Houston Cardinals 4-H Club was founded in 1915 by Dewey Sapp and is known as “The First Club in the First State”. We are a traditional 4-H club with eight Cloverbuds, ages 5-8, and twenty-one regular members, ages 8-19.  We meet at the Cedarfield Ruritan Club on Tub Mill Pond Road in Milford on the first Tuesday of the month. Members participate in hands- on personal growth lessons that begin at 6:30 p.m. followed by our monthly business meeting starting at 7:00 p.m.

Houston Cardinals members participate in many project areas, such as: archery, public presentations, foods and nutrition, photography, and wildlife conservation. We have become a healthy living club, promoting healthy choices in both food and lifestyles. This year we will be learning about different types of electricity.

Our club participates in the Kent County’s Litter Barrel, Window Display, and Trim a Tree Contests. Members also participate in various Judging competitions as well as the Kent County Archery Contest.

The Houston Cardinals perform community service projects that include Adopt the Highway Program, collecting and making items for pet shelters, food banks, and homeless shelters. Members make thank you cards for veterans and Christmas cards for seniors. In the spring and fall, members assist kindergarten students with crafts during at Morris Early Childhood Center’s Reading Nights.

You will often find our club’s members promoting 4-H by selling clovers at Tractor Supply in Milford during its spring and fall 4-H Fundraising Event. We volunteer at Fifer’s Orchards during their Customer Appreciation Day in August. We have seasonal craft days, where member learn how to use various types of mediums and recycled articles to create new and creative pieces of art.

Our club loves the State Fair! Houston Cardinal 4-H members first participate in transforming the ice rink into a 4-H showcase then to bringing their entries to be judged. They enjoy being participants in Archery, Judging and other fun competitions. We assist in the Delaware Farm Bureau’s food booth completing orders and making yummy milkshakes.

Houston Cardinal members often become involved in national 4-H events, as well as take part in State and Day Camp activities, thus making and growing 4-H friendships throughout the entire state of Delaware and the USA.

Being a member of the Houston Cardinal 4-H Club has made them excel not only in high school, but in college and years beyond.