Ramsey County History – Spring 2009: “A 4-H Trail Blazer: Clara Oberg and the Ramsey County 4-H”

A 4-H Trail Blazer: Clara Oberg and the Ramsey County 4-H 
Authors: Harlan Stoehr and Helen Hammersten

When Clara Oberg, who had lost her family farm, was hired by the 4-H in March 1928, there were only sixteen clubs in Ramsey County with around 200 members, but under her leadership, there were 1,200 young people in 4-H a decade later. By World War II, there were clubs in all twenty-eight rural school districts. The Ramsey County Agricultural Society was reorganized in 1911 to support the county extension service and to promote county fairs. It also supported 4-H programs and hired Oberg. Oberg stressed junior leadership, sports teams, and recreational activities, while nurturing the organization through the lean times during the Great Depression. During the war, 4-H participants had scrap drives and supported 118 acres of victory gardens. Oberg was forcibly retired in 1953 after twenty-five years of service. Subsequently the 4-H did not hire another full-time agent to oversee 4-H programs.
PDF of Stoehr & Hammerstein article