Don’t forget to drop by the new CCEFM offices in Canajoharie during the open house May 4 from 4-7 p.m.

CCEFM’s recent relocation to Canajoharie marks a return to the village for Extension. In 1914, Cooperative Extension in Montgomery County got its start in Canajoharie at an office at 12 Barclay St. The Montgomery County Cooperative Extension office would later move to Fonda.

Now, nearly a century after the first Extension office opened in Montgomery County, the offices are back in Canajoharie this time in the basement of the United Methodist Church at 50 E. Main St., one block east of Church Street.

While the local Extension is three years shy of its centennial, the state Cornell Cooperative Extension system is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.

This year marks the 100 year anniversary of the appointment of John Barron – the first county agent in New York State – and the creation of the Cornell Cooperative Extension system as we know it today.

While Cooperative Extension has roots dating back to 1862, it was in 1911 that Barron’s office first opened in Broome County. The opening of other Extension offices in other counties would follow. In 1914 the Extension office opened in Montgomery County and in 1917 one opened in Fulton County. By 1918, there were 54 county Extension offices across New York.   

Cornell Cooperative Extension recently rededicated a plaque marking the site of the first field meetings held by Barron. To learn more read the article CCE rededicates marker at site of John Barron’s 1911 field meetings on the CCE Centennial website. To learn more about the history of Cornell Cooperative Extension, read CCE at 100, Celebrating 100 Years of One Great Idea! Also read about the new initiatives Cornell Cooperative Extension is undertaking in the areas of energy, food and agriculture, nutrition and health and youth, families and communities.

The Cornell Cooperative Extension associations in Fulton and Montgomery counties merged into one entity in 1997. In 2002 the former Extension offices in Fonda and Gloversville were closed and consolidated into one office in Johnstown. CCEFM relocated to Canajoharie in February.

The merger of the Fulton and Montgomery Cooperative Extensions was the first consolidation of its kind. Since that time other county extensions have merged. Shared service agreements and regional programming among county associations is now common and becoming the norm in times of tight resources.

The CCEFM open house will run from 4-7 p.m. Light refreshments will be served.