Smith Lever 100 Year Celebration Activities
Introduction:
In 2014, we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Smith-Lever Act, which established the
Cooperative Extension Service. The primary focus of the Centennial celebration will be on
contemporary efforts and launching Cooperative Extension for the next 100 years of educational
programming that transforms behavior of individuals, families, youth, farmers, communities, and
businesses.
May 8th is the anniversary of the signing of the Smith Lever Act, and there are national and state
events planned for that day. For more information, see the “Events” section of the Smith-Lever
Anniversary Toolkit (http://ics.ifas.ufl.edu/toolkit-smithlever.shtml).
We need your help at the county level to show how Extension was relevant in the past and how
we can continue to make it relevant over the next 100 years.
Here are 67 ideas to help you organize centennial celebrations in your county and raise
awareness of the centennial in your programs:
1. Add the 100th Anniversary logo to websites, social media, email, brochures,
newsletters, etc. The logos are available at http://ics.ifas.ufl.edu/toolkitsmithlever.shtml. Note: Be sure to follow UF/IFAS branding guidelines, available at
http://ics.ifas.ufl.edu/branding.shtml
2. Send a letter to the editor of your local newspaper. Sample letters are available at
http://ics.ifas.ufl.edu/toolkit-smithlever.shtml
3. Use the Smith-Lever Proclamation to proclaim a special Smith-Lever Day in your
county. Frame a signed copy of the proclamation and present it to your county
commission. Sample proclamations available at http://ics.ifas.ufl.edu/toolkitsmithlever.shtml.
4. Interview a local farmer about his/her farm, what he/she grows and how Extension has
helped him/her. Publish in local newspaper or post on social media.
5. Farm tours that show connection between farmers and Extension agents. What the
farmers learned from an agent that made his/her business better.
6. Create a short video for You Tube and/or website, Facebook, blog, social media. Ask
local residents what they love about Extension, and what they want from Extension.
7. Think about the major contributions that Extension has made in your program area.
Write an article or press release about what the world would be like today without
extension. Work with your local media outlets to feature at least one of these stories.
8. Host a 4-H Camp Alumni reunion for your county or district.
9. Create a Power Point or Prezi Presentation (http://prezi.com/) about accomplishments
in your county over the past 100 years. Use the Anniversary Template available at
http://ics.ifas.ufl.edu/toolkit-smithlever.shtml.
10. List 100 things that Extension brought to the people of Florida (products, technology,
practices, etc.). Post on website, Facebook, blog, etc.
11. Essay contest: Have local residents write a short essay about how they benefited from
Extension. Winner gets a large basket of locally grown fruits and/or vegetables
(maybe from a CSA).
12. Extension agents table at local Farmers Markets with giveaways and information about
the Extension celebration.
13. Food truck event with a theme of supporting local farmers.
14. Movie night outside on a barn showing a fun film related to agriculture or other
Extension work in your area.
15. Oral History Project: Counties can write an article about Extension then and now.
Consider interviewing retired agents and current agents and include historical photos
in the article. Share video clips on the web and with social media (see social media
notes below).
16. Flyers/Bulletin Board: Increase awareness of 100th anniversary by creating flyers of
100 year history in your county. Collect old and current photos of Extension events
and activities and create a bulletin board display for the lobby of your office, featuring
Extension “then” and “now.”
17. Florida Extension Hall of Fame: accomplishments of past agents and county
community members.
18. County Extension Timeline: Significant events that happened in Extension programs
over last 100 years with photos. Events that influenced agriculture, community
development, nutrition, etc. Reproduce it and display at local libraries, schools, or
community centers. A Florida Extension timeline is available at
http://ics.ifas.ufl.edu/toolkit-smithlever.shtml
19. County Office Open House: activities for youth and families, activities for adults
(posters and calendar of events, tour facility, gardens, etc.).
20. Use Extension Centennial banner or cut-Outs to create a display in the lobby of your
office building. This display could also be used at county or community fairs or health
fairs.
21. Select a program that your county faculty are already planning on doing (preferably
with a large projected attendance) and make that event your signature Extension
Centennial Celebration Event. Have a birthday cake, hand out pens, window clings,
etc. and include a short presentation about the history of Extension and why we are
celebrating. Invite stakeholders to attend the meeting.
22. Dig up local “then” and “now” factoids to feature in the press, on your social media
site (see social media notes below). Post these stories or short blurbs every Friday for
“flashback Friday.”
23. For every 100 “likes” a “Flashback” story receives, give a prize such as a pen, mug, or
other Extension logo product.
24. Create a short elevator speech (30 seconds or less) that faculty and volunteers in your
county can use when making presentations to clientele or interacting with
stakeholders. Messaging is available at http://ics.ifas.ufl.edu/toolkit-smithlever.shtml.
25. Use the Extension History quiz with your advisory council or community groups.
Quiz is available at http://ics.ifas.ufl.edu/toolkit-smithlever.shtml.
26. Use the Smith-Lever logo to create a slide for all of your multi-media presentations.
Before every workshop or presentation, flash that slide on the screen and give an
elevator speech about Extension then and now. Templates, messaging and videos
available at http://ics.ifas.ufl.edu/toolkit-smithlever.shtml.
27. Offer centennial presentations to Extension Committees and county boards.
28. Ask advisory members and local advocates to communicate with state legislators in
your county/district about centennial events.
29. Have a display or contest for “old” record books submitted from 4-H Alumni or HCE
Clubs.
30. Invite state legislators to centennial events. Take their picture and share on websites, in
newsletters, etc.
31. Use Farm City Week (Nov. 21-27) or other events to promote the Smith-Lever
Anniversary. Work with your local event committee to use Smith-Lever as a theme,
or show the 100 Years of Extension video at the beginning of the event. (video
available at http://ics.ifas.ufl.edu/toolkit-smithlever.shtml)
32. Work with your local chamber of commerce to host a meeting or be a speaker at one
of their meetings to talk about the impact that Extension has had on your county’s
industry/economy.
33. Host a scrapbook contest or photo memory page as part of your centennial celebration
or a special contest for your local fair.
34. Use the life-size cut-outs of Smith and Lever to hold a “Where is Smith-Lever?
Contest. Take photos of Smith-Lever in various places around the county and post
them to your website or social media (see social media notes) to see if clientele can
guess their location. This would be a great project for the 4-H County Council!
35. Hold an “Oldest Living 4-H Alumni” or “Oldest Living Retired Extension Agent”
contest in county.
36. Honor the current Extension Volunteers, 4-H leader, MG, Master Naturalist, Program
Assistant etc. who has the most continuous years of service. National Volunteer
Appreciation Week is April 6-13, 2014.
37. Recognize the oldest 4-H or HCE club in the county. Organize a “reunion” for all the
members of the club with a simple punch and cookies reception.
38. Through family living and HCE, collect 100 recipes to be published locally or on your
county/district website.
39. Plant trees in honor of the Smith-Lever Extension Centennial.
40. Use a sign or banner to display at your town’s entrance or other highly visible area to
let people know Extension is 100 years old and still young.
41. Have an ice cream social at the local courthouse and invite the town/county to
celebrate Extension’s 100th birthday.
42. Have a plane carry a Smith Lever Centennial banner at air shows and other outdoor
events. Note: IFAS Communications does not have airplane banners.
43. Develop a “Flashback Friday” radio spot featuring Extension success stories.
44. Develop weekly “100 seconds of 100 years of Extension” radio spots for your local
station.
45. Hold a “Wear Orange” day for both UF and FAMU Extension.
46. Create activities that involve 100 of something. Have each member bring in 100
pennies to donate to a local cause. Plant 100 plants or flowers in the community.
47. Host an old-fashioned Extension Field Day.
48. Reproduce a George Washington Carver “Jesup Wagon” with historical or modern
exhibits that offer Extension education programs.
49. Consider sponsoring an Extension scavenger hunt through the barns and buildings
during the local county fair. Activity or information stations can be set up all around
the buildings and fairgrounds. When they have competed the treasure hunt,
participants could turn in their maps or answers for prizes.
50. Have your advisory committees create a list of 100 ways Extension has positively
influenced lives.
51. Challenge volunteers to give 100 hours of service to community to celebrate the 100
years of Extension.
52. Honor families with 2 or more generations who have been active in 4-H/Extension.
53. Place a geocache with Smith-Lever Anniversary items or time capsule in your county.
54. Give out items with the Extension anniversary logo to advocates and stakeholders and
ask them to share with others about Extension’s rich history.
55. Provide advocates with some talking points about how Extension has positively
impacted the county over the last 100 years, and how Extension is working to improve
the lives of citizens for the next 100 years. Messaging and talking points are available
at http://ics.ifas.ufl.edu/toolkit-smithlever.shtml.
56. Create an ”advocacy card”-- a business-size card with 3-5 simple facts about how
Extension has impacted your county in a positive way on one side, and the Extension
Anniversary logo and your office contact info on the other side. Advocates can use
these cards when meeting with stakeholders, or promoting your programs or recruiting
volunteers.
57. When having t-shirts made for special events for 2014 (such as camps, field days,
etc.), make sure to include the Smith-Lever Logo. Logos are available at
http://ics.ifas.ufl.edu/toolkit-smithlever.shtml. Note: IFAS Communications does not
have logo t-shirts.
58. Host a contest for senior-age youth to create a short video about the past, present and
future of Extension/4-H.
59. Host a poster contest for elementary youth about the Smith-Lever Act and the history
of Florida 4-H and Extension.
60. Host an essay contest for middle school youth about the Smith-Lever Act and the
history of Florida 4-H and Extension.
61. Host an essay contest for middle or high school youth about what life will be like 100
years from today and how Extension can help solve future problems.
62. When providing educational programs and field days, begin with information on how
Extension used to deliver programs, and how the application of new technology has
changed today.
63. When conducting evaluations, ask clientele how they envision Extension making an
impact in their communities in the next 100 years.
64. Ask clientele to donate $100.00 to Extension in honor of 100 years of Extension. Use
the funds to establish a new annual award to honor an outstanding farmer, volunteer,
or youth.
65. Create a time capsule for 100 Years of Extension. Include information about the
history of Extension in your county, as well as predictions for Extension over the next
100 years.
66. Create a living history exhibit to show home and farm demonstrations of the past, such
as canning or constructing an iceless refrigerator.
67. Perform a skit or short play depicting a scene from local, state or national Extension
history (e.g., Seaman Knapp teaching farmers how to reduce boll weevil damage; the
early days of canning clubs, etc.)
Social Media Notes:
The Smith-Lever Anniversary is a great opportunity to tell Extension’s story and raise awareness
about how Extension improves the lives of millions of Floridians.
Social media, including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest and Instagram, can be a powerful
tool to help spread the word about Extension—its history, its future, and the many ways it
improves the lives of Floridians every day.
Here are a few ways you can help celebrate our centennial through social media:
Facebook and Twitter cover graphics
Use a Centennial Celebration cover template on your Facebook or Twitter pages. Social Media
cover templates are available in the Extension Centennial toolkit located here:
http://ics.ifas.ufl.edu/toolkit-smithlever.shtml (look for the “Social Media” tab).
UF IFAS Solutions
UF IFAS Solutions is the place to go on Facebook and Twitter for news, photos, features and
events linked to the centennial celebration. Like, share, and comment on our centennial
celebration posts on UF IFAS Solutions:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UFIFASNews
Twitter: https://twitter.com/UF_IFAS.
Look for the hashtag #UFIFASExt100 next to the posts.
In the months leading up to the Anniversary, UF IFAS Solutions will be initiating a number
social media campaigns focused on Extension’s past, present, and future.
Where in Florida are the Three Extension Guys? (Smith, Lever and Knapp)
The Cooperative Extension Service would not have been possible without the efforts of educator
Seaman Knapp and congressmen Hoke Smith and Asbury Lever. To commemorate their
pioneering work, life-size cutouts of Smith, Lever and Knapp have been printed and are currently
circulating. If you happen to see Smith, Lever and Knapp as they travel around the state, snap a
picture of you with them and share it with us by posting it to the wall of UF IFAS Solutions on
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/UFIFASNews), by using hashtag #UFIFASExtGuys on
Twitter or Instagram, or by e-mailing them to golem@ufl.edu.
You can keep up with their whereabouts here:
http://on.fb.me/1c6KSYU
100 Years, 100 Ways Extension Has Helped Floridians
As part of our celebration, UF IFAS Solutions is collecting stories that convey the ways
Extension has helped Floridians. If you or any of your clients have a story about how Extension
has impacted your life, we’d like to hear it. Ultimately, our goal is to collect 100 stories that we
can use to create a poster or display celebrating the relevance of Extension’s work over the past
100 years.
Let us know how UF/IFAS Extension has helped you by sharing your stories through Facebook
by posting them to the wall of UF IFAS Solutions, by using hashtag #UFIFASExt100 on
Twitter, or by e-mailing them to golem@ufl.edu.
If you have any questions about how to participate in social media, visit contact Robert Wells at
IFAS Communications (rhwells@ufl.edu).