143.
EXTENSIUN"S R E S P O N S I B I L I T Y TO THE PRODUCER
B. D . VanSTAVERN
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The primary
aim of The Cooperative &tension Service as stated i n
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The Smith-Lever Act of 1914 is " t o a i d i n diffusing among people of t h e
United States useful and p r a c t i c a l information on subjects relating t
culture and home economics and t o encourage application of the same. , J l ~ g f l This primary aim suggests that the basic objective of Extension i s an educ a t i o a a l one. Hence, the primary responsibility must likewise be i n the
area of education. W
e believe that a unified ESrtensZon program cauaes
changes i n the behavior of the people with whom we work, i n such a manner
that they wi1.3. a2ply current and s c i e n t i f i c information t o t h e i r problems
o f everyday l i v i n g . This basic zhilosophy of t h e objectives and responsib i l i t i e s of Extension serves t o o r i e n t the Ektension worker i n term of h i s
individual goals and endeavors.
Since I am more f a m i l i a r with the organization of t h e Ohio Coopera t i v e =tension Service, I trust that you w i l l permit me t o refer t o t h i s
organizational arrangement i n developing the areas of responsibility t o the
accomplislment of our primary aims i n terms of the producers of meat
animals.
I n our organization, the County Extension S t a f f i s responsible f o r
t h e development of an integrated, w e l l balanced county educational program,
based on the needs
and i n t e r e s t s o f the people i n t h e county. This implies
that Extension's responsibility t o producers must, i n p a r t , be d i c t a t e d by
the producers* needs and intereots as expressed through t h e Extension program of h i s county.
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Lest we become l o s t i n t h i s "sea of organization" and flounder
around without hope of recovery, perhaps we should look a t some of the expressed r e s p m s i b i l i t i e s of subject matter s p e c i a l i s t s .
1. Serve as source of up-to-date subject matter information.
Evaluate and apply research information i n terms of the
i n t e r e s t s of t h e people i n a given s i t u a t i o n .
2.
-needs and
3.
Prepare copy f o r b u l l e t i n s and other teaching material.
4.
Serve as t r a i n e r s of County Extension Agents i n subject
matter.
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The Ohio Extension Guide taken from:
Ruling Affecting Cooperative &tension Work i n Agriculture
and Home Economics, Bulletin No. 285, (Vashington: U.S. Government
January, 1946) P . 7.
printing office, Revised
U.S.D.A.,
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144.
.
5.
Assist with county program development i n respective subject
matter f i e l d s
6.
C o o p r a t e with Agricultural Ecperlment Stations and U .S .D .A.
by (a) helpirJg t o make known t o people the findings of research as they apply t o l o c a l problems and (b) l o c a t i n g and
reporting problems i n need of research.
7.
Serve i n an advisory capacity and/or wrk d i r e c t l y with
groups and agencies regarding problems r e l a t e d t o t h e i r
areas on the State, Regional and National l e v e l , as w e l l
as those groups that encompass more than one county within
t h e state.
It should be evident f r o m t h i s brief l o o k a t functions and respons i b i l i t i e s t h a t the scope of Extension's service t o the people i s q u i t e
broad. A look a t t h e Animal Science E:tension Staff as it is organized a t
Ohio State University should be h e l p f u l in our f u t u r e discussion.
--
Animal Science &tension
Ohio State University
-I__
Specialist
Ext. S p e c i a l i s t , Anbal
Ekt. S s e c i a l i s t , Animal
Bt. S p e c i a l i s t , Animal
Ekt. S p e c i a l i s t , Animl
*Ext. STecialist, hima1
*Bt Meat S p e c i a l i s t
.
Responsibility
Science
Science
Science
Science
Science
Beef
Sheep
Swine
Production Testing
Swine Improvement
Meat Procrams
*EM. workers wit'n research r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s
The Ohio S p e c i a l i s t s work throughout t h e s t a t e , They concentrate
t h e i r e f f o r t s on t h e i r s p e c i f i c subject matter, l . e . beef, sheep, swine,
e t c . This specie s p e c i a l i z a t i o n , by logic, requires t h t t h e meat program
f o r producers be c l o s e l y organized ard conducted with t h e cooperation of
These s;?ecialists a l s o c a l l upon t h e services of
Marketing S p e c i a l i s t s , Agronomists, Ehgineers, and many others i n t h e accoqlishment of t h e i r t o t a l species program. The a v a i l a b i l i t y of t h e many
resources t o apply t o a s p e c i f i c problem s e e m t o r e s u l t i n a rather satisfactory solution.
t h e specie s p e c i a l i s t .
With t h i s background of organization, l e t us look a t some of t h e
general areas where meat education i n i t s broadest sense, should be h e l p h l
t o the producer of meat animals. It would be vain t o attempt t o enumerate
every c i r c w i t a n c e Oi* s i t u a t i o n where meat information would influence
decisions. The following rnc0.y serve as examples of apportunity and respons i b i l i t y i n this area:
145.
Areas 3f opportunity and responsibility f o r a Meat Education P m gram f o r meat animal producers.
A.
Basic Carcass Evaluation Information;
1. I d e n t i f i c a t i o n of important carcass traits.
2. Pmcedures and methods of measuring important carcass
traits.
3 . Heritability of important carcass traits.*
4. Relationships t h a t may exist between n u t r i t i o n and carcass
characteristics.*
S. Relationship that m y exist between systems of management and carcass characteristics.*
6.
B.
Others
Participation i n Carcass Improvement Programs ;
1. Production Testing.
2. Evaluation Stations.
3. Carcass Shows.
.
Demonstrations a t s p e c i a l events, i.e. f i e l d days,
c l i n i c s , workshops, e t c
5. Others
4.
C. Information Concerning Goverrrment and Initustry A c t i v i t i e s ;
1. The Gmding Service.
2 , Regulatory agencies i.e. Inspection e t c .
3. PIational Livestock and Meat Board.
4 . Special Specie Activity.
5. Others
D. Infomation Regarding Distribution and Utilization;
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
E.
Assembly++
Packinghouse Operations."
Wholesale and Retail Operations.*
Consumer Desilles.3
Cthers
Continuing Education t o bring about a change i n outlook or
attitude of the Producers .*
1. I n t e r e s t i n t h e end product of their production e f f o r t s .
2. Pride i n his chosen f i e l d of endeavor.
3. Responsibility i n growing a product that contributes t o
t o t a l industry advancement
.
4. Adjustments that my be required t o meet change i n the
5.
* Joint
indimtry.
Others
e f f o r t with other &tension subject areas.
146.
In addition t o these r a t h e r broad areas of Extension a c t i v i t y
delineated above, t h e &tension worker has o t h e r r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s t o t h e
people with whom he works. Some of these include:
1. A thorough knowledge of h i s subject matter.
2.
A phil-osophy that w i l l permit him t o present the f a c t s without
3.
Have a p r a c t i c a l as well as a t h e o r e t i c a l understanding of
h i s area.
4.
Be current i n h i s thinking and writing.
5.
Work cooperatively t o elucidate every problem.
6.
Othe I-s
bins.
In these remarks, I have a t t e q t e d t o share some o f the organizat i o n a l framework i n which The Ohio Extension Service performs i t s responsib i l i t i e s . Within t h e scope of t h i s framework, I have outlined some of the
many a E a s where meat education i s needed and c8n be applied t o producer
problems and f o r h i s continued growth. I hasten t o admit that t h e l i s t i n g s
are examples only. I hcpe, however, that they may serve t o remind a l l of
u s t h a t research information, while always of extreme value, is a t i t s best
when it is a t work contributing t o the solving of a s p e c i f i c problem.
MR. CHRISTIAN: Thank you f o r t h a t presentation. You know, when
we get started here, it seems as though extension has many, many responsib i l i t i e s . I had another 15-minute presentation t h a t I was going t o give
here, but w e ' l l sum it up here in a minute or so.
Extension's r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s t o the consumer are many, 'out we
have many o t h e r r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s
and I think a l l of u s have these, and
t h i s is one of coordination of o t h e r programs and research information, esp e c i a l l y through independent organizations. Some of these, such as feed
companies, suppliers t o industry and so on, a l l have a lot of information
that they a r e d i s t r i b u t i n g within the state. The land-grant colleges do
not have a monopoly cn research o r extension when it comes t o distri'auting
t h i s information. W
e have many folks out i n the f i e l d that are working on
these very same things. This i s why I believe that it is important that
extension, as such, be well informed and have a well-planned program. Of'
course, there are many things that have been l i s t e d that we consider extension's r e s p c n s i b i l i t i e s , but I wonder how many of you f o l k s spend a
large proportion of your time on the things that have been outlined here
as f a r as extension's r e s p o n s i b i l i t y . I think we'll all agree t h a t t h i s
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FLOW CHAKT SHOWING RELATIONSHIPS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
OF ANIMAL SCIWCE MTENSION TO LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS
147.
OHIO S U T E UNIVERSITY
and Home Economics
DIRECTOR
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
I
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ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Pereonnel & Finance
Administrative
---Subject Matter
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and Program
Coodimtion
OOOEducational
opportunity
and responsibility
AEJIMAL SCIENCE
SPECIALISTS
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organizations
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DISTRICT SUPERVISORS
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C O u N m EXTENSION AGENTS
SPIXIAL ITITEREST ADVISORY COMMITTEE
A
SREEP
148.
needs t o be a coordinated pmgram through extension research and teaching
t o g e t t h i s job done.
1'11 turn the program back t o t h e Chairaaan at t h i s time.
THE CHAIRMAN: O n l y one announcement before we go t o lunch unless
some of t h e Ohio people have something t o c a l l t o our a t t e n t i o n , azd that
is t h a t your Ekecutive Committee f o r next year will be composed of Harcld
Hedrick, Jim Kemp, Ernie Brislrey, Bob Henrickson, and C a r r o l l Schoonover i n
a very close e l e c t i o n . It looked l i k e t h e Chairman might have t o vote t o
break the t i e b u t Carroll Schoonover is t h e f i f t h member of your Dcecutive
Committee. There w i l l be an e l e c t i o n of the Chairman t h i s afternoon, so be
thinking about your next y e a r ' s Chairman.
P.M.
Thereupon, t h e Conference meeting was recessed u n t i l one o'clock
of t h e same day.