The 4-H Program began, with funding from the Department of Agriculture, in 1917. The first 4-H clubs in Routt County w4ere created in 1929. Until the mid 1950's, clubs were mostly single project, and sometimes even single year (ie: 1st year sewing, 3rd year cooking, beef, sheep, etc.). Ranch House 4-H Club was officially charted in 1956 and combined the livestock, sewing and cooling clubs of the u
pper Elk River Valley area. In the mid-1990's, Ranch House moved, with it's leaders, to the Hayden area, but still accepts members from all of Routt County! Ranch House, has been traditionally a "livestock" oriented club, but have had members that excelled in projects such as sewing, ceramics, cake decorating, breads, cooking, macrame, shooting sports, and entomology. One member even did a "pilot project" of video photography in the early 1980's, and it became a national project because of his efforts. Ranch House members have been active participants at the local, county, regional, state and even national levels through judging teams, shooting sports, exchange trips, demonstration teams, leadership trips and individual projects. Ranch House members are encouraged to "learn by doing", "be the best you can be" and to have fun doing it! Success is not judged by being #1 nor taking the most projects...success is knowing that "I did the best I could", "I finished what I started", and "the results are because of MY efforts!".