The 4H clubs have stimulated and developed already admirable young people. Those aged from 12 to 22 are organized to learn by working and to work while learning. The 4H symbols of head, heart, hands and health have come to mean a strengthened agricultural community in these and its various other aspects.
The 4H clubs have been growing steadily since they came into existence 10 years ago. A total of 200,000 youths have taken part. Present enrollment stands at 80,000, about 20 times that of the first year. Sixty-six schools and 302 townships are participating.
These young people have become a new force behind the agricultural production and rural reconstruction work of the country, Dr. Chiang Monlin, chairman of the Sino-American Joint Commission on Rural Reconstruction, told 400 delegates who were marking the 10th anniversary of the 4H movement in Taiwan.
Dr. Chiang gave examples of 4H members recent contributions to Taiwan's rural reconstruction: encouragement of the use of power tillers, which number 1,200 in Ilan alone; the start of mushroom production in Taichung, which accounts for half of Taiwan's production; highly successful pest control in Talin, Chiayi, which has become a demonstration area; many civic enterprises, such as road repairs after the disastrous floods of 1959 and 1960.
(File photos)
Before 4H, farm youths were: poorly used tools of production. When Professor W. A. Anderson of Cornell University visited Taiwan in 1950 as JCRR farm organization ad visor, he urged that rural youth be regarded as the driving force behind the nation's economy. At his suggestion, JCRR invited a U.S. rural youth expert, A. J. Brundage, to come to Taiwan in 1952. Brundage and Chinese co-workers surveyed agricultural education school by school. They found farm students lacking in both enthusiasm and perception. They concluded that farm youth should have more life education, more out-of-school activities and should be made aware of their opportunities as well as their family responsibilities.
In June of 1952, the provincial department of education called a meeting of the principals of seven vocational agricultural schools to study the problem. Dr. Chiang proclaimed the 4H program as one of JCRR's pivotal works. C. T. Liao, then principal of the Chiayi senior agricultural school, was invited by JCRR to ·be China's first 4H supervisor.
First Club Established
The first 4H club was established at Liao's school on October 14, 1952. A junior agricultural school in the same county followed suit that same day. Within the month, five other vocational schools had set up 4H clubs. On November 1, the first township 4H advisor was appointed, again in a Chiayi township — Talin. The first township 4H club was established there a month later.
With a good start, a thing is half done. The 4H program provided a constructive program for young farmers from the very beginning. In 1953 a seminar for 4H leaders was held at Talin. Brundage and a county 4H supervisor attended the second 4H congress in Japan. A 4H center was opened in Taoyuan. C. T. Liap attended the 32nd annual congress in the United States. The year 1953 also saw organization of China's first girls' 4H club at Talin.
Other significant events during the early period included the convening of the first 4H annual congress in Taipei in 1954. By the third year, attention was focused on 582 rice club members, the best of whom more than doubled conventional yields to 7,956 kilograms per hectare compared with the adult farmers' average of 3,106 kilograms. Adoption of improved methods by 4H members helped them boost production by an average of 28%.
Experts judge chickens of 4H members. Such contests raise farm efficiency (File photo)
Rice growing is only one of many 4H projects. Others are hog and poultry raising, sweet potato and other vegetable production, sewing, cooking and homemaking. Rabbit raising has been added recently. All members keep records of their projects.
A club usually consists of five to twenty members with an adult to serve as voluntary local leader. The members meet at homes or public places to discuss their problems in a democratic manner. It is inspiring to attend a club meeting and hear the members chant in unison:
"For myself, my home, my club, my community, my country and other free countries, I pledge: my head to clearer thinking, my heart to greater loyalty, my hands to better living and my health to larger service."
Four-H members are ambitious, but with moderation. Thus their dedication:
"To show my own best achievements, to beat my own best record and to win without boasting and to lose without frowning."
Four-H provides a many-sided education. In addition to farm skills, homemaking and ways of better living, members also learn social and civic service, and the values of patriotism and democracy.
To make the best better, they strive constantly for higher marks. They take observation tours, go camping, give community service, conduct demonstrations and judge contests. There is no moment of idleness.
Four-H is bringing social and family changes. Patriarchal authority is diminishing. Rural youths take greater interest in life and their contributions are numerous and significant. Juvenile delinquency is infrequent.
Record Harvest
Three years ago, Hung Chao-jen of Pingtung tried to coax his father into planting paddy rice with improved methods he had learned from his club. Satisfied with the ways passed from generation to generation, the father at first flatly declined, even jeering at what he regarded as conceit. The boy persisted. Finally, the father let him try on a scrap of land—only 0.05 of a hectare.
The tiny plot provided a miracle under the young man's management. In a rice production contest sponsored by the Taiwan provincial department of agriculture and forestry, the junior Hung reaped a record harvest of 8,677 kilograms of dried brown rice per hectare. Needless to say, the father now trusts all farm judgment to his 4H son.
Exchange brings U.S. 4H members to Taiwan (File photo)
This record was broken again last year by a Hualien 4H member, Sung Chen-chi, who achieved 8,782 kilograms per hectare. Such triumphs have led many adult farmers to seek advice from extension workers.
The 4H movement, also has served older people. In fact more than 1,000,000 persons have benefited. Farm discussion and home improvement groups are popular with adults. Usually the most enthusiastic members are former 4H members.
Goodwill missions have been sent abroad. Since 1957, a dozen 4H delegates have gone to the United States and two to the Philippines under a farm youth exchange program. Living and working with host families for six months, these grassroots emissaries have helped create international understanding.
At home, 4H members have learned from and have taught exchange youths from the United States and the Philippines. The visitors were impressed by the rapid growth of Taiwan's 4H program and by members' projects. They advocated continuation and strengthening of the exchange program.
Chinese 4H gains have been exported to Africa. Of 20 young farmers demonstrating agricultural techniques in Liberia and Libya, 13 are former 4H members. Their brilliant performances have won international plaudits and have helped their country diplomatically. Nearly a hundred more young farmers are being trained for further such missions and many are former 4H member.
Four-H members exchange ideas, techniques and working methods with their counterparts abroad. Asian nations have held three Far East rural youth conferences since 1956, and free China sent delegates.
4H members provide community services (File photo)
Since the very beginning, more than 10,000 local leaders, all working voluntarily and without pay, have been staunch supporters of the movement. In their hands are 26 textbooks—published and distributed on Taiwan and the offshore islands with JCRR assistance. Copies total 1,500,000.
The inauguration of the China National 4H Club Association in 1961 with President Chiang Kai-shek and Vice President Chen Cheng as its honorary chairman and vice chairman was another milestone. Cooperation has been forthcoming from industrial, trade and educational circles. A 4H postage stamp was issued recently in national recognition of the program.
Praise From President
In a message on the 10th anniversary of 4H, President Chiang commended the efforts of club members. Great results have been achieved, he "said, in the development of mind and body, in the cultivation of character, the improvement of knowledge and in technical training.
Five years ago, A. J. Brundage retired, his 4H pioneering completed. But he returned for the anniversary to declare:
"I'm proud to find the 4H development here beyond my expectation." He noted the many projects and the great progress. He was happy to see rural family income in creased through 4H activities, the parents of 4H members more willing to give responsibility to young people, the valuable service of youth to rural communities and the new farming skills developed.
Four-H members will need to make even greater efforts, said one leader, because they are the rural leaders of the future. Upon them will depend not only the agricultural future of Taiwan but of a liberated mainland. Because Communism permits no 4H movement, they will be needed all the more when mainland reconstruction begins.