20052005

History of the History of the Cooperative Cooperative

Extension ServiceExtension Service

University of Missouri ExtensionUniversity of Missouri Extension

Module 3Module 3Volunteer Development: Making the Best Better Volunteer Development: Making the Best Better

SeriesSeries

20052005

What Is the CooperativeWhat Is the CooperativeExtension Service?Extension Service?

Premiere non-formal educationPremiere non-formal education Part of a national educational effort Part of a national educational effort Administered by the Land-Grant Administered by the Land-Grant

University systemUniversity system Uniquely funded from federal, Uniquely funded from federal,

state, and local governmentsstate, and local governments

20052005

Why Did We Need anWhy Did We Need anExtension Service?Extension Service?

Early universities in the U. S. Early universities in the U. S. taught classics / professionalstaught classics / professionals– Harvard, Yale, William and MaryHarvard, Yale, William and Mary

In the mid-1800s science was In the mid-1800s science was gaining importancegaining importance

Efforts to provide a liberal, Efforts to provide a liberal, practical education to all citizenspractical education to all citizens

20052005

The Land Grant The Land Grant University System Is University System Is

CreatedCreated

Justin Smith MorrillJustin Smith Morrill

20052005

The Land Grant The Land Grant University System Is University System Is

CreatedCreated

On July 2, 1862 the Morrill Act On July 2, 1862 the Morrill Act was signed into law by President was signed into law by President Lincoln Lincoln

Known as the Land-Grant ActKnown as the Land-Grant Act– Each state was given public land to Each state was given public land to

be soldbe sold– Proceeds used to maintain a collegeProceeds used to maintain a college

20052005

The Land-Grant MissionThe Land-Grant Mission

Original mission was to teachOriginal mission was to teach– agriculture agriculture – military tactics military tactics – mechanical arts mechanical arts

To promote the liberal and practical To promote the liberal and practical education of the industrial classeseducation of the industrial classes

20052005

Research Linked to Land Research Linked to Land GrantGrant

Experimental farms focused science Experimental farms focused science on the problems of agricultureon the problems of agriculture

Hatch Act passed in 1887Hatch Act passed in 1887 Resulted in growth of experiment Resulted in growth of experiment

stations and related research to stations and related research to

agricultureagriculture

20052005

The Land-Grant Mission The Land-Grant Mission GrowsGrows

A 2nd Morrill Act in 1890 A 2nd Morrill Act in 1890 – Additional resources for the Land-GrantsAdditional resources for the Land-Grants– Contributed to development of Contributed to development of

universities rather than collegesuniversities rather than colleges– Separate institutions for blacks were Separate institutions for blacks were

established in the southestablished in the south 1994 legislation gave Land-Grant 1994 legislation gave Land-Grant

status to the tribal collegesstatus to the tribal colleges

20052005

Extending the University Extending the University to the Peopleto the People

A way was needed to spread new A way was needed to spread new ideas and practicesideas and practices

Early efforts included Farmers’ Early efforts included Farmers’ Institutes and Movable SchoolsInstitutes and Movable Schools

In 1898, USDA hired Seaman Knapp In 1898, USDA hired Seaman Knapp to “demonstrate” research results to to “demonstrate” research results to locallocal

farmers in Louisianafarmers in Louisiana

20052005

The Father of ExtensionThe Father of Extension

Seaman A. KnappSeaman A. Knapp

20052005

An Early HistoryAn Early History

Boys’ corn clubs formed at the turn Boys’ corn clubs formed at the turn of the centuryof the century

Started payment of premium Started payment of premium money as prizesmoney as prizes

First county agents appointed 1906First county agents appointed 1906 First home demonstration agents First home demonstration agents

appointed in 1910appointed in 1910

20052005

The System GrowsThe System Grows

20052005

The Official BeginningThe Official Beginning

May 8, 1914 President Woodrow May 8, 1914 President Woodrow Wilson signed the Smith-Lever ActWilson signed the Smith-Lever Act– Extension Service became the Extension Service became the

educational arm of the U.S. Department educational arm of the U.S. Department of Agricultureof Agriculture

– Established activities within a unique Established activities within a unique nationwide system nationwide system

– Funded and guided by a national, state, Funded and guided by a national, state, and local government partnershipand local government partnership

20052005

Extension ThroughExtension Throughthe Yearsthe Years

20052005

Extension ThroughExtension Throughthe Yearsthe Years

During WW I, Extension spearheaded Extension spearheaded the nation's food production effortthe nation's food production effort

During the depression of the 20’s, the emphasis changed from the emphasis changed from production to economic concerns production to economic concerns

Helped to organize farm Helped to organize farm cooperativescooperatives

20052005

Extension During the Extension During the DepressionDepression

USDA used Extension to acquaint USDA used Extension to acquaint farmers and rural people to new farmers and rural people to new agencies agencies

Helped people understand Helped people understand emergency government action emergency government action programsprograms

Home demonstration agents taught Home demonstration agents taught home/money managementhome/money management

20052005

Extension During theExtension During theWar YearsWar Years

1941 - Extension took on national 1941 - Extension took on national defense role defense role – “ “Food and Feed for Family Living” Food and Feed for Family Living” – ““Victory gardens” grown on farms and Victory gardens” grown on farms and

backyardsbackyards 4-H’ers conducted scrap metal 4-H’ers conducted scrap metal

drivesdrives Home demonstration agents Home demonstration agents

stressed food conservationstressed food conservation

20052005

Extension After the WarExtension After the War

Program planning was re-Program planning was re-emphasizedemphasized

More involvement with local people More involvement with local people and local situationsand local situations

New areas of outreachNew areas of outreach– Community and rural developmentCommunity and rural development– Family livingFamily living

20052005

Extension in the 60s & Extension in the 60s & 70’s70’s

Initiated EFNEPInitiated EFNEP Continued expansion of Continued expansion of

Community DevelopmentCommunity Development Missouri system moved to an Missouri system moved to an

area approach in the 1960sarea approach in the 1960s

20052005

Extension in the 80s & Extension in the 80s & 90s90s

““Farm crisis” redirected Extension Farm crisis” redirected Extension to production/stress managementto production/stress management

System focused on issue System focused on issue programmingprogramming

Strong emphasis on accountabilityStrong emphasis on accountability New outreach efforts to collaborate New outreach efforts to collaborate

with organizations with similar with organizations with similar goalsgoals

20052005

The Old ImageThe Old Image

20052005

Land-Grants TodayLand-Grants Today

System of linking teaching, research System of linking teaching, research and outreach took nearly 50 yearsand outreach took nearly 50 years

Land-Grants are:Land-Grants are:““Dedicated not only to teaching young Dedicated not only to teaching young people and the discovery of information, people and the discovery of information, but also to applying that knowledge to the but also to applying that knowledge to the solutions of problems to help people live solutions of problems to help people live better lives and to have better livelihoods.”better lives and to have better livelihoods.”

(V. Lechtenberg, 11/2000.) (V. Lechtenberg, 11/2000.)

20052005

Extension Continues to Extension Continues to “Take the University to the “Take the University to the

People”People”

Extension’s philosophy has not Extension’s philosophy has not changed but some of the subject changed but some of the subject matter hasmatter has

Demonstration method still relevantDemonstration method still relevant New technology changes New technology changes

information disseminationinformation dissemination Organizational stress and resource Organizational stress and resource

redirection is commonredirection is common

20052005

The Cooperative The Cooperative Extension Service…..Extension Service…..

Is a proactive, responsive and Is a proactive, responsive and collaborative organizationcollaborative organization

Committed to the growth and Committed to the growth and development of people through development of people through life-long learninglife-long learning

20052005

Our VisionOur Vision

Empower clientele to access Empower clientele to access information, sort through and information, sort through and process itprocess it

Develop volunteers who share Develop volunteers who share time and expertisetime and expertise

20052005

ReferencesReferences

Printed with permission: Optimizing Printed with permission: Optimizing your Potential as a 4-H Volunteer, your Potential as a 4-H Volunteer, 2001, Purdue University 2001, Purdue University Cooperative Extension, West Cooperative Extension, West Lafayette, INLafayette, IN