AEE 501 Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
image of extension agent 
The Cooperative Extension Service
  • The Mission 
  • The Methods 
  • The Audience 
  • Programming 
  • Issues and Trends 
  • National Leadership 
  • State Organization and Administration 
  • Professionalism
Introduction: The television show "Green Acres" had a character named Mr. Kimball. He was the county agent. He was portrayed as an incompetent nincompoop. Readers Digest has identified the Cooperative Extension Service as one of America's 10 least needed government programs.  Unfortunately, both of these views are based on a 1940's era perception of extension. Today, extension is dramatically different. In this lesson we will focus on extension today and see what the reality is.

 
Lesson Objectives:
At the completion of the lesson you should be able to:
Describe modern day extension.
Identify the state leadership structure for extension.
Discuss the evolution of the extension service..

 
Learning Activities:
Take the Extension Today  pre-test to see how much you need to learn.
You should be able to learn more ABOUT COOPERATIVE EXTENSION by visiting the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service web site. Be and sure to examine the mission, vision and organizational chart.
In case you missed it on the previous site, peruse the history of the NC Cooperative Extension Service.This is really not much on history but more on what extension is all about.
Read Donna Graham's article from the Encylopedia of Agricutural Sciences (1994) titled  "Cooperative Extension System." 
We all know the Smith-Lever Act provided federal funds to support extension work. The Smith-Lever Act has been amended and consolidated a number of times. Read the original version of the Smith-Lever Act of 1914 and the latest edition of the Smith-Lever Act. Look carefully to see if you can identify changes from the original act.
Who provides funding for Extension? How has the federal share changed over the years? Study this USDA document to find out. Also be and sure to examine the trends in the numbers of people employed in extension.
Extension professionals should be familiar with the Journal of Extension. After exploring this site, read Norland's article "Extension is Not Just Service" in the Winter 1990 issue.
"Extension: Unchanging, but Changing" by C. Brice Ratchford appeared in The Journal of Extension.  Pay specific attention to the last two reports.
Look at the organizational chart of the NC CES.
Explore the USDA CSREES web site to learn more about the federal partner in the Extension Service.
How does your state compare with others in the number of people employed in Extension?
What is Extension thinking about doing to handle the decling federal support for extension? This article in the Fruit Growers News reports on these ideas.
Which type of extension agent (agriculture, FCS, 4-H or Community Development) are found in the largest numbers? The smallest numbers? Check out this document http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/aib781/aib781.pdf to see what the numbers are.
Many extension professionals belong to Epsilon Sigma Phi.Visit this site to learn more about the organization.
Most extension agents belong to the  National Association of County Agricultural Agents, the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, or the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents.
View the PowerPoint Presentation on the Cooperative Extension Service.

 
Assignments:
Complete the Extension worksheet.(this is a word file)

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