H. C. Seymour was State 4-H Program Leader from February 1, 1916 through June 30, 1947. He laid the foundations for many of the successful 4-H programs that exist in Oregon today. It was Seymour’s insight that led to expanding 4-H into Portland. Oregon was the first state to offer 4-H in a major metropolitan area, beginning with WWI victory gardens in 1918 and 1919.
The first Portland 4-H Agent was appointed April 1, 1919. H. C. Seymour created one of the first campus educational outreach programs for youth called “4-H Summer School” at Oregon Agricultural College (now Oregon State University) in the summer of 1916. At its height, the program brought up to 2,000 boys and girls to campus for a program that lasted two weeks (later reduced to one week).
