Minnesota Extension Home Economics Past and Present

Part One:

Administration and Legislation

In Early days settlers disseminated homemaking skills to their children and neighbors. Spinning reenactment at the Gibbs Farm Museum, St. Paul

Early Extension Beginnings: 1858 to 1909

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In the mid-1850s, pioneers were beginning to settle the prairies and timberlands of Minnesota. Many home-making skills were brought from the east and overseas and were handed down by mother to daughter and neighbor. Recipes were exchanged and individual home kitchen demonstrations were presented. Skills of spinning, weaving, and sewing were taught by older persons to younger ones. The family "handy man" made tables, chairs, cupboards, and beds from native materials, while homemakers made candles, patchwork quilts, and straw and feather ticks on which family members slept. During this period, family living education was within the home. There were no family living education programs in Minnesota.

Early settlers promoted agriculture and the dissemination of agricultural societies. Two years after Minnesota became a state, the state Agricultural Society was organized with its objective "the promotion of agriculture, manufacturing, mechanics, and household arts." The University of Minnesota was founded in 1857, and in 1858 the Minnesota Legislature passed a bill to establish a State Agricultural College at Glencoe, with an accompanying experimental farm. The college at Glencoe was not built. However, in 1862 a bill was proposed in the United States Congress by Justin Morrill, representative from Vermont, which provided land grants for development of colleges to offer practical instruction for the industrial class, including agriculture and mechanic arts. It was passed and signed by President Lincoln. The Land Grant Act established publicly-supported colleges to teach agriculture, science, and the American economy.

In 1868 the University of Minnesota received a land grant of 92,000 acres and acquired a farm for teaching and experimental purposes, located along the present University Avenue between Oak Street and Prospect Park. There was controversy about the suitability of the land. Eventually the land was sold and a better tract was purchased, which is the present University of Minnesota St. Paul campus. Collegiate work in agriculture became the responsibility of the Department of Agriculture, and the first classes were held in September of 1869.

The Department of Agriculture had a slow beginning. The number of students was minimal and 30- and 100-day short courses met with little response. However, in 1882 the program format was changed from "scientific and practical" subjects to topics such as Dairy Cattle, Diseases of Domestic Animals, Farm Orchards and Grains, Strawberry and Grapevine Culture, and Management of Native Forests. Authorities from outside the University were also engaged in presentations. This was the first success, with 250 people participating. The 1883 series featured four 4-week series on topics of special interest to persons in agriculture, with 308 people in attendance.

Programs for Women

In 1884 Edward Porter, head of the Agriculture Department, offered an innovation: programs were included for women. Food Habits and Bread Baking were offered, with Juliet Corson of the New York School of Cookery as lecturer. Though the program was criticized for the domestic science emphasis, it drew an attendance of 1,100 people, mostly women. Even though the program was intended for farm homemakers, three-quarters of the women in attendance lived within 20 miles of Minneapolis-St. Paul. These agriculture and cooking short courses were described as the first extension activity by the University.

Everyone participated in harvesting grain in the early days of Minnesota agriculture.

The debate about the separation of the Department of Agriculture from the University was put to rest with the funding of the Experiment Station by the Hatch Act of 1887 and with the establishment of the School of Agriculture in 1888. These two legislative decisions provided a firm foundation for extension programs of the University.

In 1909 the Minnesota Legislature formally established the Agricultural Extension Division in the University, directing that it cooperate with the board of the Farmers' Institute on educational programs. In 1909 state senator Joseph Hackney of St. Paul introduced the legislation establishing Extension and Home Education in the University Department of Agriculture. The Agricultural Extension Division began operation on January 1, 1910, with A. D. Wilson as superintendent of Extension. Wilson had been and continued to be superintendent of the Farmers' Institute; thus he was a continuing link to earlier efforts.

Home Economics Extension: 1910 to 1929

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Organized Home Economics Extension began in 1910, with the appointment of Mary L. Bull as lecturer. During the early years, three additional women came on the staff: Bess Rowe, Margaret Baker, and Juniata Shepperd. In 1916 Lucy Cordiner, a nutritionist, and Josephine Creelman, a registered nurse, were added.

In the meantime, the Association of American Agricultural Colleges and Experiment Stations began searching for federal funding to carry out extension programs at agricultural colleges. After much debate, the Smith-Lever Act was passed by the House and Senate and signed by President Wilson on May 8, 1914. It provided continuing support for the development of extension work in agriculture and home economics through land grant colleges, in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). On June 25, 1914, Minnesota governor A.O. Eberhart authorized the College of Agriculture to accept the funds and the memorandum of understanding was signed on June 27, 1914. A.D. Wilson became director and Extension became a parallel division of the University's Department of Agriculture. This bill provided authority and funds for inaugurating a system of teaching the farm wife and farm girl elementary principles of homemaking and home management.

In 1914 the first section of the home economics building was erected on the University of Minnesota campus, and 211 college students enrolled in home economics.

In 1917 Mae Secrest was appointed State Leader, Home Economics Specialists. A year later her title was changed to State Leader, Home Economics Extension Work. By 1916, 26 Minnesota counties employed county extension agents; however, the number dropped to 16 a year later. It wasn't until 1917 that home demonstration agents were employed.

Mary Stillwell, county home demonstration agent, in her county office, 1918.

Canning school for women's clubs and county agents of the Twin City area held in 1917. The instructor (center) is explaining the use of a homemade vegetable dryer to be used on the back of the range.

The Federal Food Production Act of 1917 provided funds for the employment of an assistant state leader, nine district home demonstration agents (each serving several counties), and three urban home demonstration agents. By January 1918, 52 counties had employed county agents, or had arranged to do so.

County Farm Bureaus contributed funds for county extension work. However, funds were limited for county home demonstration work. St. Louis County used federal emergency funds for this purpose. In nine other counties from 1917 to 1919 federal emergency funds were used to hire home demonstration agents.

A county home demonstration agent in the 1920s used a Model T Ford to visit her clients, carrying out the Extension Service philosophy of helping people help themselves.

On December 1, 1917, Rosamund Adams was employed in Mower County as the first Minnesota Home Demonstration Agent. Other early counties to hire agents were St. Louis, Anoka, Olmsted, Hennepin, Sherburne, Morrison, Dakota, and Stearns. Unfortunately, Mower County discontinued home demonstration work June 1, 1918. The remaining eight counties continued into 1919, when state funds were provided to fill those positions. District positions were funded throughout World War I, until emergency funds ran out.

After the war, when emergency federal funds for urban positions were no longer available, local civic groups augmented state extension funds in continuing the work. The Grange, County Farm Bureau, and Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation united with University faculty on funding and programming at the county level. A bill was proposed to give the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation the responsibility for county programming, but this was not passed by the legislature. In 1917 a bill was passed to combine state and federal funds with those raised from county sources. Each county was to have a county organization, representative of farmers and businessmen, to develop agriculture in the county with the County Farm Bureau.

Also in 1917 the federal Smith-Hughes Act was passed to provide funds for training teachers of home economics and for the establishment of home economics departments in high schools throughout the state.

In 1919 federal funds provided by the Food Production Act were withdrawn. Because many counties wanted to retain the services of home demonstration agents, the Minnesota Legislature passed an act that made it possible for counties to pay for any kind of extension work they desired. It also required that a County Farm Bureau be incorporated, with minimum membership, before requests for extension funding could be sent to county commissioners.

New State and County Leadership

Local leaders teach clothing construction to urban women in a Minneapolis home in 1926.

The home demonstration staff increased in 1919-1920 and included a state leader, assistant state leader, five subject matter specialists, eight county home demonstration agents, three urban agents, and two assistant urban agents. The urban agents were retained in Duluth until 1932, in Minneapolis until 1941, and in St. Paul until 1944. When Mae Secrest resigned in 1920, Julia Newton became the first State Leader, Home Economics Extension, which position she retained until 1948. When Newton arrived, she found a limited number of counties with home demonstration agents and a small specialist staff. At the end of World War I, special federal funds that had led to the employment of county and emergency home demonstration agents were no longer available. County Farm Bureaus joined in supporting the eight county home demonstration agent positions remaining in 1919. However, by 1923 only seven counties had home demonstration agents, and by 1927 the number dropped to five.

During the 1920s there was also rapid turnover of home economics specialists because of low salaries, rigorous travel requirements, and marriages. Newly appointed specialists often remained for only one or two years. For some time, due to shortage of funds, several counties joined together to hire area or district home economists, but by 1925, most counties dropped area and district plans. In 1925 the first federal funds for home economics research were provided through the Purnell Act.

Local Leaders Emerge

In 1922 an important milestone in the extension program was the use of local homemakers as leaders in the clothing program. Many more families could be reached than was possible when specialists or home leaders began nutrition groups in Winona County and, later, in Steele County. By 1923 homemaker groups were organized, and all phases of subject matter were presented by local leaders, with training by home agents or specialists. The local leader concept was a primary factor in the success of home economics extension programs at the county level.

County Committees Develop

In 1923 county extension committees were established, with responsibility for programming, staffing, and budgeting at the county level in cooperation with district and state extension personnel. During these and following years, close cooperation was established and maintained between state and county extension staff members and other agencies and women's organizations. Farm Bureau women's committees cooperated in organizing extension groups and program planning, based on needs assessments of homemakers. In many counties, county home and community committee chairmen of Farm Bureaus served as chairmen for county extension home programs. Mrs. E.R. Ripley of Hubbard County and Mrs. Lewis Minin of Cottonwood County, the first and second state home and community chairs of the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation, played important roles in the early years. They often attended home demonstration agents' state conferences to stimulate cooperation, leadership, and development of county extension home and community committees.

In 1927 Glenice Rugland, a county home agent in South Dakota, asked Nan M. Nelson of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to write a creed for the South Dakota homemakers' clubs. A few months later Julia Newton, Minnesota state leader, home economics extension, requested the use of the creed for all Minnesota homemakers' clubs. It was adopted for statewide use in 1928 at a convocation at the University farm college. Dean Walter C. Coffey presided and presented a framed copy to Nelson, which read as follows:

Professional Extension Organizations

In December 1927 the Minnesota (Pi) chapter of Epsilon Sigma Phi was organized with 25 charter members. This was part of a national honorary and professional fraternity for extension workers, and membership was restricted to persons with ten or more years of service in extension work. This organization continues today, although with different membership requirements.

In 1928 the Minnesota Association of Home Demonstration Agents was formed under the leadership of Julia Newton, State Home Demonstration Leader. Objectives included professional recognition for county home demonstration agents, salary levels, personal improvement for agents, and discussion of problems associated with the job. The organization continues today, but has merged with county and state agricultural and 4-H extension personnel. In 1945 Ada Todnem Schroeder was the first home demonstration agent to receive a National Association of Home Economics (NAEHE) distinguished service award.

In 1973 the three extension agents associations merged to become the Minnesota Association of Extension Agents, including home economics, 4-H, and county agents.

Depression and Slow Growth: 1930 to 1948

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During the depression years of the 1930s and several years following, economic and social problems greatly influenced program trends. The Minnesota Extension Service found it difficult to maintain adequate salary levels for extension workers. There was a demand for state cooperation with federally funded organizations and programs to respond to problems caused by the depression.

In 1930 there were only three county home demonstration agents, plus three urban agents in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Duluth. In 1935 the Bankhead-Jones Act made possible the addition of more positions. By 1936 there were 21 home demonstration agents who expanded their work by enlisting more local leaders, trained by state specialists. Approximately 60 percent of extension support was provided by federal funds with 40 percent from county and state sources.

Home demonstration camps for homemakers were sponsored by extension home councils and were very popular. This one was held in 1937 in Fillmore County.

Cooperation with other groups and agencies continued to be important. In cooperation with the Emergency Relief Administration, several kinds of programs were provided. Three home economists were employed by Extension for one month, in the summer of 1933, to give vegetable canning demonstrations in counties. One nutrition specialist was loaned, during 1933-1934, to the Emergency Relief Administration to set up food budgets and to employ and train nutritionists for relief offices.

In 1943 Amy Wessel Newcomb was employed as Assistant State Leader and in 1945 was reassigned as District Director. She took a leave of absence in 1948 to serve as advisor to the military government in Germany to develop extension home economics programs.

In 1945 a more intensive process of program planning was started under the direction of Robert Douglas, state leader of extension program planning and coordination. Long range planning, or "program projection," provided county extension personnel with basic information and goals toward which they directed programs and activities. Each year several counties developed and published long range 5-year plans.

Julia Bartlett (standing right), Hennepin County home demonstration agent, discusses county program planning with county leaders in 1954.

In 1948 State Leader Julia Newton retired. From 1920 to 1948 Newton worked with other pioneers, providing vision, untiring effort, and high professional standards, to give Minnesota a sound and ever-growing extension home economics program. On August 16, 1948, Dorothy Simmons was appointed to succeed Newton as state leader.

In 1949 the title of Home Demonstration Agent was changed to Home Agent, and the program was changed to Extension Home Program. In the early 1950s staffing of county positions continued to be a major problem. In 1952 there were 47 home agent resignations and 45 appointments among the 60 county positions. Reasons given were competition for college graduates, marriages, and inadequate salaries.

Extension Home Councils Form

In 1953-1954 all home agent counties, and some without agents, organized active extension home councils, with councilors who represented townships or communities within the counties. These groups worked with home agents on county programs. The Home Council replaced the Home and Community Committee of the Farm Bureau, which had functioned in this capacity. Many of the same women continued to serve on the Home Council.

Over the years, the Home Council became an important factor in the development of strong volunteer leadership and successful planning and implementation of local programs. The Home Council sponsored home demonstration camps for homemaker group members that were well-attended.

Personnel Changes and Staff Training: 1954 to 1968

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From 1954 to 1960 there were four supervisory districts, and in l960 a fifth district was added. Some additions and shifting of district supervisors occurred. During the 6-year period of 1954-1960 there were many personnel changes. The extension staff increased by 60 positions to a total of 307 state and county workers, not including secretaries and other support staff.

In 1957 part-time assistants were hired to help home economics specialists answer local telephone inquiries. This relieved the specialists from the telephone so more time could be spent on programs. By 1960, 79 counties had county home agent positions, but supervisors found it difficult to keep the positions filled. In spite of a shortage of home agents, county home economics extension programs expanded.

There was much emphasis on inservice training and graduate study for Extension personnel. In 1961 Frank Forbes was appointed State Leader for Training. In his first year he dealt largely with preservice and induction training for agents and state staff members and coordinated subject matter training conducted by specialists for county agents. By 1964 a coordinated and comprehensive staff development and training program was in place and functioning. In 1963 five staff members received master's degrees and two received Ph.D.'s following sabbatical leave for graduate study.

In 1963, after 43 years in Extension, Skuli Rutford retired from his position as Director of Minnesota Extension. In 1964 Luther Pickrel was appointed Director of Extension. Roland Abraham, who had served in the interim as Acting Director, returned to his former assignment as Associate Director. Harlund (Hal) Routhe was appointed Assistant Director with the responsibility for coordination of programs between program areas. In 1964 Dorothy Simmons retired as State Leader of Home Economics Extension after 16 years in that position. Her position was not filled for several years, so, in the interim, Roland Abraham also served as Acting State Leader and home economics responsibilities were assigned to home economics supervisors. In 1963 four program areas were established: Home Economics; 4-H Youth Development; Agricultural Production, Management and Natural Resources; and Utilization of Agricultural and Forest Products.

In 1965 Luther Pickrel was given leave as director of Extension to serve in the graduate school investigating the impact of federal research funding on the University. Roland Abraham was appointed Acting Director of Extension, and in 1968 became Director of Extension.

Information Specialists Appointed

In 1965 the Home Economics Information Answering Service was formed because resident staff and home economics specialists were spending much of their time answering questions from the public. At first, a graduate student answered the telephone part-time, with specialists' secretaries answering and recording calls while she was in class. When the graduate student took a teaching position, a full-time home economist was hired.

An information specialist was appointed to work half-time (20 hours per week) in cooperation with home economics specialists, bulletin editors, and artists in the visual aids department to provide teaching materials for persons with limited experiences, finances, and reading ability. This was a pilot project in Mille Lacs County, with Ojibwe Indian families.

Increased Resources for Extension: 1969 to 1979

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In December 1967 Evelyn (Quesenberry) McDonald was appointed Program Director of Home Economics/Family Living. Her arrival was at the beginning of a period of rapid growth and expansion of home economics. From 1969 to 1979 annual appropriations of federal, state, and county funds increased dramatically. Dedication of funds by Congress for specific programs became common during those years. In 1969, through efforts of rural legislators, state appropriations for Extension, were greatly increased. Boards of county commissioners also raised support for county extension work. Other state and federal government agencies, industry groups and private organizations supported special programs through contracts and small grants. In 1967, 43 percent of the Minnesota budget was from federal funds and 33 percent from state funds. By 1979, 41 percent came from state funds and 37 percent from federal funds, with 22 percent from county budgets.

In 1967 there were 101 members of the state specialist and administrative staff and 243 county and area extension agents, totaling 344 professionals in Agricultural Extension, plus 15 paraprofessionals. By September 1979 there were 152 state Extension staff members and 308 county and area extension agents for a total of 460 professionals and 100 paraprofessionals.

Special Grant: Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP)

In 1969 Secretary of Agriculture Orville Freeman announced a grant of United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) funds to state extension services for employment of paraprofessionals to promote better food habits for urban and rural low-income families. Minnesota's allotment for 1969 was $160,000. The home economics program director, district and assistant district directors, and county extension staffs worked together to determine counties to be included in the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP). Criteria for selection of counties included income level of county population, support of county welfare and other social agencies, abilities and interests of county agents, and support of county committees.

Staff Development and Study

In the 1970s, under the leadership of Frank Forbes and the Staff Development Advisory Committee, inservice staff development was greatly expanded. During this time the tenure of staff members began to lengthen. An improved study leave system made it possible for more Extension, state and field staff members to pursue graduate work and advanced degrees. Comprehensive programs of inservice training enabled the entire staff to keep current with new subject matter and developing technology for programming and teaching.

Minnesota Extension Management Information System (MEMIS)

Traditionally county, district, state, and federal extension personnel were expected to prepare narrative and statistical plans of work and annual reports for use by state and federal extension administrators. Their reports contained statements of projected programs and results of outcomes of program effort. The plans of work and reports provided accountability for receiving and using funds for Extension programs.

In 1970 a Minnesota Extension Management Information System (MEMIS) was adopted. This was a computer plan for recording all planned and actual program time of all extension professionals. In 1970-1971, 10,964 man-days of work were planned for home economics/family living programs and purposes, in addition to the time home economists spent in other project areas. MEMIS reports required considerable time and effort on the part of everyone in Extension.

New Home Economics Building: McNeal Hall

New home of Extension Home Economics, McNeal Hall was built on the University of Minnesota St. Paul campus in 1971.

The new home economics building, McNeal Hall, was dedicated in October 1971, as a result of much effort by Dean Keith McFarland, who worked with University administrators, the legislature and resident and extension faculty to get approval and funding to build. County home agents were helpful in building county and out-state support for funding of the building.

Extension Program Development Process

In 1975 Director Roland Abraham appointed a task force of 21 extension staff members to develop a Minnesota Program Development Process, under the leadership of Patrick Borich. Evelyn Quesenberry (McDonald) represented home economics on the task force. The group defined and described a process to be used by the Minnesota Agricultural Extension Service. It was a study guide to help extension staff members plan, implement, evaluate, and coordinate educational programs. Under Borich's leadership as State Leader, Program Development, all county, district, and state staff members received extensive training on the program development process.

Integration Into College of Home Economics

From 1966 to 1969 Glenda Humphries (Herman) was employed half-time as Household Equipment Specialist and half-time in the Household Equipment Department in the College of Home Economics, the initial effort toward integration of Extension and resident faculty.

In 1976 home economics specialists were integrated into academic departments and moved from North Hall to other locations. At that time there were 18 full-time equivalents (20 individuals): twelve moved to McNeal Hall (five in Housing, Design and Apparel, three in Clothing, two in Family Social Science, and two in the Answering Service); five to Food Science and Nutrition; two to Rural Sociology in the Classroom Office Building; and one remained on the Minneapolis campus in Continuing Extension Education. The program director and assistant program director moved from the third to the second floor of Coffey Hall.

The main functions of the departments were course offerings, graduate study, research, department budgets, and personnel. At the time of integration, there were 14 program faculties, composed of members from several departments and/or divisions and faculty members from other collegiate units including Home Economics Extension.

Specialists' Roles Change

Home economics specialists were responsible to department heads for academic matters and to the program director, home economics/family living, for extension programming. Before integration, the specialist staff was a homogenous group, housed together where programs were planned and coordinated. Now they were individuals in various departments, a heterogenous group, which made extension coordination more difficult. The program director met regularly with the home economics administrative staff, home economics specialists, and department heads on staffing, evaluation, and promotion of specialists. The role of specialists within departments also changed. As they became involved in departmental committees, classroom instruction and research, their time allocation for extension changed, and less time was spent at district and county levels. However, they had the benefit of research on which to build county programs.

After specialists were integrated into departments, more statewide conferences were jointly planned and implemented by faculty committees composed of both extension and resident faculty. Some of these conferences were:

In 1979 the immediate past-president of the Minnesota Association of Extension Agents (MAEA) asked about possible communication between county home economists and the College of Home Economics. A seminar was scheduled. Participants included one home economist from each of the seven extension districts, two faculty members from each department, the program director of home economics/family living, and members of the home economics administrative staff. The seminar focused on the program development process and county clientele needs, identified by a panel of county home economists, with response by resident faculty. The purposes were:

• To increase understanding between extension, resident, and teaching faculty; and
  
  
• To provide closer coordination between University teaching and Extension outreach programs.
  
  

In 1977 Angele Parker was employed as Assistant Program Leader, Home Economics/Family Living. She resigned in 1979.

Performance Appraisal of Extension Specialists

The program director, home economics/family living, used a "Management by Objectives" approach in evaluation of home economics specialists for advancement in academic rank. Specialists identified their objectives for subject matter, methods and programming, and identified areas in which they had expertise or felt a need for additional study or improvement. A performance appraisal discussion with each specialist provided direct communication and feedback between specialist and program director. The home economics/family living program director gave much attention to advancement in academic rank for home economics specialists. After specialists were integrated into departments, performance appraisal was done jointly by the home economics/family living program director and the head of the department in which the specialist was located. More time, coordination, and compromise were involved after integration.

University Mission Statements

During the summer of 1979, University administrators asked each university unit to prepare mission statements, with planning assumptions, goals, objectives and priorities, for use at the next legislative session. Input from the Home Economics Extension program area was included in the University "Outreach" recommendations.

Staffing and Organization in the 80s

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Early in 1980 retrenchment began in Minnesota Extension. There was a need to "focus on people and issues." Home economists were challenged to change the perception of their roles to educators, linkers, and subject matter experts, and to accept leadership and be counted in their program area.

In 1980 Irene Ott was appointed Assistant Program Director, Home Economics/Family Living, and was assigned overall responsibility for program development and volunteer leadership. In 1981 Rosella Qualey retired as Central District Director and was assigned to a one-year appointment as Program Consultant, Home Economics/Family Living.

Program Directors Move to McNeal Hall

Pat Kramm answers the phone in October of 1976 for the Consumer Information Answering Service.

Early in 1982 the offices of Program Director Evelyn Quesenberry and State Program Leader Irene Ott were moved from Coffey Hall to the College of Home Economics in McNeal Hall. Computers were installed and communication management changed dramatically. Contact with specialists in McNeal Hall improved; however, interaction with administrative and supervisory staff in Coffey Hall became more difficult.

In September 1982 Evelyn Quesenberry took advantage of "creative retirement" after 14 years as Program Director, Home Economics/Family Living. She married Kermit McDonald and started a new phase in her life. Irene Ott was appointed Assistant Director, Home Economics/Family Living.

DIAL U-TELETIP

The name of the Home Economics Consumer Information Answering Service was changed to Home Economics Information Center, DIAL U-TELETIP, a computer-based system. In this system consumers paid for calls. Several county extension offices also had computer-backed consumer answering systems to respond to consumers in their counties.

Living Resourcefully

In 1982 "Living Resourcefully" was the overall theme of integrated program efforts. At a training conference state and county staff members identified programs that cut across subject areas. Increased attention was given to goals, values, and management of skills of all resources and to decisions on food, clothing, and shelter for financial well-being.

In 1982, under the direction of Irene Ott, over 300 agents from 41 counties attended a leadership development conference entitled "Together, Building Personal and Family Strengths." Ott conducted 14 county Home Economics/Family Living program reviews and developed a four-year plan of work, with provision for annual evaluations.

On June 3, 1979, Roland Abraham retired after eleven years as Director. During 1979-1980 Harlund Routhe served as Acting Director of Extension. On March 1, 1980, Norman Brown was appointed Director of Extension, serving until his resignation in June 1984. On July 1 1984, Patrick Borich was appointed Director of Extension, a position he continues to hold today.

About 1982 county Homemakers' Groups received a new name, Extension Home Economics Study Groups, and county Home Economists became known as Extension Educators.

National Reporting System

Effective in August of 1983 all states implemented a new computer-based accountability and evaluation system, the National Reporting System (NARS). The major component of the new system was a 4-year plan of work (1983-1987) with three types of accountability and evaluation:

• Impact studies,
  
  
• Program accomplishment reports, and
  
  
• Program input and participation.
  
  

NARS did not require a general narrative report. Only major program components were reported to USDA.

Equal Program Opportunity

During the time under the leadership of Richard Krueger, Extension Leader-EFNEP and Evaluation, there was increased state effort to involve more minority participants in the EFNEP program. Minority groups were involved in committees, councils and planning groups. Extension home economics study groups contacted minority residents including migrant councils, officials at Indian reservations, residents of low-income housing, and community or racial groups about educational opportunities. Adjustments were made in the selection of meeting locations and traditional activities were modified to reach more minorities. Changes were made in program methods, content and schedules to include males as well as females. In urban areas with concentrations of residents speaking southeast Asian languages, staff or volunteer translators or interpreters were provided with EFNEP flyers written in Hmong, Laotian, Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Spanish to introduce these groups to opportunities in home economics/family living. Equal program opportunity was a part of all newsletters, news columns, and radio and television programs.

Nutrition Educator Antonia Zaragaza (Hispanic) and Jackie Callena, student intern (Hmong) help stock the Mankato food shelf.

Head Start Linked to Extension

In 1983 a new memorandum of agreement was signed to link program efforts of Head Start of the Bureau of Administration for Children, Youth and Families (ACYF) in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to the Extension Services of USDA. The purpose was to promote outreach to low-income families with coordination of similar or related programs in Head Start and the Cooperative Extension Service. In 1986 Shirley Baugher joined the Minnesota Extension Service with a new title, Assistant Director, Minnesota Extension Service and Associate Dean, Extension Programs, with overall responsibility for Home Economics Extension. Irene Ott was reassigned to the position of State Leader, Home Economics/Family Living.

On June 30, 1991, Shirley Baugher resigned her position of Associate Dean, Extension Programs, and Mary Ann Smith was appointed Acting Assistant Director, Home Economics. In October 1993 Mary Ann Smith moved to a staff development position and Craig Hassel was appointed to a half-time position as Acting Assistant Director, Home Economics.

Restructuring Extension: 1990 and Beyond

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On October 1, 1992, the Minnesota Extension Service began a system-wide restructuring called "Reinventing Minnesota Extension Service for the 21st Century." Restructuring serves three purposes. It:

• Provides access to and dissemination of research-based knowledge for more collaboration between Extension and University colleges,
  
  
• Strengthens ties between county and campus-based faculty, and
  
  
• Streamlines and consolidates administrative and structural components for management and organization of state-wide county programs within a decreased budget and an austere fiscal environment.
  
  

Program leadership rests with appropriate university colleges, rather than with the four program areas. An extension-funded Collegiate Program Leader (CPL) located within each college is responsible for coordinating extension programs. Roles of university colleges and departments are enhanced.

The operational base is still in the counties, but programs and staffing are planned through 18 county clusters. A Cluster Program Leader coordinates activities within each cluster. Five Extension Program Leaders (EPLs) link clusters with the University Cluster. Advisory committees include a commissioner from each county in the program to guide program planning. The title of County Extension Agent changes to that of Extension Educator; they have clearly defined specializations and increased contact with corresponding University specialists. In Hennepin, Ramsey and St. Louis counties, previous County Extension Director responsibilities continue, but shift toward management, organization, marketing, and public relations. The title County Extension Director changes to County Extension Chair.

The number of extension districts changes from six to five. Districts continue to serve administrative functions such as hiring and external relations, but are not programming units. They are managed by District Directors (DDs).

With restructuring, these aspects of Extension remain:

• Emphasis on the county as the basic programming unit.
  
  
• Traditional extension programs. County and cluster staff continue to plan and coordinate local extension programs.
  
  
• Extension employees. Some have new roles and responsibilities, but restructuring is not a reason for reduction of the number of faculty and staff.
  
  
• Volunteers. They continue to be important partners in the mission of carrying out extension programs.
  
  

Mission of extension

The Minnesota Extension Service mission is "To involve people in improving the quality of life and enhancing the economy and environment through education, applied research, and the resources of the University of Minnesota." Three priority areas for 1993 are:

• Improving the quality of life,
  
  
• Enhancing the economy, and
  
  
• Enhancing the environment.
  
  

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