The US House has advanced a bill that would rename the Clarinda Post Office after the ?Mother of 4-H.?
Iowa Third District Congresswoman Cindy Axne first introduced the legislation in July. The bill would rename the US Post Office in Clarinda in honor of Jessie Field Shambaugh, a former school superintendent from Page County and longtime Iowa educator known to many as the Mother of 4-H. In a July interview, Axne said her personal ties to 4-H moved her to bring the legislation forward.
?My mom grew up on a farm in Warren County,? Axne said. ?When she married my dad and they were here in the Des Moines area, she was bound and determined to make sure that those benefits of being in 4-H were brought up to the town. So, I was in 4-H starting in 4th grade here in West Des Moines. I am firmly in belief that it is one of the experiences that really helped shape who I am today. From the idea of helping my community, to making sure I was trying my best in all I did and being responsible and being a leader whenever I could be.?
Shambaugh began teaching in Page County in 1901 and formed the Boys Corn Club and the Girls Home Club to teach students essential skills for the farm and home through extracurricular programs. Today, over six million schoolchildren participate in 4-H activities ? learning life skills, leadership, and cooperation through the same values of ?Head, Hands, Heart, and Health? that Shambaugh helped pioneer over a century ago.
?Back in the day it all started with showing livestock and of course gardening and things like that,? Axne said. ?We?re still doing that today, but they are also bringing in more STEM activities. We certainly know that agriculture has science in its blood. It?s great to see how much 4-H has expanded and what she?s done from right here in Page County to an international organization that?s helping kids around the world. We need those young leaders more than ever right now. So, I was so honored to be able to do that.?
Shambaugh passed away in 1971 in Clarinda. In 1977, she was named to the Iowa Women?s Hall of Fame. Axne?s bill is cosponsored by Iowa Representatives Abby Finkenauer (D-IA-01), Dave Loebsack (D-IA-02), and Steve King (R-IA-04).
