HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 1964.01.17 - 20349$30,000,000.
48,593,000.
36,775,000.
15,536,000.
REPORT OF COOPERATIVE EXTENSION COMMITTEE
STUDY OF EXTENSION SERVICES IN NEW YORK STATE
On September 16 - 19, the Cooperative Extension Committee met with
staff members of Erie, Monroe and Onondaga Counties in New York to
observe how they were housed, financed and administered and to study
their programs.
Our route took us across Ontario to Extension offices in East Aurora,
Rochester and Syracuse, New York.
Those attending were chairman pro tern Fran', Web' er, Louis Demute,
James Carey (Committee Chairman), Alex Solley, Harold Campbell,
Hadley Bachert, and Lyle Abel and Jay Poffenberger (taking the picture)
of the Oakland County Cooperative Extension Service Office.
COMPARISON
County and Budget Information Population Agents on Staff Members
County Seat Total Extension 1960 Agr.IH.E.14-H 4-H I H.E.
Erie (Buffalo)
Monroe
(Rochester)
Onondaga
(Syracuse)
Oakland
(Pontiac)
242,256. 1, 640, 000 6 6 6 3000 5900
2,36,375. 586,000 4 6 4 1671 3000
148,375. 423,000 4 5 3 1800 3040
34,2.13. 687,000 2 2 2 1400 1450
VIEWS OF EXTENSION SERVICE OFFICES IN W YORK STATE
The Erie County staff at East Aurora are housed in the administration
building which was formerly a part of the Roycrofters, Elbert Hubbards
famed organization. The building has four floors of offices, laboratories
and meeting rooms devoted to the work of the Extension Service excepting
basement space rented to U.S.D. A. Agencies. Staff has eighteen agents
and ten secretaries.
Monroe farri and horne center wz,
being enlarged by the addition of 7
new auditorium designed to seat
400 people. Directory picture
lists the rooms.
Notes co...,erning the New York offices NA, ;II we visited
ORGANIZATION
Work of the Cooperative Extension Service in New York State until
about a decade ago was locally under the control and sponsorship of the
Farm Bureau. Federal rulings forced them to separate from the Bureau
and they formed associations of their own. These associations consist of
members who pay annual dues into the organization and receive the regular
and continuing services of the Extension office. Non-members are serviced
also. Dues in the associations vary from $5.00 for farms and businesses to
$1.00 or slightly more for women's association. The 4-H association does
not have dues. A Board of Directors includes members elected by the three
associations (Agriculture, 4-H and Home Economics) and a member of the
Board of Supervisors. This Board performs the functions of the Cooperative
Extension Service Committee in Oakland County.
ERIE COUNTY
The main offices of the Extension Service in Erie County is located
in East Aurora - about twenty miles from the county seat in the City of
Buffalo. Home Economics and 4-H have offices in the City of Buffalo also.
The county budget is roughly $30 million. Extension budget $200,000.
MONROE COUNTY
The Extension offices in Rochester, Monroe County, were the most
modern and complete of any of the counties we visited. Adequate space was
provided for laboratories, meeting rooms and offices. The program being
carried on seemed similar to that of Oakland County. The budget was simi-
lar to that of Erie County.
ONONDAGA COUNTY
Syracuse, Onondaga County Seat, housed their agents in thr e e
separated quarters. 4-H and Agriculture Agents were on the fourth floor
of the post office building. Home Economics was in rented quarters on two
complete floors of a commercial building two blocks away. Three interest-
ing programs being carried on there were: (1) An agreement with two
adjoining counties to share the service of agents who worked across county
lines serving specialized groups (Cayuga--Agronomy and Livestock; Onon-
daga--Poultry and Commercial Horticulture; Oswego--Fruit and Vegetable).
(2) A program promoted by Syracuse's mayor to attempt to curb delinquency
using combined action by 4-H and other youth organizations working together.
(3) A federally instituted program using the facilities of the 4-H agents to
develop a program to reduce the number of school dropouts.
The trip proved to be very enlightening and we were much impressed
by the amount of local support given the agency, the larger number of agents
working in those counties and the very adequate housing and equipment which
was furnished them.
Cooperative Extension Service Committee
James F. Carey, Chairman Harold Campbell
Hadley Bachert Louis Demute
Alex R. Solley LA/da