Because of the relocating of 1100 families in Union County, the building of Norris Dam and the flooding during the building, the 4-H programs had to be put on hold. In 1936 Agent C.B. Barnes started the programs back up with 77 boys in Luttrell, Big Sinks and Rush Strong. The boys had “Pig” Clubs and performed well in competition. The Sears and Roebuck Company sponsored an essay contest .
The Girls had 243 4-H members enrolled in 11 different community clubs. The girls clubs were called “Tomato” Clubs. They learned to garden from their agent Mabel Moore. They had to plant 12 tomato plants and can 5 jars of tomatoes. The girls ended up canning 1,917 jars of tomatoes and profited $4.95 for the Girls 4-H Clubs in Union County. That year they had their first Clothing Contest. The Boys 4-H had their first “Rally” Day in 1937. The local business men donated $8.00 in prize money for the boys Horse Shoe Pitching Contest.
In 1937 4-H member Louise Carr won a county prize of $1.00 and a trip to the National 4-H Congress . She won with the “Bedroom Decorating” Contest at the TVA & I Fair. Her expenses to decorate her bedroom were $9.95 including all the materials she designed. Home Demonstration Agent A.C. Miller demonstrated Fabric Color Dyeing braided rugs using vegetables, walnut hulls, brown sage and Red Oak Bark. Carr won first place at the fair.
Today there are many different 4-H Contests: Demonstration Contests, Photography Contests, Public Speaking, Poster Contest and Sheep Project Judging. These are overseen by Beth Burgeron and Sarah Cook with Agents Shannon DeWitt and Abbey Cabbage Thomas assisting.
A.A. Gentry of the Paulette Club won first place with “Corn Husk Hats”at the fair and profited $16.00.
Effie Corum won first place at the two different fairs in “Hat Making”.
That year Agent Moore taught a class on repairing chair bottoms.
The Union County Home Demonstration Clubs made Boutonniere’s that were sold in New York, Asheville, Michigan, Gatlinburg and Norris. The total sales were $28.48 by its members according to the 1937 Extensions records.
A young 4-H man sold vegetables to campers at the Big Ridge State Park. , profiting $17.00. He ran out of vegetables, so to get more he gathered the extras his neighbors had until they were gone. The records did not identify this young man.