Extension Service Doing Lot Of ‘Moving, Shaking’
ANDY ANDREWS
Lancaster Farming Staff
EXTON (Chester Co.)
Extension Service looks a lot diffe
rent these days in Pennsylvania
than it does in Massachusetts.
In 1994, the “bottom fell out” at
the Massachusetts Cooperative
Extension Service, according to
Gary San Julian, regional director
of Penn State Cooperative Exten
sion Southeast Region, leaving
two counties that have extension
agents with a staff of only 11.
Meanwhile, Penn State has been
retooling and redireedng the focus
and reach of extension, moving
from four regions in the state to
eight, going in “new directions,”
according to Dr. Robert D. Steele,
dean of the Penn State College of
Agricultural Sciences.
Steele spoke to about2ooexten
sion members and friends on Mon
day evening at the Chester County
Cooperative Extension’s annual
meeting at J & J Caterers, Exton.
Steele, who has been dean of the college
since July this year, received his doctorate
from the University of Wisconsin in Madison,
Wis.
At the banquet, Steele reviewed the history
and evolving philosophy of the land grant
tradition since it began in 1862, asking those
who attended, “Is this the same system we
want to carry us on into the next century?”
As issues evolve, the extension service
must adapt accordingly. In the 1860 s, Steele
said, “educating the public was the key to fac
ing issues and solving problems." The Hatch
Act of 1887 allowed money to flow from
Washington to Pennsylvania and other states
to come up with ways to solve problems in
agriculture. In 1914, legislation was passed to
create a system where that knowledge could
be passed readily to the general public.
However, fewer people dun ever before
remain active in farming. “Many feel (Exten
sion) is no longer important... (that we)
don’t need the Extension Service anymore,”
said Steele.
However, Penn State believes that the
rewards that Extension Service can provide
will be “great into the next century.”
Penn State believes in reaffirmation of the
mission of the land grand commitment—“to
bring the full resources o&the university to
bear on issues we’ll be facing today,” not just
one segment of the college, such as the Col
lege of -Ag or Cooperative Extension.
To do so, the original four regions have
been carved into eight separate regions, with
new directions and primary activities. Steele
noted that the university has redirected itself
to open windows to other resources of the uni
versity, including the school of medicine,
engineering, and others.
Penn State at University Park now boasts
an enrollment of 40,000 students. The focus
in the next several years will be to “build addi
tional enrollment on different campuses,”
noted Steele.
The beauty of the system continues, noted
Steele, when he indicated that for the past 135
years, the land-giant system working with the
university has educated people, educated stu
dents. and “trained tomorrow’s leaders,” he
said. As the country’s population grows, Penn
State will work to address new issues.
“How are we going to do it?” he said.
“We’re going to generate new knowledge."
Steele said the college will allow people to
“create and discover the technologies of
tomorrow to handle these issues.
“There will be a lot of moving and shaking
going on at University Park,” he said. “We
think we’re moving in the right direction.”
Several extension agents were honored at
the banquet Lou Middleton, extension agent
horticulture, was honored for her work with
growers and master gardeners in the county.
Toni M. Stuetz, extension agent/youth, was
honored for her work on 125 different youth
projects. Betty Lou Lusky, staff assistant was
Banquet Honors Extension Friends, Famil;
Penn State has been going in “new directions,” accord*
ing to Or. Robert D. Steele, dean of the Penn State College of
Agricultural Sciences, tar right, who spoke at the Chester
County annual banquet. From left, Judy Ann Yeatman, new
board member; Gary San Julian, regional director, Penn
State southeast region; Gary Smith, president of the county
extension board of directors; and Steele.
* * *
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Several extension agents were honored at the banquet.
From left, Anna Mae Hughes, EFNEP staff, was honored for
her work In helping people make more nutritious choices
for themselves and their children. Betty Lou Lusky, staff
assistant, was honored with her work In programs In
cooperative support Lou Middleton, extension agent, hor
ticulture, was honored for her work with growers and mas
ter gardeners In the county. Toni M. Stuetz, extension
agent/youth, was honored for her work on 125 different
youth projects.
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