One hundred years ago, the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service employed the first county home demonstration agents. These seventeen women taught gardening and food preservation and laid the foundation for the current Family and Consumer Sciences Extension programs. Over the past ten decades, their successors have enhanced and expanded Extension programs serving the needs of Kentucky families.
To celebrate and honor the first century of Family and Consumer Sciences Extension at UK, a series of events are planned for Tuesday, December 2, 2014. A centennial luncheon will be held at the Marriott Griffin Gate Resort in Lexington beginning at 10 a.m. EST. This event will take a look back at the history, include both state and national reflections about Family and Consumer Sciences Extension work and provide vision for the next century.
Featured speakers include Rep. Rita Smart, Kentucky House of Representatives, District 81 and Dr. Janey Knight Thornton, Deputy Under Secretary, Food Nutrition and Consumer Services, U.S. Department of Agriculture. Both of these outstanding individuals have a strong connection to Family and Consumer Sciences Extension. Representative Smart worked as a county Extension agent for family and consumer sciences for 35 years, before retiring and beginning her political career. Prior to accepting her position at U.S.D.A., Dr. Thornton worked as a school food service director in Kentucky and with the Kentucky Department of Education.
The event will also feature a performance highlighting the past century and will showcase five FCS Extension milestones through historical portrayals. In addition, a commemorative art piece will be unveiled. This fiber and mixed-media art work is being funded through a grant from the University of Kentucky Herman Lee and Nell Stuart Donovan Memorial Endowment. Following the unveiling, the piece will be placed in a custom-made display case in Erikson Hall and will provide a lasting tribute to the first century of Family and Consumer Sciences Extension.
The celebration events on December 2 will conclude with the unveiling of a Kentucky Historical Society historical marker at the E. S. Good Barn on the University of Kentucky campus. The historical marker pays tribute to Family and Consumer Sciences Extension and to Myrtle Weldon. Ms. Weldon served as the state program leader for home demonstration Extension from 1924 until 1955. A dedication ceremony is scheduled at the E.S. Good Barn at 3:30 p.m. Mr. Bob Weldon, nephew of Myrtle Weldon, will be on-hand to take part in the unveiling.
Registration is now open for the December 2 celebration events. Additional information and online registration is available at http://fcsextension100.uky.edu. The deadline to register is Monday, November 10, 2014.