The Badger Pacers 4-H Club is celebrating 100 years as a club in 2023. The club was organized in the spring of 1923 by the county agent J. W. Taylor, with the help of the Badger School superintendent at the time, A.G. Magnusson. The club was first organized with meetings being held in the spring and summer. At that time in history, 4-H held Achievement Days at various points in the county and 4-H youth took part in project work. The club winners in these achievement days were awarded trips to the Minnesota State Fair at that time.
The Badger Pacers Club has been active in community service and projects throughout history. Historical records show that in 1929, the leadership project was added to the club project list and many 4-H members took on more leadership roles in the community and county. As 4-H has grown in Roseau County, many Badger Pacers 4-H youth and families have been a part of many projects over the years, including the building of the 4-H barn on the Roseau County Fairgrounds in 1931 and raising funds for the construction of the 4-H building at the fairgrounds in 1956. These monuments continue to stand as a symbol of the hardwork and dedication of the 4-H families in Roseau County. Today the Badger Pacers 4-H Club continues to serve their community by helping at various community events as well as their tradition of distributing food baskets to the elderly and other community members in need in the Badger community.
This year, the club celebrated the milestone by showcasing a club banner at the 4-H Building at the Roseau County Fair and at the Minnesota State Fair. The banner theme, "A century of thinking, loyalty, service and better living” was chosen to represent the four H’s of the 4-H pledge: “ I PLEDGE my HEAD to clearer thinking, my HEART to greater loyalty, my HANDS to larger service, and my HEALTH to better living, for my family, my club, my community, my country and my world.” Club members also came together and decorated a festive float to display in the Badger Fall Festival parade held in September. The club is looking forward to another great 4-H year and invites youth to join 4-H.
Learn more about 4-H in Roseau County Visit online, http://extension.umn.edu/local/roseau. Social media, Find "Roseau County 4-H" on both Instagram and Facebook. Download the Roseau County 4-H APP! (Download Minnesota 4-H in the APP store and then search for Roseau County 4-H).
Contact Extension Educators, Sandi Weiland weila006@umn.edu . Kelsey Berger emery087@umn.edu phone: 218-463-1052.