—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, Dec. 13, 1975
48
Women ag agent
honored in Maryland
In early spring of IM4 the late Dr. Thomas B. Symons,
first director of the University of Maryland's Cooperative
Extension Service, approved the hiring of two young
women as assistant agricultural agents Ln Howard and
Talbot counties
This action helped to fill the void of qualified young men
brought on by military and other manpower requirements
of U.S. participation in World War 11. It represented the
first breakthrough in the Old Line State for women in a job
area traditionally reserved for men.
And despite the favorable reputation which still lingers
in central Maryland and Eastern Shore agricultural
circles concerning these two women, the precedent which
they established has not been repeated in Maryland, save
for two female Extension horticulture agents who served
in Prince Georges and Montgomery counties from March
1972 through September 1975 a full generation later.
The two women pioneering agricultural agents in
Maryland still live in the counties where they served.
They are Mrs. Beatrice S.C Pfefferkom, who resides
near Cooksville, east of West Friendship (Howard
county), and Mrs Robert M (Joan) Messick of Easton
(Talbot county).
Mrs. Pfefferkom was known as Mrs. Edwin (Beatrice)
Cissel during her years of service from March 6,1944, to
June 30,1949, as an assistant agricultural Extension agent
in Howard county. A native of the county, her maiden
name was Beatrice Streaker.
Mrs. Pfefferkom’s Talbot county counterpart was
known by her maiden name, Joan V. Somers, during her
years as a professional Extension worker on the
Eastern Shore. During her short tenure, the former Miss
Somers established a favorable reputation as coach of 4-H
livestock judging teams. She is a native of Pennsylvania.
According to official records, Mrs. Pfefferkom
precedes Mrs. Messick by about one month as the first
female assistant county agricultural Extension agent in
Maryland. Whether she was the first woman in the U.S. to
hold such a title has not been definitely established.
The over-all claim to being the first female agricultural
Extension worker in the nation apparently belongs to Cora
Cooke of St. Paul, Minn. Ms. Cooke served as an associate
professor of poultry science at the University of Min
nesota and Extension poultry specialist in the North Star
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One former federal auditor for the Extension Service In
the U.S, Department of Agriculture recently reported a
hazy recollection of a woman working both as an Ex
tension home economist (formerly called home demon
stration agent) and an agricultural agent In Puerto Rico
during the 1930 s or 19405. But this fact has not been con
firmed.
Some ISO persons in attendance at last month's tenth
annual Maryland Agricultural Forum, held Nov. 6 on the
University of Maryland campus at College Park, were
reminded of the World War II era service of the state’s
two pioneering female agricultural Extension workers.
One of them, Mrs. Beatrice Pfefferkom of West
Friendship (Howard county), was this year’s female
recipient of the annual Certificate of Merit Awards in
Agriculture
York Hort
The York County Hor
ticulture Club met recently
at the 4-H Center with a
workshop on making apple
dolls. The American and 4-H
pledges were led by Nancy
Eisenhart and James Roth
respectfully. A report was
given on the recent 4-H
auction. Officers will remain
the same for the coming year
since this is a newly formed
club and they have not
served a full term. They are
as follows: President -
Bonnie Wire, Vice Pres. -
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Visitors counted
Results of the recent family from Florid* who
Farm-City Weekend, stopped in to look around,
sponsored by the Chester- Most farms averaged 175-
Dclawarc County Farmers' 225 visitors for the weekend
Association, have been event, although one had a
tallied by this year’s total of 356 and still another
chairman, L-rry Wilkinson, had an aU thime high of 536
Approximately 5,000 visitors visitors
came out to sec the 24 places
which were open. Many j n ch ica g oi for example,
visitors came from the 30 pcr Q f the dec
suburban Delaware County tncity is generated by nu
arc as well as, the adjoining clear power In the Boston
state of Delaware. One farm area, that figure dimbs to
even reported a visiting more than 30 per c it
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