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BRIEF HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE OF COOPERATIVE EXTENSION

There are several sources of information regarding the history of the Land Grant University, available to you on loan from the Staff Development library and you should be aware of the many on line resources such as the NASULGC, (National Association of State and Land Grant Universities) web site and USDA sites, such as the History of American Agriculture from 1776 to 1990.

Cooperative Extension is a key component of the largest educational delivery system in the world, the Land Grant University system. Listed below are key pieces of enabling legislation at the federal level that began to emerge which shaped our mission:

In 1862 the Morrill Act provided for at least one college in each state to be established where "the leading object shall be, without excluding other scientific or classical studies, to teach such branches as are related to agriculture and the mechanic arts".

In 1887 the Hatch Act allowed for the establishment of Agricultural Experiment Stations at one Land Grant College in each state. This is important because this act established agricultural research as a recognized function of the Land Grant University.

Farmer's Institutes became one of the primary means of disseminating research findings of the Experiment Stations to general audiences and Agriculture and Home Economics teaching faculty served as institute resource persons.

Demonstrations became the medium by which experiment station programs were delivered and the term "demonstration agents" was coined to identify personnel engaged in this effort.

In 1906, the first County Demonstration Agent , W. C. Stallings was hired in Texas.

Private finding spurred the spread of agent hirings and home demonstration agents were soon added to address topics of interest to homemakers.

In 1907, the first 4H club was organized in Mississippi.

In 1909, the 4H Cloverleaf was first used.

In 1911, the Cloverleaf was adopted as the 4H national emblem.

In the early 1900's extension work began to flourish and the single most important piece of legislation became law in 1914, the Smith-Lever Act.

The Smith-Lever Act of 1914 provided for mutual cooperation of the United Sates department of Agriculture and Land grant colleges in conducting agricultural extension work; it specified that the work...."shall consist of instruction and practical demonstration in agriculture and home economics to persons not attending or resident in said colleges in the several communities, and imparting to such persons information on said subjects through field demonstrations, publications and other wise...."

In South Carolina, O.B. Martin, State Superintendent of Education, developed a keen interest in these opportunities for youth, and with the help of Seaman Knapp, who provided the leadership for the early Extension concept, Martin provided opportunities for teachers to participate in training for youth clubs such as corn clubs and tomato clubs. Marie Cromer, a teacher in Aiken County, led the way for girls' clubs in South Carolina in 1916. Another teacher, Dora Dee Walker, also became interested in girls' clubs, and then extended it to women's clubs. These two women were employed by Winthrop College to conduct an Extension program for women and girls.

EXTENSION THROUGH THE YEARS

World War I
Extension mobilized the war food production efforts while food production, preservation and clothing conservation projects were stressed. 

Great Depression
Farm Seed and Loan Program was organized and Extension was called upon to manage it; farm families were drawn into active participation in county, state and national public affairs; home economics programs were geared towards family self sufficiency

Post depression and the New Deal era
Extension became involved in the management of many Federal programs such as: Agricultural Adjustment Administration, Soil Conservation Service, Rural Electrification Program, Farmer's Home Administration

Extension became the single Federal agency having a direct educational link with rural America.

Extension Today
As the nation's needs continue to change, cooperative extension's role has changed to meet them and regardless of the labels given to extension programs, it is the people served who are important. Extensions overall objective will be to continue to plan, execute, deliver and evaluate learning programs consistent with locally identified needs. Extension will help people acquire the understanding, capabilities, attitudes and skills essential to solving farm, home and community problems.

Extension Administration / College of Ag. Forestry & Life Sciences / Public Services Activities / S.C. Ag. & Forest Research

Last Page Update: 09/09/2003

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