A few years ago, I was able to attend an incredible
presentation by Steve Stark, a former Extension communication specialist from
North Dakota. As he shared about
history, his lesson came alive in front of the audience. The skilled lecturer and historian was also
an artist. He covered one entire wall of a conference room with paper and while
he lectured, he drew scenes and people with chalk. One person described it as
having a giant story book created in front of you. His topic that day was the
history of the Extension Service in the United States. |
| Stark giving presentation. Photo by Kimberly Gressley, University of Arizona Extension. |
I’ve been an Extension Agent since 1996 and an Extension
client since the 1970s. In that time, I’ve
heard many people throw around topics like the Morrill Act, the Hatch Act or
the Smith-Lever Act. Generally, these lessons
were dry and boring and contained much information I should have cared about,
but the delivery, and my learning were both lacking. In contrast, Stark’s presentation was remarkable
and he gave context as to other issues facing the nation and the connections of people with ideas while these Acts of Congress were being decided.
In 2014, we are celebrating the centennial anniversary of
the Smith-Lever Act of 1914 which provided for the creation of Extension. Thursday, May 8, officially marked 100 years since
the signing of the Act. The creation of
Extension outreach education programs could not have been possible without the
Morrill Act, which was signed into law in 1862.
Think of those years leading up to 1862.
During a time of tremendous struggle in the United States, key people had
a long-term vision for prosperity and furthering access to education to provide
equality in opportunities. The nation
was faced with an impending Civil War, yet key players recognized that to
propel the nation forward we had to invest in education. The Morrill Act established land-grant
universities that would focus work in agriculture and engineering. The leadership realized that agriculture and
engineering would be fundamental in driving our nation forward. The United States Department of Agriculture
was also begun in 1862 and Lincoln called it the “people’s department.”
Later, as land-grant universities were teaching agriculture
practices, it became apparent that there was a lack of current research in
agricultural knowledge across the different climate and growing conditions of
the United States. Again, Congressional
leadership tackled the problem in a visionary fashion and in 1887, the Hatch
Act provided for the establishment of agriculture experiment and research
stations.
Once land-grant universities were going strong and
agriculture experiment stations were providing important research, leadership
looked around again for a way to improve lives of citizens. They realized that not everyone who lived in
rural agricultural communities would attend a land-grant institution and thus
the leadership decided to bring the information and education to the
people.
In 1914, the Smith-Lever Act provided for the establishment
of the Extension Service. Specifically,
the Act stated, “Cooperative agricultural extension work shall consist of the
development of practical applications of research knowledge or giving of
instruction and practical demonstrations of existing or improved practices or
technologies in agriculture, uses of solar energy with respect to agriculture,
home economics, and rural energy, and subjects relating thereto to persons not
attending or resident in said colleges in the several communities and imparting
information on said subjects through demonstrations, publications and otherwise
and for the necessary printing and distribution of information in connection
with the foregoing; and this work shall be carried on in such manner as may be
mutually agreed upon by the Secretary of Agriculture and the State agriculture
college or colleges …”
The words of the Smith-Lever Act likely have not mattered to
you nearly as much as the result of it.
A country that can feed itself and educate citizens is a nation that can
further other accomplishments. As the
visionaries of this country know, we are all connected. I am proud to be part of the great tradition
of Extension. Montana State University is
your university and an educator from the land-grant university is assigned to
your county to assist you, whether directly or indirectly, bringing campus to
you.
Our Extension classes in Teton County strive to provide a
public value -- from the 4-H youth development program that trains our
community and state leadership of tomorrow, to wellness classes that prevent
diseases, keeping people healthier, active and vibrantly contributing to their
communities longer thereby reducing public health care expenses. Extension work encompasses agricultural
management practices and community development.
The original Smith-Lever charter statement remains true
after 100 years, that the purpose of Extension is "better farming, better
living, more happiness, more education, and better citizenship" for the
"entire country."
For 100 years, MSU Extension has been
educating in local communities. We should celebrate the past 100 years, but
more importantly, we should be visionaries in planning for the next 100. I encourage you to post a comment below to share your vision for your Extension program for the next century.
Other Resources:
Steve Stark
More on Steve Stark
Morrill Act
Hatch Act
Smith-Lever Act
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