The H's stand for Head, Heart, Hands and Health.

It is generally felt that a verse from Rudyard Kipling's poem,  "The Children's Song", was the the inspiration for the name "4-H".

                     "Land of our birth, our faith, our pride,
                      For whose dear sake our fathers died;
                          O Motherland, we pledge to thee,
               Head, heart and hand through the years to be!"

~ 4-H Motto ~

                                 Learn to Do By Doing
                                            
                                            

                                     ~ 4-H Pledge ~

                                         I pledge,
                             My Head to clearer thinking
                             My Heart to greater loyalty
                             My Hands to larger service
                             My Health to better living
                             For my club, my community
                                    and my country
                                            
                                            

                                     ~ 4-H Grace ~

                           (To the tune of Auld Lang Syne)
                       We thank thee Lord for blessings great,
                              On this, our own fair land.
                           Teach us to serve thee joyfully
                         With head, heart, health and hands