Reposted from CALS Notes:
Last week, new Cornell Cooperative Extension Director Chris Watkins led a group of extension volunteers, CCE executive directors, and 4-H and agricultural issue leaders on a trip to Washington, D.C. Taking a break from a national extension conference, the group met with various Congressional leaders to explain the importance of federal Smith-Lever dollars in fostering strong partnerships between county, state, and federal governments.
Smith-Lever funds are the foundation of the U.S. cooperative extension system. Passed in 1914, the Smith-Lever Act provides federal dollars to the states for extension activities, with the proviso that the states must fully match these funds from non-federal sources. The money is then used to support the cooperative extension networks in each state, which are administered through the state’s Land-grant institution. Without these resources, numerous CCE-sponsored programs in New York would not exist.
In this photo, Watkins (far left) visits with Congressman Bill Owens, D-NY 21st District (center), along with several members of the CCE delegation. Throughout his tenure in Congress, Owens (who recently announced he will not seek re-election) has been an advocate for the important contributions higher education and research make to the economic development of New York’s agricultural and rural communities.
(Photo and text provided by Julie Suarez. Pictured L-R: Watkins; Kevin Acres, St. Lawrence County legislator; Patrick Ames, CCE Director of St. Lawrence County; Congressman Owens; Rick LeVitre, CCE Director of Franklin County; Julie Suarez, CALS Assistant Dean for Government and Community Relations; and Anita Deming, Natural Resource and Agriculture Team Leader from CCE of Essex County)