Florida 4-H Hall of Fame

Oscar Harrison

Oscar Harrison joined 4-H at the age of 12 and participated in gardening, poultry and livestock projects. Harrison was one of the boys in 1926 who donated chickens to raise funds for 4-H Camp Timpoochee where he was also one of the first campers. The chickens were sold raising $500 to fund the first permanent 4-H camping site in the state. He also served as a camp counselor and attended 4-H Short Course at the University of Florida three times. He served as a county extension agent in Dixie, Washington and Walton counties. 4-H has led Harrison to a lifetime of giving back as he raised funds for local 4-H programs. He began a youth livestock show in 1952 to serve Dixie. Levy and Gilchrist counties, which today is known as the Tri-County fair. "4-H had a tremendous impact on my life because it taught me self-reliance to depend on myself and not others. 4-H taught me how to win without boasting. 4-H taught me to make the best better and guided me into extension work," Harrison said. As an extension agent, Harrison was valuable to Walton County 4-H for procuring grounds and building construction for the Walton County Fair, organizing a rural telephone company in 1962, and introducing artificial cattle insemination to farmers.