Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Farm Bureau and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Schuyler County

Senate Resolution No. 2779 BY: Senator O'MARA COMMEMORATING the 100th Anniversary of the Farm Bureau and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Schuyler County WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and applaud the leaders of commerce and industry, as well as educational institutions, whose accomplishments contribute to the economic health and prosperity of the communities of the State of New York and to the quality of life of its people; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of Farm Bureau and Cornell Cooperative Extension; and WHEREAS, Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) is a key outreach system of Cornell University with a strong public mission and an extensive local presence that is responsive to needs in New York communities; its educational system enables people to improve their lives and communities through partnerships that put experience, research, and knowledge to work; and WHEREAS, In 1911, the Broome County Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Cornell University, Erie-Lackawanna Railroad, and the USDA, hired the first agriculture agent in the United States, John Barron, to organize, teach, research and lobby on behalf of farmers and rural residents; and WHEREAS, The organization piece was known as the Broome County Farm and Home Bureau, a grassroots organization led by farmers; and WHEREAS, The model quickly spread across the country, reaching Schuyler County where the Farm Bureau was formally organized in 1917; New York Farm Bureau also formed in 1917, while the American Farm Bureau Federation was formed in 1919; and WHEREAS, In 1914, the Federal Smith-Lever Act was passed, establishing cooperative extension work and providing funds for agricultural and home demonstration extension work in each state; in Schuyler County, the Farm Bureau combined forces with the Schuyler County Home Bureau Association and Schuyler County Cooperative Extension Service was born; and WHEREAS, In 1955, the organization split into two entities, the modern day Cooperative Extension system and the Farm Bureau, with Cooperative Extension focusing on education, and the Farm Bureau on lobbying and advocacy; and WHEREAS, Today, the Farm Bureau has more than six million member families in all 50 states, and is the largest agricultural organization in the world; and WHEREAS, The Cooperative Extension system is run through the original Land Grant Universities, and helps educate farmers, nationwide, on growing its food supply, educating the public on issues involving horticulture and nutrition, and in engaging youth through 4-H; and WHEREAS, Throughout its history and continuing today, Cornell Cooperative Extension has modeled innovative uses of technology, communications and contemporary models of organizational governance that reflect the changing needs and structure of society; and WHEREAS, As the Farm Bureau and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Schuyler County celebrate their 100th Anniversary, they stand in fulfillment of the proud legacy of their namesake and are poised for success for many years to come; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Farm Bureau and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Schuyler County; and be it further RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to the Farm Bureau and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Schuyler County.