History of Hidalgo County 4-H

History of The Hidalgo County 4-H Foundation 1967-present

The Hidalgo County 4-H Youth Development Foundation was organized in November 1967 for the purpose of developing support and in the expansion of the 4-H program. It was anticipated that the Foundation would be able to help 4-H youth to participate in leadership training programs at county, state, and national levels.

The board members who served to organize the Foundation at that time were:

The Foundation's only means of funding 4-H events was from soliciting donations from local businesses, individuals, 4-H clubs, civic groups, memorial gifts and wills. Any individual, organization, group or business could become a member of the Foundation by making a contribution of $5.00 or more. A mailing list was maintained and each year a letter was sent requesting support for the 4-H program. All funds received were used to fund 4-H events such as Fashion Revue, Food Show, 4-H camp, Roundup, and Officer Trainings. The Foundation now funds the yearly budget for the Hidalgo County Council group. This group in turn distributes the funds for the same 4-H events as listed above and other county level projects.

By the year 1972 the Foundation had sufficient funds to award a scholarship. Mr. Rafael Guerra made the formal presentation of the first 4-H Foundation scholarship to Deborah Moseley of McAllen for the amount of $400.00. In 1980 the Foundation received notification that the estate of Nellie Solether had named the 4-H Foundation in her will. Records show that he Foundation received a total of $33,459.81 from the Solether Estate. During the ten-year period (1980-1990), 57 scholarships were awarded totaling $32,000.00. To date there have been 378 Hidalgo County 4-H members awarded scholarships amounting to over $400,000. The Foundation has also made it possible for over a thousand 4-Hers to participate in many leadership and citizenship training experiences.

With financial assistance of the Foundation, the 4-H youth program in Hidalgo County expanded, as did its needs such as more 4-Hers eligible for scholarships. The method of fund raising by mail was no longer as effective as it had been in the past. In 1990 the Foundation began conducting the "4-H Hoedown", which consisted of an auction and dinner, as a means of raising funds. Since that time they continue to conduct this event on an annual basis. The 1994 "Hoedown" yielded a profit of approximately $23,000.00. The profit has continued to grow with an average of $100,000 brought in each year.

At the November, 1993 meeting, the board of directors voted to change the name of the Foundation from, "Hidalgo County 4-H Youth Development Foundation" to "Hidalgo County 4-H Foundation." The name has not changed since then. The Hidalgo County 4-H Foundation now has a web page and is in the process of building an alumni database through use of the Internet and mailings.

To learn more continue to browse through this web site. Please consider contacting us if you would like to give to the Hidalgo youth in the 4-H program or if you are a past recipient of one of the over 300 scholarships awarded.

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