A Brief History of Cooperative Extension in Wisconsin

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A Brief History of Cooperative Extension in
Wisconsin
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1862 The Morrill Act

• Established Land Grant Colleges
• WI received 240,000 acres of public land
• Sold land to establish a college with land
  grant mission.
• Give the industrial classes a practical
  education
• WI finalist universities
• Ripon College, Lawrence University, and UW

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Extension Grew from the University

• Agricultural Experiment Stations
• 1883 state funding for first AES to investigate
  a new innovation called a silo.
• 1909 AES established in Spooner, WI
• Farmers Institutes offered around WI
• Some early college initiatives
• Babcock butterfat test
• Eliminate bovine TB
• Discovery of dicumarol
• Moving WI from wheat to dairy

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Agricultural Trains
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1904 Farmers Course in Agriculture

• Weeklong course in agricultural training.
• Free to state residents
• 1905 Housekeepers Conference added
• Residents in Madison provided housing.

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Early Youth Education Activity

• Corn Growing Clubs for agricultural youth were
  the precursor of the 4-H program.
• Seed provided by UW to fair secretaries
• The 4-H emblem was developed for boys and girls
  clubs in 1911.
• Clubs were formed around a variety of
  agricultural projects.

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1908 State Funding for AES

• Legislature appropriated 30,000 annually to
  operate an agricultural extension service in
  Wisconsin.
• First state to take such action
• Soon after, in 1912, the Wisconsin Idea was
  born in a book written by Charles McCarthy.
• The boundaries of the UW campus are the
  boundaries of the state.

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1912 The first County Agent

• E. L. Luther Wisconsins first county agent
  (Oneida County)
• Expenses shared by county and state.

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1914 The Smith Lever Act

• USDA provides support for extension functions at
  the land grant institutions.
• This was the beginning of the 3-way partnership
  of county, state, and federal governments.
• Extension purpose to aid in diffusing among
  the people....useful and practical information on
  subjects relating to agriculture and home
  economics, and to encourage the application of
  the same.
• Perhaps as important The SLA directed that
  those who were served should be involved in
  deciding what should be done.

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1915-1930

• WWI War Initiatives to produce more food.
• Further expansion of focus from just farming to
  rural life.
• 4-H Clubs expanded during WWI.
• Extension home economists hired, and programs
  grew.
• Homemaker clubs started

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Great Depression

• Funding issues put an end to some positions and
  the 48 year old Farmers Institutes.
• The depression spawned new programs in food
  quality and farm management (record keeping).
• Extension was always in a disaster management
  mode.
• Beginning of federal farm programs (New Deal)
• Extension aided in the formation of rural
  electric cooperatives.
• Number of county home agents increased during
  1930s as did the number of 4-H clubs.
• Extension began hiring county 4-H agents.
• Reforestation of the Wisconsin landscape made a
  priority.

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Learning to make a mattress in 1939.
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World War II

• From 1941 to 1945, WI extension staff doubled.
• Agricultural initiatives
• Finding farm help Mexican-American migrants,
  Jamaicans
• Dairy farm modernization milk houses, lighting,
  ventilation,
• Ag prices soared during the war and mortgages
  were paid off.
• 1700 Extension Homemaker Clubs with 29,000
  members.
• Family health and food/nutrition programs were
  high priorities.
• 4-H club membership in WI reached 30,000 in 1945
• Victory gardens, food production, and leadership
  development camps.

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1945-1960

• Boom years for farm mechanization and innovation.
• Electricity for all rural residents
• From 30 bu/acre corn to 100 bu/acre
• Both 4-H and Home Economic extension programs
  continued to grow.

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1960-1975

• A period of expanded programs
• Extension moved into the cities to reach urban
  audiences
• Poverty programs
• Horticulture as a mainstream program component
• 4-H projects added that stretched farther from
  traditional agriculture and home economic topics.
• Home economics term replaced with family
  living
• Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program
  created at federal level but administered by
  county extension offices.
• Increased emphasis on resource management
  education.
• A period of reorganization

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1975-2000

• The beginning and refinement of what UW-Extension
  looks like today.
• Although basic mission and many traditional
  programs remained, new initiatives were added
• Environmental concerns
• Public policy issues
• Youth development and risk issues
• Community development / Small business counseling
• Trying to do more with less
• Specialization at the county level / Trading
  expertise
• Formation of community and statewide partnerships
• Leveraging grant money

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Ninety years have passed since the Smith Lever
Act was enacted

• Our foundation remains
• University research-based information.
• Letting the people who are served have a say in
  what is taught or researched.
• Expanding the boundary of the university to the
  boundaries of the state.
• Taking education....not regulation to people and
  businesses.

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Today
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Family LivingFamily Living Programs respond to
community needs with research-based education and
partnerships that support Wisconsin families and
communities.10 Teams

• Affordable Housing
• Building Community Connections with Families
• Eating Well and Being Active
• Family Caregiving
• Family Financial Education
• Parenting Education
• Poverty and Food Insecurity
• Consumer Health Education
• Family Stress and transition
• Developing Multicultural Understanding

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Community, Natural Resource and Economic
DevelopmentCNRED is Wisconsins educational
Network serving people and their communities in
seeking positive change13 Teams

• Community Planning and Plan Implementation Team
• Forestry
• Groundwater
• Local Government and Finance
• Organizational Development
• Tourism Research, Planning and Development
• Aquatic Invasives
• Community and Economic Development Preparedness
• Community-Based Leadership Program
• Downtowns and Business Districts Revitalization
• Energy Education
• Political Effectiveness
• Stormwater

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Agriculture and Natural ResourcesTeams of
UW-faculty and representatives from organizations
and agricultural industries develop, design, and
evaluate educational programs that are
research-based and linked to local needs.12 Teams

• Dairy
• Farm and Risk Management
• Forage
• Commercial Vegetable Crops and Fresh Market
• Grains
• Land Use and Agriculture
• Livestock
• Nutrient Management
• Urban Ag/Horticulture
• Emerging Agricultural Markets
• Food Industry Research, Service and Training
• Fruit Crops

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4-H and Youth Development4-H Youth Development
give young people opportunities to learn new
skills, gain self-confidence and contribute to
their communities.7 Teams

• Building 4-H After-School Programs
• Strengthening 4-H Club Leadership
• Developing Multicultural Understanding
• Helping Youth Understand Agriculture Issues
• Strengthening Community for Positive Youth
  Development
• Volunteer Monitoring
• Youth Voices in Community
• Action and Governance

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How Were Structured
University of Wisconsin System