NORWICH – For 100 years, the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chenango County has been a pivotal source of unbiased, research-based information, tools and education that have been a driving force of the community.
Efforts of the organization were brought to light Wednesday as scores of CCE employees past and present, volunteers, board members and supporters gathered for a luncheon at the Canasawacta Country Club in Norwich to celebrate the Extension’s centennial year.
Initially started as the Chenango Farm Bureau in 1915, CCE carried a mission to advocate for the needs of the local ag industry while simultaneously offering the latest educational resources. Not long after it formed, the institution split into two separate entities in order to accommodate a two-fold purpose. Education continued to be the main focus of the Cooperative Extension while legislative advocacy at the state and federal levels was handled by the Farm Bureau.
That same model continues today.
“Extension isn’t the agent of change in the sense that it didn’t invent milking machines or tractors or computers. But it has, throughout its history, worked hard to ease those transitions for farmers, families, and youth,” said CCE Chenango Executive Director Ken Smith.
CCE is a hub for communication between farmers and the community at large. It connects individuals and partnering organizations with each other, and incorporates the expertise available at Cornell University, Smith said.
“It’s experts from the farms and the families working with experts from Cornell and easing some very major transitions,” he added.
Wednesday’s gala featured a number of guest speakers, including Chenango County Farm Bureau President Bradd Vickers, former CCE home economics agent Marilyn Carley, former 4-H agent Niles Brown, CCE Director Chris Watkins, and New York State Assemblyman Clifford Crouch (a past Chenango County 4-H member himself).
Crouch issued CCE Chenango a proclamation on behalf of the NY Assembly recognizing the influence that the organization has had over the course of its 100-year history.
Said Crouch, “When we look at what they have achieved over the years, we’ll never really know how many lives we have saved because of certain programs offered. We’ll never know exactly how many lives we’ve boosted and bettered because of the education programs. But it’s something we still need to do – keep that partnership with the state and the county.”
Past success of CCE aside, the organization faces some difficult tasks ahead. Topping the list: making a case for continued support at the local and federal levels; addressing the generational gap in the farming industry; and adapting ways in which the organization can best reach out to the community.
CCE has developed a strategic plan that Director Chris Watkins said will be at the forefront to help usher the organization through the next century.
“We do have some incredible challenges and opportunities that we want to be positive about,” Watkins said. “It doesn’t matter if we’re talking about the county level, state level, federal level, or global level. We are all facing these challenges together and we need to work together to confront them ... We have to keep a dialogue to keep the system going for the next 100 years.”