As Papa Matthews and his four motherless children drive with real estate agent Julius Larkins to inspect a farm for possible purchase, their truck breaks down on the road. The stranded family is helped by passing David Barkley, the county agricultural agent, who takes an immediate liking to Deborah, the eldest Matthews daughter. Although Deborah has reservations about the farm, Papa Matthews is keen to buy and, during one of his "democratic" family votes, pressures his children to agree with him. After they have settled in, the financially strapped Papa announces that the three younger children, Phineas, Abigail and Susan, must miss a school term in order to help plant crops. Deborah insists that the children attend school, however, in accordance with their dead mother's wishes, and Papa reluctantly agrees. Later, Susan, the youngest child, meets neighbors Jessie Wexford and her brother Buzz, who proudly shows off "Caesar," a prize Angus steer he has raised as part of his project for the local 4-H Club, a national organization designed to prepare children to be successful farmers. That night, Deborah tells Papa that David has suggested that they plant potatoes, but Papa, whose previous farming venture was a failure, insists on planting soy, a crop with which he has experience. During a family meeting, Susan, having been inspired by Buzz's profit-making 4-H project, eagerly asks Papa for money with which to buy two lambs. Papa calls Susan's request selfish and then forces Phineas to vote with him and Abigail against her. Susan is crushed by her father's scornful attitude and seeks comfort in Deborah, her only reliable ally. Deborah, meanwhile, tries to help David convince Papa not to cut down their hillside timber, which David knows is needed to prevent flooding during heavy rainstorms. The mulish Papa, however, refuses to take David's admonitions seriously and continues cutting timber, which he plans to sell in order to pay for a tractor. As part of a recruiting effort, David then takes Susan to visit various 4-H projects. Susan is deeply impressed by the 4-H Club, whose clover-leaf emblem stands for head, heart, hand and health, but becomes upset and withdrawn when she recalls her father's angry words. Later, after he is turned down for a date, David accuses Deborah of being a coward where her father is concerned, and she angrily orders him to leave. At church the next Sunday, Reverend Jim Benton lectures about the sin of ignorant pride, but, much to Deborah's dismay, Papa sleeps through the entire sermon. Soon after, however, Papa becomes bedridden when he is badly injured cutting trees, and Deborah is forced to take over the farm's operation. Acting on David's advice, Deborah halts the timber cutting without consulting Papa. Tattle-tale Abigail, however, relays the information to her father, and he not only denounces Deborah, but secretly orders the cutting resumed. Susan, meanwhile, joins the 4-H Club and, with David's help, secures a small loan from the local bank with which to buy two lambs. Later, Susan and Phineas attend a 4-H costume party at Buzz's house. When a vicious storm blows in, Susan becomes concerned about her lambs, which she has left in a shed, and slips away from the party. David helps the rain-soaked Susan bring her lambs inside, then rescues Deborah, who is vainly struggling to prevent the hillside from collapsing. The next morning, with the crops destroyed by flood water, Papa finally admits to his family that his fear of failure and loneliness drove him to make unwise decisions. He then asks for their forgiveness, saying that their understanding will give him the courage to continue. After they happily reunite, the Matthews then look out their window to see their neighbors driving up, eager to help restore their battered farm.