4-H Clubs & the Extension Train

The beginning of 4-H club work in New Mexico dates back to 1912. In January of that year the New Mexico Agricultural College and the Santa Fe Railway ran an agricultural train on all parts of the Santa Fe Railway system in the state. The train carried livestock and farm exhibits and educational talks were given by specialists of the Agricultural College. Special meetings were held for the young people, in which boys' and girls' club work was discussed, and where active interest was shown clubs were organized. In 1913 the same general plan was followed with an agricultural train run in cooperation with the El Paso and Southwestern Railway, which visited all points on the Southwestern system. As a result, several boys' and girls' clubs were organized in eastern New Mexico.