Sometimes we lose sight of the significance of that which has gone before us in building a great organization in the name of "The Cooperative Agricultural Extension Service." Knowing a few of the highlights of this early development may help us feel more a part of this tremendous teaching movement.

The Morrill Act means to us the establishment of our ultimate headquarters for state extension work. As a result of this legislation in 1862, every state in the Union would be able to establish a land-grant college. Justin Morrill's objectives were as follows: "Let us have such colleges as may rightfully claim the authority of teachers to announce facts and fix laws and scatter broadcast that knowledge which will prove useful in building up a great nation."

The name Seaman A. Knapp should stand out in our minds as the father of the demonstration method. In the fall of 1903 near Terrell, Texas, the first farm result demonstration was set up by Dr. Knapp. Recent studies indicate that this method is still one of the most effective procedures used by extension workers. Farm demonstration work was started in Virginia in February, 1907, under the leadership of T.O. Sandy of Burkeville, the father of extension work in Virginia.

In 1914, the Smith-Lever Act formally set forth "The Cooperative Agricultural Extension Service." In the signing of this act the policy of federal assistance to land-grant colleges for teaching, research and extension in agriculture and home economics became the national policy.