4H Membership Pins

4-H Youth Membership Pins

Adult Volunteer Recognition Pins

Early Adult Leadership Pins

Information on dating various pin, awards and other items comes from 4-H Handy Books (all-in-one member book and catalog) and later, Supply Catalogs.

They were not offered in the 1927-28 Handy Book, but were offered by 1930 as official 4-H Club Pins.

Youth 4H Membership Pins

Official Youth 4-H Club membership pins indicated membership and depending on style: - the number of years as a member and the location:

There were 4 styles:

Design A - notes the number of years of membership.
Design B - notes the number of years and the state - special order (discontinued by the 1956 catalog)
Design L - without years or state.
Design S - notes state (discontinued by the 1956 catalog)

In 3 finishes:

Bronze (early bronze pins DID NOT have black and green enameling)
Sterling silver (with black and green enameling)
10k gold filled (with black and green enameling.)

In 2 sizes:

1/2" x 1/2" pins are older
5/8" x 5/8" pins are newer (and may not be available in Design B or Design S.)

And in multiple variations in manufacturing:

Variations in the laurel leaf border on all four pin designs. 3 known variations: Banded Laurel, Pointed Laurel and Even Laurel
Spelling of states vary, example OREGON or ORE.
Different shades of green enameling
Older pins came with "hook" catches or safety catches (up through at least 1977), later pins have butterfly catches or safety catches.

Design A

border notes only number

top example: SECOND

Common

Design B

border notes number and location

top example: FIRST, OREGON

Had to be special-ordered

Design L

no writing on border

Common

Design S

border only notes location

example shown: KANSAS

Difficult

Youth 4H Membership pins come in 2 sizes. The 1966 4-H catalog lists the size of the pin as 1/2" x 1/2". 2004 catalog states they are 5/8" x 5/8".

Also note with these 2 pins - Oregon is spelled ORE, unlike the pin example in Design B that spells OREGON.

Close-Up

Close-Up on four different pins

2 Sterling Silver 4H pins showing different shades of green enameling.

4-H Club Junior Leadership Pins

The older Junior Leadership pin has more "rays" at the top.

Adult Volunteer Recognition Pins

4H Award of the Bronze Clover
Blank

4H Award of the Bronze Clover
With Numeral (1-4)

For adults volunteering 1-4 years

4H Award of the Silver Clover
Blank

4H Award of the Silver Clover
With Numeral (5-9)

For adults volunteering 5-9 years

4H Award of the Gold Clover
Blank

4H Award of the Gold Clover
With Numeral ( 10-14)

For adults volunteering 10-14 years

4H Award of the Pearl Clover
For adults volunteering for 15 years

60 year Sapphire Clover Award

After 15 years of volunteering pins are issued every 5 years with a variety of centers

Adult Volunteer Pins are in 2 sizes. 1972 catalog lists 1/2" wide. Later catalogs don't list a size with the newer style, but this image shows the comparison.

Early Adult Leadership Pins

The adult leadership pin was offered by the early 1930s in 3 styles and various metals.

1930 Catalog image

Pin "No. 110" noted above in the left column continues today as the Adult Leadership Pin, and actually continues with the same catalog number. The pin is 3/8" x 3/8" with a safety catch backing. This makes the pin very difficult to date. The 14k gold version disappeared quickly, but the 10k gold pin was offered at least through 1977.

Thicker lettering and poorly defined stars may indicate this is an older version of the 4H Adult Leadership Pin.

Today the pin is offered in Bronze, Silver and Gold finishes - without indicating the value of the metal for silver or gold.