The Wayne County office of Penn State Cooperative Extension recently received an award from The Wayne County Historical Society for attaining 100 years of service. The extension office was established in Honesdale on April 12, 1919 and was first known as the Farm Bureau Organization. This group met on May 6, 1919 with the Wayne County commissioners to secure appropriations for operating expenses.

On May 14, R. E. Wakely, the first county agent, began work with cow testing, corn variety tests, breeding associations, fertilizer demonstrations for forage production and a future youth component known as 4-H. In 2002, the Master Gardener Program began to assist the public in Wayne County. Today, the 4-H and Master Well Owner programs are also of major interest in Wayne County. Community service projects, volunteers and 4-H leaders all are important parts of the program.

Originally located on the main floor of the Wayne County Courthouse in Honesdale, Penn State Extension outgrew its space and later relocated to the courthouse basement. Currently, the Penn State Extension Wayne County office is located at the county’s Park Street Complex, 648 Park St. Today, Penn State’s Wayne County.

Extension is adapting to the needs of a new century by offering a wide variety of educational opportunities for all for the exciting future that lies ahead.