By Blaine P. Friedlander Jr.
On an all-day tour across New York state's Southern Tier last week, President Hunter Rawlings saw firsthand that Cornell Cooperative Extension not only provides dairy advice and serves up crop information but, in many cases, the service helps make positive changes in the complexion of whole communities.
"Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) is one of the jewels in the university's crown," said William Lacy, director of CCE, who took Rawlings and a group of Cornell administrators on the Cornell/Community Partnership Showcase, May 7. "After all," Lacy pointed out, "it's not only one of the largest but probably the best cooperative extension system in the country."
Other university officials joining Rawlings for the seminar-on-wheels included Provost Don Randel; Norman Scott, vice president for research and advanced studies; Henrik Dullea, vice president for university relations; Francille Firebaugh, dean of the College of Human Ecology; Daryl Lund, dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS); Brian F. Chabot, associate dean of CALS; Jane McGonigal, assistant director of CCE; Bob Andersen, chair of the department extension leaders in CALS; Joe Laquatra, chair of the department extension leaders, College of Human Ecology; Rebecca Tseng Smith, assistant dean of CALS; and Marty Moses, assistant director for the University Council.
On the first stop, the group enjoyed seeing the fruit of one of CCE's latest efforts: the Northern Tioga Center for Family Health in Richford, which opened last October. Most of the village's 2,200 residents have used the health facility and, in fact, the center recorded 753 visits in the first quarter of this year.
"When we started, there were 3-year-olds who had not had their immunizations, and we are just now starting to get caught up with their immunizations. There are a lot of people who don't have insurance; this center takes care of that," said Lynn Verduin, the center's nurse practitioner. She explained to Rawlings that without the help of CCE, this kind of medical program would still be a dream, rather than a reality.
For five years, the area surrounding Richford had been without a primary care physician. In 1993, community leaders, the NY-Penn Health Systems Agency, CCE and Lourdes Hospital in Binghamton got together to establish the health center at Richford and one in Newark Valley.
Next, the tour joined snack time and play time at the Parent Resource Center in Chenango Forks, where parents and their children can develop their relationships within a positive environment and learn about family issues. Rawlings was told that thanks to the partnership efforts of CCE, the Parent Resource Center has plenty of learning activities for parents and toys for kids.
The group also witnessed more agriculturally related programs as they made compost at the Broome County Extension headquarters and toured its unique Cutler Gardens, where one-of-a-kind plants are featured.
The last stop was Candor's AA Farm, which is a 500-cow dairy operation. Bob Aman, one of the owners, explained some of the latest developments in dairy management and described the components that make a farm profitable. Within the past few years, the farm had suffered through manure storage problems, he said, but with the help of CCE, the problem was quickly solved.
"Whether we are talking about a rural or an urban location, it is obvious Cornell Cooperative Extension is essential. That's how we at Cornell can be of service to the state of New York," Rawlings said.