• Facts about Monroe County
• Education

• Map and Directions to Office
• Mission and History of Monroe County

• Monroe County Web Page
• Pocono Mountains Chamber of Commerce

Facts about Monroe County

Tucked into the southern portion of the Pocono Mountains, Monroe County is on the bustling Northeast corridor that stretches from Boston to Washington, D.C. Interstate 80 puts New York within two hours driving time and Ohio within five. The Lehigh Valley, Philadelphia, and the Harrisburg area are also within easy reach.

While it is conveniently located within driving distance of important metropolitan centers, Monroe County offers residents many other reasons to live and work in the area. Packed into its 609 square miles is a rare combination of breathtaking natural beauty, including the scenic Delaware Water Gap (pictured above) - an ideal setting for wholesome living and a wide variety of recreational activities. Monroe County is perhaps most noted for it's tourism. As far back as the 1800's, people flocked to the Pocono Mountains region to enjoy the clean, cool air and relaxing environment. Honeymooners discovered the area during World War II. Since then, the region has been dubbed the "Honeymoon Capital of the World."

Monroe County has a generally moderate climate. However, because it is spread over mountains and valleys, the region varies in temperature and precipitation. The highest point is 2,131 feet at Big Pocono Mountain. Stroudsburg, the county seat, is at 430 feet above sea level.

Mission Statement:

The mission of Cooperative Extension is to extend non formal educational opportunities to the citizens, both youth and adults, of Pennsylvania - educational opportunities that will enhance income-producing skills, improve quality of life, and develop leadership skills.

Cooperative Extension is administered by the College of Agricultural Sciences within the Pennsylvania State University. Educational programs are based on the latest research-based information in agriculture and natural resources, family living, 4-H and youth development, and community development. Cooperative Extension program priorities are established on the basis of clientele needs, latest research information and legislative mandates.

The scope and breadth of educational programs are dependent upon the scientific knowledge and expertise available within the College of Agricultural Sciences and other Colleges in the Land Grant institutions. Support and assistance are provided by volunteers for program planning and implementation and also for obtaining necessary resources at county, regional and state levels.

Penn State Cooperative Extension supports the following educational objectives:

• Strengthen families, enhance the development of children and youth, and build caring, safe, and healthy communities.
• Foster the development and maintenance of productive, profitable and competitive businesses and a sustainable food system in Pennsylvania's changing economic climate.
• Ensure the long-term vitality and sustainability of Pennsylvania's natural resources and local environments.
• Enable people to reach informed public judgments on complex issues by fostering public dialogue.

Funding for our program is a partnership of federal, state and county government. In 1999, 66% of the budget was provided by state and federal funds 34% came from county commissioner appropriations. Special project grants supplemented special initiatives. Currently grants help support programming for the Tobacco Free Youth Coalition, child care provider training, and 4-H youth development.

Cooperative Extension was created through a series of acts by the federal government dating back to 1862 when the Morrill Act established land grant colleges. In 1914, the Smith-Lever Act strengthened the land grant colleges by providing public land for the establishment of at least one college per state and extension legally became the educational arm of USDA. This system of land-grant Universities was intended to provide branches of learning with no supervision form the federal government, thus creating the outreach system called Cooperative Extension available in every county throughout this Commonwealth and the nation. The first county agent was assigned to Monroe County was Roy Decker who started work on July 5, 1916.

Early History of the Monroe County Cooperative Extension Association

May 8, 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed the Smith Lever Act and Extension legally became the educational arm of USDA. The Act, which lead to county extension offices, established Extension activities within a unique nationwide system funded and guided by a partnership of federal, state, and county government.

In Monroe County, farmers and businessmen learned through their newspapers that federal funds were available for trained agricultural graduates. These graduates were "to aid in diffusing among the people useful and practical information on subjects relating to agriculture and home economics.'

The federal funds through the Smith-Lever Act, needed to be matched by state and local sources. Since Pennsylvania had the largest farm family population in the nation, our State Grange and other farm organizations began to apply for this service. Prior to 1916, 21 other counties in Pennsylvania had secured the services of a County Agent.

During the annual Teachers' Institute in January of 1916, a committee of teachers and school directors volunteered to study procedures for applying for these services and to hold public meetings on the subject in Monroe County. Frank J. Koehler, County Superintendent of Schools, was requested to begin correspondence with Director M.S. McDowell of the Agriculture Extension Service of the Pennsylvania State College.

At a large public meeting in March of 1916, hold in the Courthouse, an Executive Committee was unanimously elected to proceed with haste. This committee was to apply for a County Agent, with service to begin on July 1, 1916. The Pennsylvania State College helped local citizens from a "County Farm Bureau" to secure local support; the County Farm Bureau became the County Extension Associations. The first board president in Monroe County was Dr. George Travis, a physician.

At this time Amos Price, Canadensis, had a son, Carl attending Penn State. Carl boarded in the home of Roy Decker who had returned to college after teaching for four years in Center County. Amos Price convinced the Executive Board of volunteers that Roy Decker was the man for Monroe County.

On Wednesday, July 5, 1916, twenty-eight year old Roy Decker began work as the County Agent in Monroe County. He was a recent graduate of Pennsylvania State College animal husbandry, and arrived in Stroudsburg following a two-day train ride. For the first year, the Monroe Publishing Company, Pocono Record, donated a vacant second-floor rear room, heat and light, for the County Agent's Office. In 1916, there was no county financial support for extension due to the additional tax burden. Frank Holfman, Mt Zion, was the first contributor, $25. The County Superintendent of Schools provided transportation at cost. In 1918, A new Board of Commissioners gave the organization office space in the Courthouse with the County Superintendent of Schools.

Between 1919-1923, the name of the organization was changed from the Farm Bureau to the Extension Association, a division of the College of Agriculture for educational purposes. Some home economic programs were started in the early 1920's serving a group of counties.

It wasn't until 1926 that a home economist was assigned to Monroe County. Marguerite Erickson Ide was assigned part time to Monroe and Northampton counties.

Rural Life Days were the forerunner of fairs, and began to introduce 4-H projects to the schools around 1916.

In 1920, Monroe County Cooperative Extension Annual Report reports the following about the West End Fair: The 11-member board decided that a 5-year program plan should be developed. Major projects were 1) improved marketing of farm products, 2) dairy improvement (distributing purebred sires and junior purebred cow clubs), 3) crop improvement (insect and disease control for apples and potatoes, oat smut treatment, cabbage strain demonstrations, corn variety tests) and 4) county farm product exhibits at fairs and rural life days. Minor projects included farm accounts, hog pastures, poultry culling, and starting alfalfa plots. The report indicates that there were 15 members of the junior cow club. Each member was to bring a sample of the milk from his or her purebred cow to the meeting, to test it for butterfat under the direction of the county agent. Lots of farmers were involved with test plots for corn, cabbage, and potatoes. Four home canning demonstrations were held.

The annual report also notes that the Extension office had 919 telephone calls, prepared 52 newspaper articles, wrote 1,725 letters, and traveled 3,424 miles by auto during the year. It was also noted that by this time, financial support for the ag agent was splendid. The Commissioners increased the county appropriation so that all previous deficits could be met.

From the 1929 Annual Report- The Agent spent half of his time out in the field, and half in the office. Traveled 8,721 miles by auto, 1,578 telephone calls, and 156 newspaper articles. Programs were planned by having meetings in seven communities around the county where people indicated the problems they were having that affected their sources of income. The report gives many instances of farmers applying information learned from the extension agent to improve the farm production. Lots of test demonstrations were conducted, especially in getting farmers to try seed potatoes over homegrown seed. There was a lot of interest in beautification of home grounds. Four meetings were held with 258 people attending. It noted that 42 different kinds of trees and shrubs were growing wild in Monroe County what were used by Nurseries and Parks for landscaping purposes. Programming in forestry was conducted; 13 farmers were given assistance in securing Evergreen trees for reforestation purposes. Rodents and crops were a problem. A number of folks with a good supply of garbage at nearby hotels were improving their swineherds and now are using purebred sires. There were 1,424 dairy herds that were tested for tuberculosis. The summer and winter resorts of the county were advertising that their milk supply comes from Tuberculin Tested herds. During August, for the past 13 years, Extension piloted a Farmers' Auto Tour to points of interest where valuable information might be gained and new things might be seen. 90 Cars and 450 people went this year. The trip was to West Point. A rabbit 4-H club was started.

1966 � 50th Annual Report - Monroe County is listed as the fastest growing county in the state. After conducting a series of successful meetings on the need for community planning, a planning commission was formed. A planning director was hired and subdivision regulations were adopted. A series of public meetings was held to encourage township residents to move ahead to appoint planning commissions. Extension supplied educational materials and actively supported the need for more adequate sewage and water development. 36 farm families were reported as having their total income from agricultural production.

In family living, 139 women attended meetings on clothing construction, and 113 completed the garments they started. Several nutrition meetings were held. There was concern over needy people not taking all of the different types of surplus foods available to them. Thus Extension set up a display each month on what could be done with the foods families were given. Waitress Training was an extension program that was very much needed in the county, and encouraged by the Vacation Bureau. A Consumer information letter was established. 4-H was busy trying to get communities to buy into the community club organizational concept. 2897 telephone calls, 129 newspaper articles, 520 extension meetings held.

The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) was initiated in Pennsylvania counties in 1969. The purpose of this federally funded program was to bring nutrition education to low-income families; to help them improve their food shopping and food preparation skills. Paraprofessionals worked on a one-to one basis with families who had young children.

Cooperative Extension....PRACTICALLY REMARKABLE ..... REMARKABLY PRACTICAL

REFERENCES:

The Origin of Extension, Penn State Cooperative Extension, 1989. Decker, Roy.

Early History of Extension Work in Monroe County. 1976 Annual Dinner Meeting Program.

Craig, Paul. Monroe county Extension, The Early Years. 1986 Annual Report.

Annual Report Records, Monroe County Cooperative Extension, 1916-1969