Lawrence County Extension Office Records

The roots of the Cooperative Extension Service are in the Morrill Act passed in 1862. This act of the United States Congress provided land for western states and territories to establish colleges and universities to research and demonstrate agriculture, home economics, mechanics and other practical arts. The Cooperative Extension Service was established in 1914 with the Smith-Lever Act to serve as a bridge between the research facilities and the people. In 1914 the Extension Service was created at the State College of Agriculture (now South Dakota State University). Lawrence County established the second county extension work in West River and on September 18th, 1915 W. E. Lyman was the first agent stationed in Spearfish. Initial projects were marketing the apple crop and demonstrating the use of the vaccine for Black Leg. He also had a great interest in establishing a sugar beet plant in Lawrence County. In 2011, the Lawrence County Extension Office was closed and the Butte County Extension Office became responsible for providing service to both Butte and Lawrence Counties.