Alabama Cooperative Extension System

In 1995, the Alabama Cooperative Extension System became the nation's first unified Extension program, combining the resources of the 1862 and 1890 land-grant institutions. The catalyst was a landmark federal court ruling, known as Knight vs. Alabama, handed down by Judge Harold Murphy.[http://www.decaturdaily.com/decaturdaily/news/061214/case.shtml "Judge ends desegregation case," Decatur Daily, Dec. 14, 2006.] Under its terms, the Extension programs and other land-grant university functions of Alabama A&M, Auburn, and Tuskegee universities were combined and served as cooperative partners within this unified system.

Image:Dawson-bldg.jpgThis combined effort is headed by a director appointed by the presidents of Alabama A&M and Auburn universities. The Extension director serves as the organization's chief executive officer and maintains offices at both campuses.

Judge Murphy called for an expanded and updated Cooperative Extension mission that continued to address traditional programming needs and was better equipped to respond to the needs of a population that had become more urbanized and racially and ethnically diverse. In addition to providing for an associate director for Rural and Traditional Programs, who would be housed at Auburn University, Judge Murphy also mandated that an associate director of Urban and New Nontraditional Programs be employed and housed at Alabama A&M University. Judge Murphy also mandated that an associate director of Urban and New Nontraditional Programs be employed and housed at Alabama A&M University. This new associate director, Murphy stated, would be “expected to open new areas of Extension work and expand the outreach of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System to more fully serve all the people of Alabama.”"The Unification of the Alabama Land-Grant System: Unification of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System and the Creation of an Associate Director of Urban Affairs and New Nontraditional Programs", Hon. Harold L. Murphy, US District Court, Northern District of Georgia.

• J. F. Duggar, 1914-1920
• Luther N. Duncan, 1920-1937
• P. O. Davis, 1937-1959
• E. T. York, 1959-1961
• Fred R. Robertson, 1961-1971
• Ralph R. Jones, 1971-1974
• W. H. Taylor (Acting), 1974-1975
• J. Michael Sprott, 1975-1983
• Ray Cavender (Acting), 1983-1984
• Ann E. Thompson, 1984-1994
• W. Gaines Smith (Interim), 1994-1997
• Stephen B. Jones, 1997-2001
• W. Gaines Smith, 2001-2011
• Gary Lemme, 2011–2021
• Mike Phillips, 2021–present

In 2004, the Alabama Cooperative Extension System completed a restructuring effort.

For decades, the bulk of Alabama Cooperative Extension programs were carried out by county agents – generalists who kept abreast of many different subjects and delivered a wide variety of programs. By the onset of the 21st century, urbanization was a key trend that resulted in fewer farms and altered public expectations. The advent of the World Wide Web changed information delivery methods from printed materials to online. These changes prompted the switch from using the generalist agents who had administered Extension programming throughout the previous century to regional agents{{Cite web |url=http://southeastfarmpress.com/mag/farming_alabama_extension_reorganized |title="Alabama Extension being reorganized," Southeast Farm Press, Aug. 4, 2004. |access-date=2007-06-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061124142940/http://southeastfarmpress.com/mag/farming_alabama_extension_reorganized/ |archive-date=2006-11-24 |url-status=dead }} specializing in one of 14 program priority areas.

Regional Extension agents work with other agents across regional and disciplinary lines, with area and state subject-matter specialists, and with sister agencies, such as the Alabama Farmers Federation, the Alabama Forestry Commission and the Natural Resources Conservation Service, to deliver programs over a regional and statewide basis.

Despite the growing emphasis on regional agents, Alabama Extension continues to operate offices in all 67 counties. These are headed by coordinators, who work with regional agents and other Extension staff to deliver programs within their counties.

Alabama Extension receives financial support from the government and has begun looking for ways to supplement with private support, typically in the form of grants and fees.{{Cite web |url=http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/E/EX-0036-C/EX-0036-C.pdf |title="Taking the University to the People: 2000 Annual Report," Alabama Cooperative Extension System |access-date=2007-06-01 |archive-date=2015-10-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151031085210/http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/E/EX-0036-C/EX-0036-C.pdf |url-status=dead }}

{{main|History of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System}}

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System was created following the passage of the Smith-Lever Act of 1914, which provided federal funds to land-grant universities to support Extension work. The roots of the organization extend as far back as the late 18th century, following the American Revolution, when affluent farmers first began organizing groups to sponsor educational meetings to disseminate useful farming information. In some cases, these lectures even were delivered by university professors – a practice that foreshadowed Cooperative Extension work more than a century later.Rasmussen, Wayne D., Taking the University to the People: Seventy-five Years of Cooperative Extension, Ames, Iowa: Iowa State University Press, 1989, p. 18.

These efforts became more formalized over time. By the 1850s, for example, many schools and colleges began holding farmer institutes – public meetings where lecturers discussed new farming insights.Rasmussen, p. 28.

• Cooperative Extension Service
• Luther Duncan
• P.O. Davis
• List of land-grant universities
• National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges
• State university system
• Agricultural extension
• Historical Panorama of Alabama Agriculture

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• [http://www.aces.edu/ Alabama Cooperative Extension System]
• [http://www.aamu.edu/ Alabama A&M University]
• [http://www.auburn.edu/ Auburn University]
• [http://www.tuskegee.edu/ Tuskegee University]
• [http://diglib.auburn.edu/collections/aces/ Alabama Cooperative Extension System Historical Photographs]
• [http://www.usda.gov/ U.S. Department of Agriculture]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070614012652/http://www.csrees.usda.gov/ Cooperative State, Research, Education and Extension Service]

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Category:Public education in Alabama

Category:History of Alabama

Category:Auburn University

Category:Tuskegee University

Category:Government agencies established in 1914

Category:State agencies of Alabama

Category:1914 establishments in Alabama

Category:Alabama A&M University

Category:Agricultural research institutes in the United States