Education in Action A Story of Commitment, Challenge, and Change Connecticut Cooperative Extension System, University of Connecticut 1960-2008 Nancy H. Bull Anne H. Rideout Nancy P. Weiss Nancy H. Bull is Vice Provost for Nancy P. Weiss served as the first Academic Administration. She is female assistant director of 4-H and a professor in the Department of youth programs and Connecticut Extension, and served as the associate state 4-H leader until 1987, and as the director for the Connecticut Cooperative Director of Development and Alumni Extension System and associate dean in Relations for the College of Agriculture the College of Agriculture and Natural and Natural Resources until her Resources from 1995-2008. retirement in 2003. Anne H. Rideout is Professor Emeritus, Hadley W. Rosen is a 2002 Resource College of Agriculture and Natural Economics graduate. She is a Program Resources, University of Connecticut. Assistant for the Department of She served as Associate Director of the Agricultural and Resource Economics. Cooperative Extension System from 1978 until her retirement in 1992. Copyright © 2011 University of Connecticut, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Cooperative Extension System, Storrs, CT Cover design by Dean Batteson Book design by Dean Batteson and Hadley Rosen All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without express written permission of one of the authors. The photographs in this book have been generously provided by the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Connecticut 4-H, and Extension faculty and staff. Disclaimers Every effort has been made to ensure that this record is accurate. Personnel titles used in this document are the titles that were appropriate at the time of the occurrence being reported. Language used in the text is the language used in source documents. Dates provided in parentheses are the start and end date of employment for that employee. We believe that some employment files may have resided with the county Farm Bureau office and thus were unavailable for our use. First Printing: ISBN Education in Action: A Story of Commitment, Challenge, and Change Connecticut Cooperative Extension System University of Connecticut 1960–2008 By Nancy H. Bull, Anne H. Rideout, Nancy P. Weiss Edited by Hadley Rosen This history of the Connecticut Cooperative Extension System is dedicated to all of the University of Connecticut employees and volunteers, both past and present, who believed in people, their hopes, and aspirations; to the people of the state who had faith in the land-grant philosophy of life-long learning, self-determination, and leadership; to the University administration that believed in the role of the public institution and the engagement of the people of Connecticut with the institution; and to the public and private organizations whose engagement, participation, financial support, and advice contributed to Extension’s success throughout our history. This book is dedicated to all who forfeited private gain to work together for the public good of the state, nation, and world. Table of Contents x Greetings from the Dean and Director Emeritus, Kirklyn M. Kerr xi Greetings from the Dean and Director, Gregory J. Weidemann xii Foreword: Cooperative Extension in the Twenty-First Century xvi Prologue xix Introduction: Setting the Stage for Our Future xix Formative Years xxii Mission and Purpose xxiii Volunteers-The Multiplier Effect xxiv Farm Bill Overview 1 Chapter 1: Prior To 1960: Building the Foundation 1 In the Beginning 3 State and Local Organizational Support 6 Funding Partnerships 8 The Early Extension Agent 10 Early Community Development Efforts 12 Homemaker Programs 15 Short Courses 16 Immigrant Producers Change Connecticut Agriculture 17 Reaching Audiences by Media 21 Volunteers Expand Programs 21 4-H Youth Development Programs 28 College Honorary Recognition 31 Chapter 2: The Sixties: Social Unrest–A Time for Redirection 31 Setting the Stage 32 Sweeping Changes for Home Economics: Food and Nutrition Education Program 35 Consumer Education 36 Production Agriculture: Extension Agronomy, Soil Nutrient Testing Laboratory now known as Soil Nutrient Analysis Laboratory, Consumer Horticulture, Dairy Science Programs, Equine Extension Programs, Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (CVMDL) 46 Natural Resources and Environment: International Development Projects, Agricultural Engineering, Community Resource Development: Land Use Education, Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials (NEMO) 53 4-H Youth Development Program 56 Administrative Changes: Babbidge Committee Studies University Outreach, Media Expands Visibility, Staffing Patterns Change, Federal Formula Funds Change, Official Mail System 65 Chapter 3: The Seventies: Settling In– A Time of Social Healing 66 Emerging Electronic Technologies 67 Home Economics: Nutrition and Food Safety, Family Life Education, Financial Literacy 69 Production Agriculture: Pesticide Applicator Training (PAT), Integrated Pest Management (IPM), New England Greenhouse Conference and Expo, New England Vegetable Growers Convention, Small Farm Focus, Master Gardener Program, Marine Advisory Service Leads to Sea Grant Extension Program 77 Land Use, Renewable Resources, and Environmental Education: Forest Land Owner Education, Urban and Community Forestry, Energy Extension Service (EES) 81 4-H Youth Development: 4-H Urban Gardening, Talking Bicycle Safety Program, The 4-H Center at Auer Farm and The 4-H Development Fund, State 4-H Leaders Conference 88 Administrative Changes 93 Chapter 4: The Eighties: A Decade of Growth and Reflection 93 Home Economics: Consumer and Financial Literacy Education, Housing Issues 96 Agriculture: Urban Gardening, Farm-City Event 98 4-H Youth Development Programs: Gardening, Double Dutch, Bearksley Zoo 4-H Club 101 Multidisciplinary, Issue-based, and Regional Programs: Avian influenza (AI), Water Quality, The Coverts Project, Family Community Leadership (FCL), Environmental Health and Outreach and Education, New England Institute for Extension Education (NEIEE), New England Extension Consortium, New England Rural Leadership (NERL), Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) 110 Administration: Electronic Communications, Federal and State Changes, Volunteers Support Programs, Program Reviews and Plans 121 Chapter 5: The Nineties: The Start of a New Era 121 Moving Into the Future 122 Home Economics: Parent Education, Parenting Apart: Strategies for Co-Parenting, Master Teacher Leads to People Empowering People (PEP), Identity Theft Programming, Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) for Food Safety 127 Agriculture: Sustainable Agriculture, Perennial Plant and Garden Conferences 129 Environment: Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials (NEMO), Geospatial Technology Program (GTP), Green Valley Institute (GVI) 132 4-H Youth Development: Teen Leadership Conference, National 4-H Congress, Youth-at-Risk to New Communities 4-H Projects, Respect and Integrity Through Skills and Education (R.I.S.E.), Youth Entrepreneur Programs, 4-H SPACES, 4-H LIFT (Learning, Interaction, Friends, and Talents), 4-H Staffing Patterns 138 Administration: Organization Structure, Extension Councils 141 Emerging Technology Innovation 143 Communications in the Nineties: Biweekly Extension Briefs, CANR Journal, The Extension Express Newsletter, Extension Bulletin, State 4-H Newsletter 146 Role of Private Fundraising 149 Chapter 6: 2000 and Beyond: Creating the Future 151 Strategic Planning 151 Environment: Beetle Farmers for Purple Loosestrife Biological Control, Get the Lead Out, Plant Diagnostic Laboratory, Sustainable Landscape, Rainwater Gardens, Turf Programs, Center for Land Use Education and Research (CLEAR), Natural Resources, Sustainable Living 160 Agriculture: Reading the Farm, Women in Agriculture Network, Equine Herpes Outbreak, Changing Farm Labor Population, Poultry Industry, Avian Influenza (AI) Reappears, Niche Markets, USDA Risk Management Program, Income Tax School, The Dairy Industry, Nutrient Management Planning, Plant Database, Pesticide Safety Education Program 168 Family and Consumer Sciences: Nutrition Education, Food Stamp Nutrition Education (FSNE) Program, Consumer and Financial Literacy, Child Care 172 4-H Youth Development: 4-H Volunteer Conference, National 4-H Hall of Fame 175 Connecticut Small Business Development Center (CSBDC) 176 Administration: Volunteer Roles Evolve, Department of Extension, Scholarship in Extension, Leaders’ Forum-Engaging Stakeholders, Charles and Augustus Storrs Award, Diversity in Extension, Department of Allied Health Sciences 181 Mass Media: eXtension, CPTV Vignettes, Working the Land Video 185 Appendices 185 A: University of Connecticut College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and Cooperative Extension System Administration 186 College Leadership (1939—2008) 187 Cooperative Extension Leadership (1913—2008) 188 B: Cooperative Extension System (CES) Facilities 188 State Extension Office 189 Fairfield County 190 Hartford County 191 Litchfield County 192 Middlesex County 193 New Haven County 194 New London County 195 Tolland County 196 Windham County 197 C: 4-H Camps and Foundations, Fairs, and International 4-H Programs 197 4-H Camps and Foundations in Connecticut: Hartford County 4-H Camp, Litchfield County 4-H Foundation, Middlesex County Camp Foundation, New London County 4-H Foundation, Windham- Tolland 4-H Camp 206 The 4-H Fair Experiences: Fairfield County, Hartford County, Litchfield County, New Haven County- Middlesex