Believe it or not, Ted Blum is an incredibly important figure in the history of Somerset County 4-H, whose involvement in 4-H can still be felt today! So let’s take a moment to find out who Ted Blum is, and why we celebrate his accomplishments.
Who is Ted Blum?
Born in the Bronx, NY, Ted Blum grew up in NYC and ultimately served in the US Naval Reserve. After enrolling in the first class of men to attend Hunter College, he then transferred to Rutgers University where he earned a B.S. in Agriculture and a Masters in Education. His 4-H journey began in Cape May County, NJ until he transferred to Somerset County where he was the 4-H Agent for 29 years!
“My job as a 4-H Agent is to provide as many opportunities as possible for young people to develop character and confidence.”
His Accomplishments.
Ted Blum was the catalyst for positive change in Somerset County 4-H, with countless accomplishments to his name. Between the years of 1959 and 1978, Ted increased enrollment in Somerset County 4-H from 500 to 2,500 members in 100 clubs! He also supervised the construction of the 4-H Center which to this day, is the largest 4-H Center in all of NJ! He can also be attributed to initiating the PREP program in 1968, which to this day is still a model for the NJ State Program.
“ted was a revolutionary, way ahead of his time, always breaking new ground”
His Life.
Ted Blum is an incredible figure in the history of Somerset County 4-H. His philosophy of creativity, leadership, and “management by objective,” have and will continue to encourage the youth and adults of 4-H to remember that building character and self-esteem be their primary concern. He lived the remainder of his life in Hillsborough, NJ with his wife Helene. They had two children, Jim and Elizabeth, and three grandchildren. Ted was an avid gardener and traveled extensively.
