A JOINT RESOLUTION honoring the north carolina 4‑h on the one hundredth anniversary of its founding.
Whereas, the forerunners to the modern 4‑H program in North Carolina, the Corn Clubs, were established in Hertford County, North Carolina, in 1909 to aid farm boys in the improvement of corn yields; and
Whereas, the first Tomato Clubs were established in the Piedmont in 1911 to organize young girls to learn the art of canning; and
Whereas, successive generations of North Carolina 4‑H youth have joined millions of 4‑H'ers nationwide in pledging their heads, hearts, hands, and health to their clubs, communities, country, and world; and
Whereas, beginning 100 years ago these pioneers worked to improve the quality of rural life and helped this country prevail during the Great Depression and two World Wars; and
Whereas, they helped to bring 4‑H to the cities and suburbs of North Carolina and the country and mold 4‑H as the largest youth development organization, utilizing varied programs ranging from robotics to healthy living, from citizenship to raising animals, from starting a business to helping conserve water in their communities and many other opportunities for all North Carolina youth to learn life skills that prepare them to work for the common good; and
Whereas, North Carolina 4‑H was led through the last century by a succession of outstanding men and women, including I.O. Schaub, T.E. Browne, John D. Wray, Jane S. McKimmon, L.R. Harrill, R.E. Jones, T. Carlton Blalock, Chester D. Black, Donald L. Stormer, Dalton R. Proctor, Michael A. Davis, Thearon T. McKinney, and now R. Marshall Stewart; and
Whereas, from its modest beginnings, North Carolina 4‑H has grown to a diverse, wide‑ranging statewide youth development organization with 239,904 active youth participating in more than 10,000 programs, supported by 22,980 caring, adult volunteers and led by the professional extension staff from the State's two land‑grant universities, North Carolina Agricultural & Technical University in Greensboro and North Carolina State University in Raleigh; and 
Whereas, 4‑H'ers today are organized and active in all of North Carolina's 100 counties and Qualla Boundary; and
Whereas, North Carolina 4‑H will be celebrating its centennial anniversary formally on July 21, 2009, and throughout 2009 and 2010; Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:
SECTION 1.  The General Assembly honors the memory of those pioneering youth and adults whose steadfast dedication and far‑reaching vision established the foundation on which today's North Carolina 4‑H is built.
SECTION 2.  The General Assembly congratulates North Carolina 4‑H on the attainment of its 100th anniversary and thanks all 4‑H'ers, adult volunteers, agents, and specialists, past and present, for their outstanding contribution to the improvement of our State.
SECTION 3.  The Secretary of State shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the President of the North Carolina 4‑H Council.
SECTION 4.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.