Birthplace of Texas 4-H Clubs
Jacksboro, Jack County, Texas
Marker Inscription
First Texas Boys' Corn Club was founded in Jacksboro, 1908, by Tom M. Marks (1865-1906), first Jack County agent. This was a forerunner of U.S. 4-H clubs, now international, and part of the cooperative extension service. Lack of adult interest in a 1907 corn show prompted friends to tell Marks, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks". Marks replied, "Then I'll start with the pups". 111 boys enrolled as demonstrators. Marks' 1908 show drew national attention, and he was called to Washington to aid in setting up extension program. Erected by Jack County 4-H Clubs. (1968)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
In 1908, Jack County's first county agent, Tom M. Marks, organized the First Texas Boys' Corn Club in Jacksboro—a direct forerunner of the national 4-H movement now spanning the globe. When skeptics scoffed that "you can't teach an old dog new tricks," Marks famously answered, "Then I'll start with the pups," and enrolled 111 boys as crop demonstrators. His 1908 corn show drew national notice and a summons to Washington to help shape the cooperative extension program.
Why it matters
Jacksboro's corn club marks the grassroots birth of 4-H and agricultural extension, a movement that carried scientific farming and youth leadership into rural America.
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Related people
- · Tom M. Marks
Themes & tags
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