[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 56 (Friday, April 15, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E749]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CELEBRATING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ALABAMA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION 
                       SERVICE ON HOME ECONOMICS

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                             HON. JO BONNER

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 15, 2011

  Mr. BONNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to one of my home 
state's success stories. I wish to congratulate Alabama's Cooperative 
Extension Service on Home Economics as it celebrates 100 years of 
serving the people with valuable economic and nutrition education.
  The Alabama Extension Service has its origins in Walker and Pike 
counties in 1911 when two part-time home agents with a budget of $300 
enrolled 240 girls in popular Girl's Tomato Clubs where they were 
taught to grow tomatoes and can them.
  In 1914, the program was made a part of the land grant college 
system, giving instructions and demonstrations to persons not enrolled 
in colleges or universities.
  Through the years, many of the Alabama Extension Home Economics 
programs have been innovative and successful, capturing the attention 
of other states which have replicated them. These include Master Money 
Manager, expanded food and nutrition education, Parents Encouraging 
Parents and Project HELP.
  During World Wars I and II, the Alabama Extension Home Economics 
programs provided valuable instruction in substituting rationed food 
items, supervised canning centers, salvaging scrap metal and rubber, 
and selling war bonds.
  Today, such home economics programs range from family life, nutrition 
and health, clothing, housing and family resource management, and are 
constantly updated to meet new challenges, serve expanding and new 
audiences, and responding to local problems and opportunities.
  The Alabama Extension Home Economics programs have paralleled the 
history of our country and state for the last 100 years. Through boom 
times and bust, the program has met the needs of Alabama homemakers and 
families.
  I join with my fellow Alabamians in thanking the Alabama Cooperative 
Extension Service on Home Economics for its many valuable contributions 
to our state and I congratulate the program on its 100th anniversary.

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