North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service

Although extension activities began in the late nineteenth century with the formation of the North Carolina State College of Agricultural and Mechanic Arts, the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service was officially formed in 1914 with the passage of the Smith-Lever Act. Extension services provide education and programming in numerous subjects, among them agriculture, forestry, environmental sustainability, youth and family development, and community viability.

The North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service gives residents access to the resources and expertise of NC State University and NC A&T State University. Through educational programs, publications, and events, Cooperative Extension field faculty deliver unbiased, research-based information to North Carolina citizens. Established in 1914, the Extension Service is a partnership of county, state and federal governments.

Although extension and demonstration work in North Carolina had been active since the early years of the twentieth century, the North Carolina Agricultural Extension Service was only officially created in 1914 as a result of the Smith-Lever Act. In 1991 the name was changed to the current one, the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service.

Although extension and demonstration work in North Carolina had been active since the early years of the twentieth century, the North Carolina Agricultural Extension Service was only officially created in 1914 as a result of the Smith-Lever Act. In 1991 the name was changed to the current one, the Cooperative Extension Service.

In November of 1907 North Carolina appointed its first County Agent for the purpose of educating farmers on productive farming techniques. As a result of the Smith-Lever Act of 1914, Land-Grant Universities were authorized to begin cooperative extension work with the USDA. The Smith-Lever Act made provisions for the use of County Extension agents to educate farmers, provide help in farming, and help with 4-H Clubs and Home Demonstration agents to provide help in running a farm household and provide health information. County and Home Demonstration agents work in cooperation with North Carolina State University and North Carolina A and T.

From its inception as the North Carolina State Agriculture and Mechanical College, NCSU has been deeply involved in outreach and extension work. In the 1890s and early 1900s, college personnel took part in numerous Farmer's Institutes statewide, where they and State Agricultural Department personnel met with local farmers to discuss farm improvement techniques. In 1907 James A. Butler became North Carolina's first county agent, hired to conduct demonstration work in boll weevil eradication.

In 1909, State College expanded its extension efforts when it signed a memorandum of agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture to cooperatively develop Farmers' Boys' Clubs, or Corn Clubs. Ira O. Schaub became the first director of this program, which eventually grew into 4-H. The first Girls' Clubs, focusing primarily on tomato canning and gardening, were established after Jane McKimmon was hired in 1911 to lead a statewide Home Demonstration program.

Greatly boosting extension work, the 1914 Smith-Lever Act provided for federal, state, and county cooperation in creating a system to expand demonstration and extension work for men and women. The law authorized land-grant colleges to sign memoranda of understanding with the United States Department of Agriculture to begin such work. With this, State College created a new Department of Extension.

In 1924, Schaub returned as the new Extension director, a position he held until 1950. Administratively, Extension changed as more and more of its functions were transferred to State College. The 1920s and 1930s saw widespread change in the extension youth programs as well. Schaub appointed Lera R. Harrill as State 4-H Club Leader in 1926.

During World War II, extension programs played a vital role in the local war effort. The postwar years saw the Extension Division move closer administratively to the College's School of Agriculture. In 1950 a reorganization of the School of Agriculture brought the three fields of work - teaching, research, and extension - into the direct orbit of the School.

Economic difficulties in the 1970s saw the Extension Service increase its activities in rural food production and nutrition, including the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP). Extension also worked with farmers facing serious economic troubles to better their situations. In 1991, the North Carolina Agricultural Extension Service changed its name to the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service to better reflect a shift in activities beyond the development of state and local agriculture.

The Office of the Assistant Director of the North Carolina State Cooperative Extension Service historically has served in a role that strongly supports the Cooperative Extension Service Director's Office. It is not uncommon for Assistant Directors to assume leadership of the North Carolina State Cooperative Extension Service and become Cooperative Extension Service Directors.

Individuals working in the capacity of Assistant Director have taken an active part in the administration and oversight of extension programs, short courses, university committees, 4-H, home demonstration, rural development, farm education and the supervision of field agents. The office traditionally has been responsible for correspondence, reports, and work plans relating to rural development projects, family life, beef cattle, dairy, swine and poultry farming, soil conservation, tobacco, corn and cotton crop production, nutrition and health, wildlife, land use planning, and agronomy.

From its inception as the North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, North Carolina State University has been deeply involved in outreach and extension work. In the 1890s and early 1900s, college personnel took part in numerous Farmers' Institutes statewide, where they and State Agricultural Department personnel met with local farmers to discuss farm improvement techniques. In 1907 James A. Butler became North Carolina's first county agent, hired to conduct demonstration work in boll weevil eradication.

In 1909, State College (later North Carolina State University) expanded its extension efforts when it signed a memorandum of agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture to cooperatively develop Farmers' Boys' Clubs, or Corn Clubs. Ira O. Schaub became the first director of this program, which eventually became the 4-H program. The first Girls' Clubs, focusing primarily on tomato canning and gardening, were established after Jane McKimmon was hired in 1911 to lead a statewide Home Demonstration program.

Greatly boosting extension work, the 1914 Smith-Lever Act provided for federal, state, and county cooperation in creating a system to expand demonstration and extension work for men and women. The law authorized land-grant colleges to sign memoranda of understanding with the United States Department of Agriculture to begin such work. With this, State College created a new Department of Extension.

In 1924, Schaub returned as the new Extension director, a position he held until 1950. Administratively, Extension changed as more and more of its functions were transferred to State College. The 1920s and 1930s saw widespread change in the extension youth programs as well. Schaub appointed Lera R. Harrill as State 4-H Club Leader in 1926.

During World War II, extension programs played a vital role in the local war effort. The postwar years saw the Extension Division move closer administratively to the College's School of Agriculture. In 1950 a reorganization of the School of Agriculture brought the three fields of work - teaching, research, and extension - into the direct orbit of the School.

Economic difficulties in the 1970s saw the Extension Service increase its activities in rural food production and nutrition, including the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP). Extension also worked with farmers facing serious economic troubles to improve their situations. In 1991, the North Carolina Agricultural Extension Service changed its name to the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service to better reflect a shift in activities beyond the development of state and local agriculture.

The North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service is an education and outreach program designed to provide citizens of North Carolina access to the knowledge generated by North Carolina State University departments working in agricultural research.

Although ad hoc extension services had been ongoing since the founding of the North Carolina State College of Agricultural and Mechanic Arts, the North Carolina Agricultural Extension Service was officially formed in 1914 as a result of the Smith-Lever Act, a law providing for federal, state, and county cooperation in creating a system to expand demonstration and extension work. The law authorized land-grant colleges across the nation to sign memoranda of understanding with the United States Department of Agriculture to begin such work.

After just one year, seventy-one farm and thirty-seven home demonstration agents were employed. The 4-H program took off, and the first annual 4-H Club Week was held in 1915. That same year the new publication Extension Farm News began. At State College, Extension received a permanent home when Ricks Hall was completed in 1922 (its earlier home was split between offices in downtown Raleigh and in Patterson Hall on campus).

During World War II, extension programs played a vital role in the local war effort. Agents ran programs on increasing farm production and conserving valuable resources. A Woman's Land Army sent women to the fields to replace the many men who joined the military. The 4-H program helped children grow Victory Gardens, operate scrap drives, and compete in their own produce productivity competitions. The work performed during the war years was so successful that agricultural production actually doubled compared to previous years. Extension continued to grow between 1945 and 1956, doubling its personnel and more than tripling its budget.

Economic difficulties in the 1970s saw the Extension Service increase its activities in rural food production and nutrition. Extension worked with the North Carolina Department of Social Service to bring meals to senior citizens, and in 1969 it established the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) to help underprivileged North Carolinians better their nutritional standards and to educate them about available food assistance programs. Extension also worked with farmers facing serious economic troubles to better their situations.

Perhaps the most noticeable change to Extension occurred in 1991, when the program changed its named from the North Carolina Agricultural Extension Service to the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service in order to better reflect the service's activities that had grown beyond the development of state and local agriculture. Today, working alongside North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, and a national network of land-grant institutions, and using the resources of twenty-one academic departments at NCSU, the Service maintains centers in every county in the state, and provides education and programming in numerous subjects, among them agriculture, forestry, environmental sustainability, youth and family development, and community viability.

From its inception as the North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts (A&M College), NCSU has been deeply involved in outreach and extension work. In the 1890s and early 1900s, college personnel took part in numerous Farmer's Institutes statewide, where they and State Agriculture Department personnel met with local farmers to discuss farm improvement techniques. In 1907 James A. Butler became North Carolina's first county agent, hired to conduct demonstration work in boll weevil eradication.

In 1909, A&M College expanded its extension efforts when it signed a memorandum of agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture to cooperatively develop Farmers' Boys' Clubs, or Corn Clubs. Ira O. Schaub was the first director of this program, which eventually became 4-H. The first Girls' Clubs, focusing primarily on tomato canning and gardening, were established after Jane McKimmon was hired in 1911 to lead a statewide Home Demonstration program.

Greatly boosting extension work, the 1914 Smith-Lever Act provided for federal, state, and county cooperation in creating a system to expand demonstration and extension work for men and women. The law authorized land-grant colleges to sign memoranda of understanding with the United States Department of Agriculture to begin such work. With this, A&M College created the North Carolina Agricultural Extension Service, often called the Department of Extension.

In 1924, Schaub returned as the new Extension director, a position he held until 1950. Administratively, Extension changed as more and more of its functions were transferred to the college (by then, North Carolina State College of Agriculture and Engineering, or State College). The 1920s and 1930s saw widespread change and growth in the extension youth programs as well.

During World War II, extension programs played a vital role in the local war effort. The postwar years saw Extension move closer administratively to the College's School of Agriculture. In 1950 a reorganization of the School of Agriculture brought the three fields of work - teaching, research, and extension - into the direct orbit of the School.

Economic difficulties across the state in the 1970s saw Extension increase its activities in rural food production and nutrition, including the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP). Extension also worked with farmers facing serious economic troubles to better their situations. In 1991, the North Carolina Agricultural Extension Service changed its name to the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service to better reflect a shift in activities beyond the development of state and local agriculture.