Honoring Our Past, Growing Our Future

Faculty, staff, stakeholders, and friends gathered Nov. 7 to commemorate two very special milestones: the 90th anniversary of CTAHR’s Cooperative Extension and 100th anniversary of Hawai‘i’s 4-H Program!

Way back in 1928, the same year that Mickey Mouse debuted and Sir Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin, the Territory of Hawai‘i and the University of Hawai‘i were recognized by the United States Congress to be eligible for Smith-Lever funds. This was the key funding mechanism for Extension programs of land-grant universities, all across the country. 

A decade earlier, UH Experiment Station director Fredrick Krauss had started the first children’s Swine Club, the precursor to the Hawai‘i 4-H Program, with 31 plantation youth near the town of Ha‘ikū, Maui.

The celebration honored these CTAHR landmarks while looking to the future.

In classic Extension tradition, educational booths and interactive displays showcased a sampling of Extension’s current agriculture and human resources programs and 4-H activities.

CTAHR Dean Nicholas Comerford, interim associate dean and associate director for Extension Kelvin Sewake, and state 4-H program leader Jeff Goodwin spoke on the past, present, and future of Extension and 4-H in Hawai‘i. Among the 250-plus attendees were  Extension faculty and staff, retirees, and stakeholders. Featured speakers included U.S. and local lawmakers, and special guest Karen Howell, the granddaughter of Mr. Krauss.

Before the celebration, a special session for Extension retirees and in-service training for current Extension faculty were held. Retirees joined the training sessions afterward to share past experiences and advice. It was a busy and successful day for Extension!