100th Anniversary of Cornell Cooperative Extension Herkimer County
2012 marked the 100th Anniversary of Cornell Cooperative Extension in Herkimer County. Herkimer was one of the first of five counties in New York State to incorporate a Cooperative Extension office of Cornell University.
The very first Extension office was initiated in Broome County in 1911, and Herkimer followed in 1912, just two years before the beginning of the First World War. The first Extension agent to work here was M.E. Chubbich and the office was located in the former Evening Telegram building on Green St. In 1920 Extension’s name was the Herkimer County Farm and Home Bureau and was in the North Post Office building. The 4-H Youth Program was established here in 1939 with Dayton Meade as the agent and in 1956, after separating from Farm Bureau, it officially became the Herkimer County Extension Service with the divisions becoming Agriculture, Home Economics and 4-H. Finally, in 1987, it became Cornell Cooperative Extension of Herkimer County and the offices moved in 1992 to the current address of 5657 State Rte. 5 in East Herkimer.
Cooperative Extension is an educational organization which is the result of a joint partnership between Cornell University (the State), the Federal Government and Herkimer County, hence the “cooperative” in the name. Throughout its long history many hundreds of Herkimer County residents have served as Extension volunteers; either as members of the Board of Directors, program committee members, teaching assistants and volunteer youth 4-H leaders. To this day Cornell Cooperative Extension still serves the county in many ways, with agricultural education and consultations with our farmers, a home grounds and gardening helpline, nutritional and healthy living programs and 4-H youth development programs in 4-H clubs, in school and after school education. Our Local Government Intern Program, which is conducted through our high schools, is one of the best in the state.
The staff and Board of Directors of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Herkimer County would like to thank the people and the elected officials of Herkimer County for their support throughout the years. Serving you is what we do.
Mission Statement
“The Cornell Cooperative Extension educational system enables people to improve their lives and communities through partnerships that put experience and research knowledge to work.”
Vision Statement
“Building Strong and Vibrant New York Communities”
CCE-Herkimer County is a subordinate governmental agency with an educational mission that operates under a form of organization and administration approved by Cornell University as agent for the State of New York. It is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The association is part of the national cooperative extension system, an educational partnership between County, State, and Federal governments. As New York’s land grant university Cornell administers the system in this state. Each Cornell Cooperative Extension association is an independent employer that is governed by an elected Board of Directors with general oversight from Cornell. All associations work to meet the needs of the counties in which they are located as well as state and national goals.
