1975 March 19

INTRODUCTION

COMMENTS ON EXTENSION DIRECTOR K. L. HATCH
Scope and Content Note: Former director of a county school of agriculture with strong background in technical aspects of agricultural production. Interesting and likable, he gave staff members maximum freedom to develop.

COMMENTS ON WARREN W. CLARK, SUCCESSOR TO HATCH AS EXTENSION DIRECTOR
Scope and Content Note: A successful county agent. J. H. Kolb, Wileden, and Nat Frame, developer of extension recreation and cultural arts programs in West Virginia, persuaded Hatch to include these programs in Wisconsin. Violent disagreements between Clark and Kolb over extension recreational and cultural arts programs. Politically conservative, Clark opposed the consumer cooperative approach.

COMMENTS ON J. H. KOLB
Scope and Content Note: Kolb “a difficult person to understand,” who originally supported expansion of extension recreational and cultural arts programs, but later withdrew support.

MORE ON DEAN CHRISTIANSEN, KOLB AND CLARK
Scope and Content Note: Christiansen supported cultural arts program; caught in crossfire between Kolb and Clark. Clark built some administrative structure and strengthened county agent system.

ANECDOTE ABOUT CLARK FORBIDDING DISCUSSION OF CONSUMER COOPERATIVES
Scope and Content Note: Wileden arranged county-wide workshops to discuss controversial issues; one arranged in Ashland to discuss consumer and producer cooperatives. Ashland editor John Chapple considered consumer cooperatives “akin to communism”; notified Clark, who directed district supervisor Walter Rowlands to order Wileden to cancel the workshop.

MORE COMMENTS ON WARREN CLARK
Scope and Content Note: Controversy between Clark and Kolb remained until Clark's retirement. Wileden and Clark disagreed over annual reports sent to Washington because Wileden insisted on reporting failures as well as successes, whereas Clark wanted only successes reported.

COMMENTS ON HENRY AHLGREN, CLARK'S SUCCESSOR
Scope and Content Note: “A breath of fresh air” when Ahlgren became director. “Probably one of the two or three best administrators under whom I have ever served.” Background in agronomy and research; an outstanding teacher. Staff members free to discuss anything with Ahlgren.

CHANGES IN RURAL WISCONSIN IN A CHANGING AGRICULTURAL ECONOMY
Scope and Content Note: Rural population began decline, especially in northern Wisconsin; agriculture grew more technical, “big business-like.” Farms more difficult to finance and the “agricultural ladder” began to disappear. Ten-cow farms replaced by those with 50 or 60 cows.

MERGER OF UNIVERSITY EXTENSION SERVICES
Scope and Content Note: Wileden had worked as much with various general extension services as with cooperative extension services before the merger of the two.

CONTINUATION OF COMMENTS ON AHLGREN
Scope and Content Note: Ahlgren appointed assistant chancellor, then chancellor of the newly merged university extension services. Ahlgren a skillful leader, with an ability to bring together people of opposite viewpoints.

ANECDOTE ABOUT DISPUTE OVER CHURCH LEADERS CONFERENCES
Scope and Content Note: Support of annual conferences for church leaders an example of courageous decision made by Ahlgren. President Harrington and Lorentz H. Adolfson, Director of General Extension, refused to take stand on the controversial issue.

ANECDOTE ABOUT INSURING STUDENTS DOING COMMUNITY STUDIES FIELDWORK
Scope and Content Note: Wileden told he must assume all responsibility for any accidents while students were doing community studies fieldwork. No accidents in twenty years.

AHLGREN SUPPORTS COMMUNITY STUDIES
Scope and Content Note: Very much in favor of community studies, especially studies of French Island, Washington Island, and Rock Island.

MORE ON AHLGREN
Scope and Content Note: Ahlgren forward-looking, non-authoritative, helpful in getting problems worked out, and very personable.

WILEDEN'S INITIAL CONTACT WITH FARMERS ORGANIZATIONS
Scope and Content Note: Began with Rural Organization Leaders Conferences, which arose out of study of Special Interest Groups in Rural Society. Later began to work full-time for extension, and felt the University should assist rural organization leaders.

FORMAT OF LEADER TRAINING CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS
Scope and Content Note: Leaders met together as well as in subgroups according to their particular job as officers, leaders in drama, music, social recreation, public affairs and public discussion. From eight to twelve workshops held annually in counties throughout the state.

FARMERS' ORGANIZATIONS WHICH USE EXTENSION SERVICES
Scope and Content Note: Training workshops helped get farmers organizations involved with Extension. Wisconsin Farmers Union, particularly Jean Long, receptive. Also Grange, parent-teacher associations, community clubs, women's clubs and farmers' clubs, heavily involved. Farm Bureau did not respond; wanted services provided only for its leaders. County meetings ultimately led to annual state organization leaders conferences. Extension's dissemination of information to state organizations encouraged free discussion of issues.

WHY THE FARM BUREAU REJECTED EXTENSION'S SERVICES
Scope and Content Note: Farm Bureau originated as agency of extension, and in other states remained integrated. Different in Wisconsin where K. L. Hatch refused to permit that kind of Farm Bureau-extension relationship.

WHY THE GRANGE AND FARMERS UNION REACTED FAVORABLY TO EXTENSION SERVICES
Scope and Content Note: Grange always interested in educational program; extension services “like a breath of fresh air” to Wisconsin Farmers Union, surprised that the university interested in their organization.

INTRODUCTION

PUBLIC AFFAIRS DISCUSSIONS FOCUS ON CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES
Scope and Content Note: Extension insisted that controversial issues be thoroughly discussed and decisions made by the group. Included such issues as dairy marketing, doctor's fees, and so on. Farm Bureau did not respond to the program, whereas the Farmers Union did.

ANECDOTE ABOUT MEETING ON DAIRY PRODUCTS MARKETING
Scope and Content Note: Wileden and Ewbank prepared an attitude scale on dairy marketing which was distributed to representatives of various farmers organizations. Results showed that people had listened attentively during a public affairs discussion on dairy marketing and changed their opinions as a result.

NATIONAL FARMERS ORGANIZATION (NFO)
Scope and Content Note: Growing in state just as Wileden retiring.

DEAN CHRISTIANSEN SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS DISCUSSIONS
Scope and Content Note: Dean Christiansen strongly supported public affairs discussions; helped bring Martin Anderson to extension staff.

DEPARTMENT OF RURAL SOCIOLOGY DISCONTINUES PUBLIC AFFAIRS DISCUSSIONS
Scope and Content Note: One summer while Wileden teaching at Cornell, rural sociology department encouraged Martin Anderson to leave; program of public affairs discussions dropped.

BULLETIN ON CONDUCTING THE BUSINESS MEETING DESIGNED TO AID FARMERS
Scope and Content Note: Such bulletins as Conducting the Business Meeting designed to give farmers more confidence in expressing their opinions. Reprinted twelve times since 1928.