History of Cooperative Extension

History of Cooperative Extension

Established in 1918, the Cooperative Extension System is a national educational network designed to extend technical expertise and research findings to help people improve their lives, homes, families, farms, businesses, and communities. Today, the Cooperative Extension System is the largest, most successful informal educational organization in the world.

In New York State, Extension programs are funded and guided by a partnership of federal, state, and county governments and administered by Cornell University, New York State's Land Grant University. The educational programs are supported and expanded by thousands of volunteers and community leaders. Cornell Cooperative Extension operates on the Cornell campus through the leadership of faculty and staff in departments in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Human Ecology, with contributions from the College of Veterinary Medicine.

For a more detailed history of Cooperative Extension and its early history in New York, please visit: http://www.cce.cornell.edu/about_extension/document/pdf/bod/CCEHistory.pdf
Or, to watch a video on the history of the Cooperative Extension System and its early roots in New York State, click here. History of Cornell Cooperative Extension Video

Mission

Using the research based information of the land grant university system in collaboration with local resources, the mission of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Washington County is to put knowledge to work by enhancing the positive development of individuals, families and communities.

Find out more about beautiful Washington County on the County Home Page maintained by the Washington County Information and Tourism Office.