My first assignment when I was hired to the UF/IFAS Extension Service in Hilsborough County was to produce promotional materials for the 100 year celebration of United States Cooperative Extension. I was provided 10 boxes of unorganized historic photos and documents from over 80 years of history within the county. I organized, digitized, and digitally modified them to create collage posted for several decades in extensions history. I then printed these posters on a large-format printer and displayed them during department events and presentations.

About Extension

The Smith-Lever Act formalized extension in 1914, but its roots go back to agricultural clubs and societies of the early 1800s. The act expanded USDA’s partnership with land-grant universities to apply research and provide education in agriculture. Over the last century, extension has adapted to changing times and landscapes, and it continues to address a wide range of human, plant, and animal needs in both urban and rural areas. Today, extension works to:

• Translate science for practical application
• Identify emerging research questions, find answers and encourage application of science and technology to improve agricultural, economic, and social conditions
• Prepare people to break the cycle of poverty, encourage healthful lifestyles, and prepare youth for responsible adulthood
• Provide rapid response regarding disasters and emergencies

quoted from the US National Institute for Food and Agriculture