Mr. Kimball
The County Agent
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
The Cooperative
Extension
Service
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
A Problem
At the end of the 19th century, the largely
agrarian society clamored for additional
knowledge in agriculture. They wanted the
information to be:
near their home
relevant
communicated on their level
practical
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
A problem...
Several main groups started providing this type of
information through a variety of methods:
Colleges
Agricultural Societies
State Boards of Agriculture
USDA
Philanthropic Organizations
Commercial Companies
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
The Problem...
The efforts to educate the farmer and farm
wife were disjointed, sporadic and lacking
in uniformity
A national effort to improve the situation
resulted in passage of the Smith-Lever Act
of 1914 which established a national system
of cooperative extension
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Original Mission
―..to aid in diffusing among the people of
the United States useful and practical
information on subjects relating to
agriculture and home economics, and to
encourage the application of the same…‖
From the Smith-Lever Act of 1914
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Eras in Extension
Era 1 – Farming & Homemaking (1914-1929)
Era II – Government Programs (1929-1940)
Era III – Winning the War (1940-1945)
Era IV – The Golden Age (1945-1965)
Era V – Diversification (1965-1985)
Era VI – Issues (1985-now)
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Disclaimer
The Extension Eras listed on the previous
slide (and those that follow) is the
instructor’s interpretation of the history of
Extension. You will not see these in print
anywhere.
And the years starting and ending an era are not
that distinct in reality
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Era 1 (1914-1929)
The Era of Farming and Homemaking
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Era 1 - The Name
Cooperative Agricultural Extension Service
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Era 1- Goals
The primary goal of Extension during this
era was to:
increase farm production through better
farming methods and
Improve the plight of the farm family through
improved homemaking
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Era 1- The Audience
The Farmer and Farm Wife were the
primary audience
The children were another audience and
often served as the conduit to reach the
parents.
Most parents, while not willing to try out new
fangled ideas, were tolerant of their children
trying out the new fangled ideas.
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Era 1 – The Methods Used
One on One Visits to the Farm
Demonstrations
Method – How to Do Something
Results – Crop Plots
Home Demonstration Clubs
Farm Tours
Community Based Meetings
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Era 1 – The County Personnel
Typically
An Agricultural Agent
A Home Demonstration Agent
Youth work was split between the Ag Agent
and Home Demonstration agent
There were some youth agents but their
numbers were far less than the other two
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
The War Years (WWI)
360
350
340 Acres in crop production
Millions of Acres
330
320
310
300
290
280
270
260
1914 1915 1916 1917 1918
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
The War Years (WWI)
300
250 Oats
Rye
200 Cotton
Hay
150
Hogs
100 Beef Cattle
Milk Cows
50 Sheep
Wool
0
Price Gain (%)
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Food Production Act -1917
Signed into law on August 10, 1917
This is the ―sleeper‖ extension act
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Food Production Act Provisions
Livestock Production ($885,000)
Disease and pest control, enlargement of
livestock production, conservation and
utilization of meat
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Food Production Act Provisions
Seed Production ($2,500,000)
Procuring, storing
and furnishing seeds
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Food Production Act Provisions
Crop Production ($441,000)
Prevention, control and eradication of insects
and plant diseases
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Food Production Act Provisions
Extension ($4,348,400)
Increase food production
and eliminate waste
through educational
and demonstration
methods through county,
district and urban
agents and others
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Impact on Extension
By the end of October (1917) 1,600
emergency demonstration agents were hired
Act was to terminate at the end of the War
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Increase in Extension Agents
1917 to 1918
3000
2500
2000
1500 1917
1918
1000
500
0
Agriculture Home Economics 4-H
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Extension Staff 1918
Emergency Regular
71% 29%
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Yearbook of Agriculture, 1918
Report of the Secretary of Agriculture
―The emergency through which the Nation has passed
only served to emphasize the supreme importance of
the Cooperative Agricultural Extension Service. It has
become increasingly clear that no more important piece
of education extension machinery has ever been
created. It has been amply demonstrated that the most
effective means of getting information to the farmers
and their families is through the direct touch of well-
trained men and women.‖
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Era II (1929-1940)
The Era of Government Programs
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Era II – Background Information
Before we can fully understand extension
during the 1929-40 era, one needs to know
what was happening in America.
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
The Roaring 20s (for whom?)
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
The Roaring 20s??
Agricultural Prices
dropped 33% from
1919 to 1920
Agricultural Prices
dropped 54% from
1920 to 1921
These trends continued through the 1920s
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Plumbing in the 1920s
1 out of 10 farm homes had water indoors
1 out of 2 farm homes had sinks
1 out of 64 farm homes had a water closet,
the rest had outhouses
Most laundry
was done outside
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
The Great Depression – Started in
1929 and went
well into the
1930s
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
The Great Depression
Gross Farm Income in 1932
was 1/2 of that of 1929
Net income per farm in 1932
was estimated by USDA at $230
Between 1920-1933 15,000 banks suspended
operation
(The NC FFA lost $350 in a bank closure in 1931)
4,000 banks alone closed in 1933
There were huge dust storms and droughts in the
bread basket of the nation (the Midwest)
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Dust Storms
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Era of Farm Legislation
Agricultural Adjustment Act - 1933
Farmers agreed to reduce acreage in surplus
crops in return for benefit payments
Farm Credit Administration - 1933
Soil Conservation Act - 1935
Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment
Act - 1936
Rural Electrification Act - 1936
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Rural Electrification
By 1930, 70% of the urban population had
electricity.
____
By 1930, 10% of the rural
population had electricity.
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Rural Electrification
Magazines like the "Electric Farmer" and
―Electricity on the Farm‖ published articles with
hints about using the new power for farmwork and
housework.
Dairy farmers learned how electric milking machines
would increase the speed of their work.
Farm wives learned how electric stoves, washers, and
water heaters could improve their home.
Electric pumps also made indoor plumbing a reality for
farm families.
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
A Poem
Electricity is a servant, make it work for you.
Then baking days won't be so hot, or washdays be so blue.
Your cows will be contented, with a milker fine and bright.
The kids will like the music, from the radio at night.
Your feed will be ground easily, your baby chicks kept warm.
The whole family will be happy, with electricity on the farm.
--Author Unknown
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
"The greatest thing on
earth is to have the love
of God in your heart,
and the next greatest
thing is to have
electricity in your
house.“
A Tennessee Farmer in
the 1940s
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
During the Depression
Extension affected the most
Agents typically held 1-3
educational meetings in each
township to explain AAA rules
and regulations
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Depression years
Extension:
Assisted in making Federal Emergency
Relief Administration feed and seed loans
Tried to convince farmers to reduce
acreage (buy into the government
programs)
Convinced farmers that electricity would
not make the cows go dry
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Era II - The Name
Cooperative Agricultural Extension Service – the
name was still the same, however there were a
bunch of new acronyms that Extension became
closely associated with:
AAA
SCS
REA
PWA
WPA
FSA
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Era II - Goals
The primary goal of Extension during this
era was to:
decrease farm production by convincing
farmers to set aside land in governmental
programs
Educate farmers about the myriad of
government programs
Improve the plight of the farm family through
improved homemaking
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Era II - The Audience
The Farm family was still the primary
audience
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Era II – The Methods Used
Meetings to educate farm families about
government programs, electricity, etc.
Other traditional methods were used but
there were many more group meetings
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Era II – Methods Used
Community
Clubs
4-H utilized
local community
clubs
Agents and
volunteers organized
and conducted
the club work
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Era II – Methods Used
Many communities had home
demonstration clubs.
The ladies in a community would meet and
learn about canning, sewing, etc.
Club meetings were both educational and
social.
Typically the home demonstration agent
conducted the meetings.
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Home Demonstration Club in
Alabama
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Era II – The County Personnel
Typically
An Agricultural Agent
A Home Demonstration Agent
Youth agents were not numerous
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Era II – The County Personnel
Because of the depression, many
communities could not afford their share of
the agents salary
Some agents received IOUs
Some positions were closed
Agents took other jobs
Some agents took other county government
jobs but continued doing extension work
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
In 1938
Extension lost employees to the:
Soil Conservation Service - 159
Farm Security Administration -
154
Agricultural Adjustment
Administration - 97
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
A Nebraska Ag Agent (1930s)
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Era III (1940-1945)
The Era of
Winning the
War
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Era III – Background Information
American finally emerged out of the Great
Depression by 1939 and was then
immediately immersed in World War II.
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Era III - The Name
Cooperative Agricultural Extension Service
– the name was still the same,
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Era III - Goals
The primary goal of Extension during this
era was to:
increase food and fiber production
Encourage conservation (food, clothing,
equipment) to aid in the war effort
Support the war efforts in variety of ways
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
World War II
Extension
Collected scrap metal, rubber, burlap, rags and paper
Sold war bonds
Grew victory
gardens (Feed a
Fighter was the
1943 4-H theme)
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
4-Hers sold old phonograph records in order
to buy ambulances for the war effort.
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
4-H Victory Pins
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
WW II Posters
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
A metal
won by a
4-H
member
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Four-H
4-H members across the nation gathered
scrap metal to build ships to transport war
supplies and food to Europe. If members in
a state raised enough funds, they could
name the ship (called liberty ships)
NC 4-H christens two liberty ships – USS
Tyrrell and the USS Cassius Hudson
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
4-H Scrap Drive
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Era III - The Audience
The Farm family was still the primary
audience but city dwellers were encouraged
to have victory gardens and become
engaged in conservation efforts
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Era III – The Methods Used
Mailings, pamphlets, brochures, posters
(mass communication)
Home Demonstration Clubs
4-H Clubs
Meetings
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Era III – The County Personnel
Typically
An Agricultural Agent
A Home Demonstration Agent
Some states hired Assistant Agricultural Agents
and Assistant Home Demonstration Agents—these
folks typically worked with the youth
Working with youth was viewed as part of the career
ladder in extension that would then lead to the agent
becoming a ―real‖ agent
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Era IV (1945-1965)
The Golden Age of Extension
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Era IV – Background Information
For the first time in a long time America
was returning to a period of ―Normalcy‖.
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Era IV - The Name
Cooperative Agricultural Extension Service
- the name was still the same but there was
serious thinking taking place in a number of
states regarding the name.
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Era IV - Goals
Extension was not sure of its Goals now
that things were normal again.
However the major emphasis was still on
production agriculture, homemaking and 4-H.
But the times, they are a changing.
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
The Scope Report - 1958
In 1958 the National Association of State
Universities and Land Grant Colleges
convened a committee to look at future
directions for Extension.
This committee appointed 9 panels to look at
various aspects of extension (Production,
Marketing, Resources, Management, Family,
Youth, Leadership, Community, Public Affairs)
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
The Scope Report - 1958
A Statement of Scope and Responsibility (A
Guide to Extension Programs in the Future)
was the end product of the study group.
This is commonly refereed to as the Scope report
and is recognized as one of the MAJOR
documents in the evolution of extension.
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
The Scope Report
The primary outcome of the report was to
broaden the scope of extension by
emphasizing management, marketing and
public policy. Each task force had specific
suggestions about subject matter, clientele,
methodology, training, and relationships.
Several broad recommendations/
observations were found in the report.
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Selected Scope Report
Recommendations:
There will be new programs which cannot be
handled by traditional methods of staffing and
organization.
There will be programs for new "publics"
There will be programs that cross departmental or
organizational lines
The extension staff of the future will have more
specialized personnel at every level.
Regular training at the post-graduate level will be
expected of virtually all Extension workers.
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Selected Scope Report
Recommendations:
Training must go beyond technical subject matter
for the expanded job of adult education that
Extension must be prepared to do.
Training must be continuous.
Some "re-training" will be needed to give certain
Extension workers new skills or knowledge to
handle specific changes in their job.
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Selected Scope Report
Recommendations:
One goal of every training program must be to get
the individual Extension worker to re-examine and
re-define frequently his own job the scope of his
responsibilities, and relationship to others.
Sound program planning procedures will
strengthen every aspect of Extension work.
Research has been, is, and will continue to be the
basic resource on which all our programs draw.
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Selected Scope Report
Recommendations:
The teaching methods used will need to be
tailored to specific jobs to be done.
All teaching procedures must be
continuously evaluated and improvements
made in light of the evaluations.
In its work with mass media, Extension will
need to maintain a highly competitive level
of professional performance.
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Selected Scope Report
Recommendations:
With the growing complexity of problems
with which it deals, Extension must provide
adequate materials and support for local
leaders.
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Era IV - The Audience
The Farm family is still the primary
audience but we are starting to seriously
look at expanding into other areas.
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Era IV – The Methods Used
Extension Publications
Home Demonstration Clubs
4-H Clubs
Meetings
Farm Demonstrations
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Era IV – The County Personnel
Typically
An Agricultural Agent
A Home Economics Agent (instead of a home
demonstration agent)
4-H Agents are starting to come into their own
Because of advancements in agriculture, there are
state level specialists who assist county level
agents.
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Era V (1965-1985)
The Diversity Era
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Era V – Background Information
The ―Rights‖ movement of the 1960s
affects all of society.
Minorities are making major progress
Women are looking for opportunities outside
the home
The underserved segments (handicapped,
disadvantaged, etc.) of society are receiving
new attentions
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Era V - The Name
Cooperative Extension Service
In many states agriculture is dropped out of the
name to show that extension is much more than
farming (it will not be until 1991 that North
Carolina drops agriculture out of the name)
Home Economics is searching for a name
What once were home demonstration agents,
then home economics agents are now Family
and Consumer Science agents
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Era V – The Name
The name of Home Demonstration Clubs
changes to Extension Homemaker Clubs.
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Era V - Goals
The focus of Extension is broadened to
serve all segments of society, not just farm
families.
The goal is now to deliver research based
knowledge to people to help them live
better
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Era V - The Audience
The farmer is still a core member of the
audience but there is added emphasis on
Small scale farmers (often minorities)
Community Development
Natural Resources/Forestry
Agribusiness
Horticultural Producers and Businesses
Aquaculture
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Era V - The Audience
The Home Demonstration Clubs decline as
women go to work outside the home
There is an emphasis on reaching limited
resource families with nutrition education.
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Era V – The Audience
4-H clubs are established that are topic
focused (horses, photography) instead of
just community based.
4-H clubs are established in urban settings
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Era V – The Methods Used
Extension Publications & Meetings
The traditional methods receive less
emphasis
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Era V – The County Personnel
Typically
An Agricultural Agent but this person has now
become more specialized in a specific area such
as crops, livestock, horticulture, etc.
A Family & Consumer Science Agent
A 4-H Agent
In some locations a Community Development
Agent
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Era V – The County Personnel
The Farm Bill of 1981 provided for the
employment and training of professionals
and paraprofessional
aides to engage in
nutrition education
of low-income
families.
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Era V – Area & State Personnel
In some states, several counties are grouped
together and agents serve a multi-county
area.
There is also a rise in state level extension
specialists who are called on to present
programs and deliver more highly
specialized technical information to the
clients.
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Era VI (1985-Today)
The Issues Era
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Era VI – Background Information
Today Extension is being asked to focus on
issues facing agriculture, the family,
communities and the environment.
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Era VI - The Name
Varies considerably
Texas has gone from the Texas Agricultural
Extension Service to the Texas Cooperative
Extension Service (2001) to the Texas
AgriLife Extension Service (2008).
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Era V – The Name
Many states have dropped the word
―Service‖ to emphasize the dissemination of
information instead of service.
In 2008 the Wyoming Cooperative Extension
Service became the University of Wyoming
Extension.
In 1993 the Cooperative Extension Service in
Michigan became Michigan State University
Extension.
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Era V – The Name
The word ―agent‖ has fallen by the wayside
in several states.
Educators is the preferred name in some states
– Extension Educator
California has Farm Advisors, not agents
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Era VI – The Name
North Carolina Extension Homemakers and the
national Extension Homemakers Association have
a parting of the ways in 1995.
North Carolina changes the name of their
Extension Homemakers Club to Extension &
Community Association (ECA).
Other states still use Extension Homemakers.
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Era VI – Mission NC CES
North Carolina Cooperative Extension
partners with communities to deliver
education and technology that enrich the
lives, land and economy of North
Carolinians.
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Era VI – Goals of NC CES
North Carolinians will be civically engaged within
their communities.
North Carolinians will be prepared for and better
able to recover from disasters and other
emergencies.
The economic, social and environmental welfare
of North Carolinians will be improved through the
generation, conservation and use of clean,
sustainable, efficient and reliable energy.
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Era VI – Goals of NC CES
North Carolina's natural resources and environmental
quality will be protected, conserved and enhanced, and
ecosystem benefits will be optimized.
Adults and children of all ages and abilities will make
healthy food choices and be physically active to achieve or
maintain a healthy weight and prevent chronic disease.
North Carolina residents at all stages of life use effective
parenting and life skills to create stable, safe and secure
environments.
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Era VI – Goals of NC CES
North Carolina will have profitable, environmentally
sustainable plant, animal and food systems that support
thriving communities and provide all North Carolinians
access to safe, nutritious food.
North Carolina will excel in the global marketplace as a
result of growing a competitive workforce and a
diversified economy.
Youth and adults will achieve educational success through
intentional non-formal and formal educational
opportunities that expand and enhance skills and
knowledge.
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Era VI – Programming
Much of what is done is driven by societal
issues
Water quality
Obesity
Financial situation
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Era V - The Audience
Anyone who could benefit from the services
of the Extension Service.
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Era VI – The Methods Used
The Internet (we were the first state to have
an extension web site – 1993)
Meetings
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Era V – The County Personnel
Typically
One or more specialized agricultural agents
A Family & Consumer Science Agent
A 4-H Agent
In a few counties a Community Development Agent
Paraprofessionals (Extension Associates)
Volunteers (Master Gardeners)
There are some multi-county agents in Ag and FCS
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Other Information about
Extension
The Rest of the Story
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
What is meant by Cooperative?
Historically ―cooperative‖ meant the
funding to support the program came from
three sources:
Federal
State
Local
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Funding
18%
42%
15% State
Local
Federal
25%
Other
Funding for Extension in North Carolina - 2007
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Examples of Funding – North Dakota
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
National Trend
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Methods Often Used in Extension
Individual Contact
Farm or Home Visit
Office Visit
Telephone Calls
Personal Correspondence
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Methods Used in Extension
Group Contact
Meetings
Tours and Field Days
Method Demonstrations
Workshops
Teleconferencing
Short Courses
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Methods Used in Extension
Mass Contact
News Stories
Radio
Television
Publications
Exhibits
Internet
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Advisory Leadership System
A system of lay advisory committees are utilized
at the local, district and state level to give
guidance to the extension service.
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/AboutCES/als/
At the local level there may be
an overall advisory committee
program advisory committees (Ag., FCS, etc.)
specialized committees (beef, horse, etc.)
ad hoc committees
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Extension Programming
Extension programming is locally driven
However, there are state and national
priorities to also consider
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Federal Extension Leadership
There are about 175 individuals within
CSREES (Cooperative State Research,
Education, and Extension Service)
within the USDA who
provide federal leadership to
the extension service.
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Federal Extension Leadership
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Leadership in North Carolina
The first extension program in North
Carolina was sponsored by the General
Education Board (a Northern philanthropic
organization) in 1906.
In 1911 a Department of Extension was
established at NCSU.
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Leadership in North Carolina
North Carolina State University
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Johnny Wynne
Dean
Ken Esbenshade Jon Ort Steve Leath
Associate Dean Associate Dean Associate Dean
Resident Instruction Extension Research
Next Slide
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
The Organizational Chart
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/Bar/about/CES-o-
chart.pdf
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
State Organization
Six Extension Districts - each has a director
who reports to Joe Zublena
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
County Level
Each County has a district director
Historically, each county had a (an):
Agricultural Agent
Home Economics Agent (Family and Consumer Sciences)
4-H Agent
Today, many agents are more specialized
(horticulture, livestock, etc.) and may serve a
multi-county area. Today, more than 3 agents are
often found in a county.
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
County Level
There are around 475 county agents in
North Carolina.
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Specialists
Many of the CALS Departments have
extension specialists.
These are faculty members who support the
county agent in a variety
of ways
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
County Agents (nationally)
12000
10000
8000
6000
4000
2000
0
14
18
28
38
48
58
68
78
82
86
89
94
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Specialists (nationally)
6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
14
18
28
38
48
58
68
78
82
86
89
94
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Administrators (nationally)
1000
900
800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
14
18
28
38
48
58
68
78
82
86
89
94
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
A Comparison
12000
10000
8000
Agents
6000 Specialists
Administrators
4000
2000
0
1914
1918
1928
1938
1948
1958
1968
1978
1982
1986
1989
1994
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Professionalism
Epsilon Sigma Phi is the professional
honorary for extension professionals.
At one time you had to be in extension
for 10 years before joining, now it is
3 years
Epsilon Sigma Phi (ESP) is dedicated to fostering
standards of excellence in the Extension System and
developing the Extension profession and professional.
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Professional Organizations
There are different professional
organizations for each type of agent
National Association of County Agricultural
Agents
National Extension Association of Family and
Consumer Sciences
National Association of Extension 4-H Agents.
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
National Association of County Agricultural Agents
Established in 1916
About 5,000 members
The County Agent is the quarterly
magazine
Annual meetings are held in late summer
Mission:
to further the professional improvement of its members,
to further communication and cooperation among all Extension educators,
to provide for enhancement of the image of Extension, and
to further the development of personal growth opportunities for Extension professionals.
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
National Extension Association of Family and
Consumer Sciences
Has existed over 50 years
The Reporter is the magazine
Annual meetings are held in the
fall
The National Extension Association of Family and Consumer
Sciences educates its professionals to empower individuals
and families to make informed decisions.
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
National Association of Extension 4-H Agents
3,200 members
News and Views is the
professional publication
Annual meeting is in the fall
NAE4-HA promotes, strengthens, enhances and
advocates the 4-H youth development profession.
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Agent Preparation
B.S. degree is needed,
Masters preferred
(required in many states)
The degree field of study varies greatly
because needs of the positions vary greatly
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Professional Journal
The Journal of Extension
electronic
variety of articles are published
not widely read by practitioners in the field
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Trends and Issues
Accountability - is extension a wise investment
Image - many people believe extension is
outmoded
Multi-county service area - as agents become
more specialized, they serve more than one county
Downsizing - during budget crisis of late 1980s
(and today), many states made deep cuts
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education