History
In 1903 Sioux County farmers and Iowa State College established the basis for cooperative extension work. In 1904 the Keokuk County Boys and Girls Clubs organized and began the Iowa 4-H and extension youth work. All universities engage in research and teaching but they have a third mission - Extension. This means that they "reach out" with many programs, land-grant institutions "extend" their resources, solving public needs with college or university resources through non-formal, non-credit programs. These programs are administed through county and regional Extension offices, which brings land-grant expertise to the local levels. Almost a century ago, the Congress created the extension system which addresses exclusively rural, agricultural issues. Our workforce is maintained approximately 30 percent and was engaged in farming in rural America. This help from the Extension, the American agricultural revolution increased farm productivity:
In 1945, it took up to 14 labor - hours to produce 100 bushels of corn on 2 acres of land.
By 1987, it took just under 3 labor - hours to produce that same 100 bushels of corn on just over 1 acre.
In 2002, that same 100 bushels of corn were produced on less than 1 acre.
This increase in productivity has made it possible for fewer farmers to produce more food.
Today, only 17 percent of Americans now live in rural areas. The Extension still plays an important role in our rural, urban and suburban lives. The Extension service with their agents, help farmers grow crops, homeowners plan and maintain their homes, and children to learn skills to become tomorrow's leaders. It has also responded to information technology changes in America by developing a national Web presence.
Today the extension works in six major areas:
4-H Youth Development
Agriculture
Leadership Development
Natural Resources
Family and Consumer Sciences
Community and Economic Development
Through these areas of development, the Extension helps with at-risk youth to participate in school retention and enrichment programs with many after school programs. It helps in agriculture with research and eductional programs for improving marketing strategies and management skills by helping farmers and ranchers improve productivitiy through resource management, controlling crop pests, soil testing, livestock production practices, and marketing. The Extension helps train professionals and volunteers with 4-H youth development and leadership roles in each community. It also teaches us by using programs in water quality, recycling, lawn management, timber management, and composting. The Extension also helps local governments create viable options for economic and community development.
The Extension, even though it has recently declined by consolidating into regiional extension centers, there is still approximately 2,900 Extension offices nationwide. though the extension serves a growing, increasingly diverse constituency with fewer and fewer resources. They have progressed to using the internet where they can offer information with round-the-clock access to trustworthy information with a specialized information on a wide range of topics.
Our Extension office has been in Worth County since 1913 and through the years the people of Worth County has benefited many times over to the knowledge of various County Agents and Iowa State University.
In 1945, it took up to 14 labor - hours to produce 100 bushels of corn on 2 acres of land.
By 1987, it took just under 3 labor - hours to produce that same 100 bushels of corn on just over 1 acre.
In 2002, that same 100 bushels of corn were produced on less than 1 acre.
This increase in productivity has made it possible for fewer farmers to produce more food.
Today, only 17 percent of Americans now live in rural areas. The Extension still plays an important role in our rural, urban and suburban lives. The Extension service with their agents, help farmers grow crops, homeowners plan and maintain their homes, and children to learn skills to become tomorrow's leaders. It has also responded to information technology changes in America by developing a national Web presence.
Today the extension works in six major areas:
4-H Youth Development
Agriculture
Leadership Development
Natural Resources
Family and Consumer Sciences
Community and Economic Development
Through these areas of development, the Extension helps with at-risk youth to participate in school retention and enrichment programs with many after school programs. It helps in agriculture with research and eductional programs for improving marketing strategies and management skills by helping farmers and ranchers improve productivitiy through resource management, controlling crop pests, soil testing, livestock production practices, and marketing. The Extension helps train professionals and volunteers with 4-H youth development and leadership roles in each community. It also teaches us by using programs in water quality, recycling, lawn management, timber management, and composting. The Extension also helps local governments create viable options for economic and community development.
The Extension, even though it has recently declined by consolidating into regiional extension centers, there is still approximately 2,900 Extension offices nationwide. though the extension serves a growing, increasingly diverse constituency with fewer and fewer resources. They have progressed to using the internet where they can offer information with round-the-clock access to trustworthy information with a specialized information on a wide range of topics.
Our Extension office has been in Worth County since 1913 and through the years the people of Worth County has benefited many times over to the knowledge of various County Agents and Iowa State University.
County AgentsH.T. Williams (3/11/1918 to 10/15/1918)
E.M. Torblaa (10/16/1918 to 11/30/1919) Knute Bjorka (12/01/1919 to 09/30/1921) Byron Lodwick (10/15/1921 to 03/01/1925) Theodore Uehling (03/15/1925 to 04/01/1926) E.E. Isaacs (04/01/1926 to 06/30/1926) W.F. Watkins (07/01/1926 to 10/01/1929) Joseph T. Paulson (10/01/1929 to 06/30/1930) R.T. Nelson (06/30/1930 to 1942) Bill St. Clair (1942 to 05/31/1964) Neil Bulman (06/01/1964 to 06/1969) Gene McBride (08/1969 to 11/1971) Jim Kuhlman (02/15/1972 to 04/01/0981) Dennis Johnson (06/15/1981 to present) Office Assistants1921 - Ida Hanson
1927 - Myrtle Ausenhus |
Home Demonstration Agents1926 - 1928 Miss Merle Ramer
1929 - 1930 Fern Brown Ausenhus 1931 - 1934 Bertha VanderKraan 1935 - 1936 Winifred L Macamber 1937 - 1941 Elizabeth Needham 1942 - 1944 Lucille Buchanan 1948 Mildred Bailey 1949 - 1950 Betty Hustad 1954 - 1986 Florence Ferden 1921 Farm Bureau OfficersPresident O.K. Storre
Vice President G.J. Mueller Treasurer A. O. Rye Secretary Carl T Rone |