[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 14041]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA'S 
    INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES (IFAS) COOPERATIVE 
                           EXTENSION SERVICES

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                            HON. JEFF MILLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 31, 2014

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 
100th Anniversary of the University of Florida's Institute of Food and 
Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) Cooperative Extension Services. IFAS is a 
highly successful federal-state-county partnership that has helped 
support Florida's farmers and agricultural industry for more than 100 
years.
  IFAS Extension was born from two important laws, the Morrill Act of 
1862, which created Land-Grant universities throughout the country 
including the University of Florida, and the Smith-Lever Act of 1914, 
which established the Cooperative Extension Service as a partnership 
between the Department of Agriculture and Land-Grant universities, 
jointly administered with state extension agents, and local county 
officials. In its early history, IFAS Extension was focused on 
increasing agricultural production and improving the lives of rural 
residents by tapping the latest information from the world class 
research being done at the University of Florida and Florida A&M 
University and converting it into practical knowledge that Floridians 
could use to improve agricultural techniques and home economics. These 
core extension services have helped serve millions of Floridians, and 
today IFAS operates 1,249 buildings, 3,622,462 gross square feet and 
27,279 acres with locations in all 67 counties. Thanks to these 
efforts, the value-added contribution of IFAS Extension add more than 
$100 billion to the state economy.
  In addition to the core agricultural support programs, IFAS also 
contributes greatly to the development of Florida's youth through the 
4-H program. The 4-H youth development programs began in 1909 with 
``corn clubs'' for young men, which showed Florida's youth how to 
prepare and plant their fields with hybrid corn seed. Cash prizes were 
awarded to those who produced the most corn, with additional prizes for 
youth whose crops out-produced their parents. Two years later, in 1911, 
tomato clubs were established for young women to plant, harvest and can 
tomatoes. When the IFAS Extension Service was established in 1915, it 
took over administration of the clubs, and in 1924, the various clubs 
were officially recognized as 4-H Clubs. As a former 4-H participant, I 
can attest to the incredible leadership and educational opportunities 
that 4-H provides to Florida's youth.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I am privileged 
to recognize the 100th Anniversary of the University of Florida's 
Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) Cooperative 
Extension Services. Agriculture is a vital component of Florida's 
history and economic success, and I join Floridians in appreciation of 
the first-class work and effort that IFAS provides to support our 
state.

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