Beginning of Extension Work

College began conducting farmers’ institutes. These were continued until the organization of the Extension Service in 1914. From 1907 to the end of 1909 the College had one worker spend considerable time trying to perfect the county farmers’ institute societies in several counties, expecting to reach and help the rural people thru [sic] them. But this work, on account of insufficient funds, was discontinued at the end of 1909 when the late J. D. Tinsley, who was in charge of it, resigned to accept a position with the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway company. The first Farmers’ Week was held at the College in 1911 and for many years was an annual affair. Farmers’ Days had been held prior to this and many have been held since.

Following the passage of the Smith-Lever Act in May, 1914, an agreement for Cooperative Extension work between the New Mexico State College and the Director of the States Relations Service of the Federal Government, for cooperative Extension work in New Mexico, was signed on August 3, 1914. This agreement became effective on September 2.