As a youth, James F. Kearns joined the 4-H Duncombe Hawkeye Livestock Club where he completed projects related to corn, pigs, horses, beef cattle, dairy cattle, and forestry. He served as Secretary (1934) of the Iowa State Boys' 4-H Club and was one of the Iowa representatives to the National 4-H Club Congress in Chicago (1934). Kearns was also one of four chosen to be an Iowa Delegate (1934) to the National 4-H Camp (National Conference) in Washington D.C. He received this honor by submitting his 4-H record book to a contest sponsored by the Des Moines Register and Tribune.
Kearns earned his B.S. (1939) in animal husbandry from Iowa State College (University). After graduation, he was hired by the Iowa State College Extension Service as the 4-H club agent in Jones County. He was later named County Agent. He eventually went into farming and raised Guernsey cattle, beef cattle, and hogs. While guiding his daughters through 4-H projects, Kearns remained active in 4-H himself, serving as chairman of the Story County Extension Council. He later returned to work for the Extension Service and retired as Adams County Extension Director.
From the description of Papers, 1926-2004. (Iowa State University). WorldCat record id: 609415345
