Programs through the Years
Since 1913, UCCE Humboldt programs have evolved to meet community needs. While UCCE Humboldt began with just one farm advisor dedicated to improving the farming practices of rural communities, it has expanded to serve the needs of growing urban and suburban communities. In addition, early farm advisors were expected to be experts in a wide range of topics, including forestry, natural resource, and community issues. Today, advisors are specialists in their respective fields who manage specific programs in forestry, plant science, livestock/natural resources, and healthy families and communities.
While much within UCCE Humboldt has changed since its inception, many of its programs continue to address similar themes in a changing world. For example, since the 1910s, UCCE Humboldt has emphasized economic development; finding efficiencies; uses and markets for byproducts of production; conservation of energy; integrated pest management in the home, garden and farm; new crop development; food preservation; and business planning and family succession. Since the 1980s, adapting practices to help minimize impacts on the environment has been a major focus of UCCE Humboldt’s programs. Furthermore, there have been changes in the communities that are served by UCCE Humboldt’s programs, with specific attention now given to minority and other underserved audiences, as well as urban and suburban audiences. Whether it was a 100 years ago or just last week, UCCE Humboldt advisors provide practical solutions to life’s problems, connect the community to the informational resources of the University of California, and provide trusted research-based solutions.
