NORWICH – For 100 years, the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chenango County has helped farmers and families adjust to changing times while also helping promote agriculture as an asset to the local economy.

Although the tricks and trades of the ag world may have changed since 1915, the fundamentals of the Cornell co-op have not. That’s the message the Extension aims to highlight as it celebrates its milestone centennial year.

“The fundamentals of Extension are still the same today. We bring together lots of local farmers with Cornell University research, and let their own practical experience and expertise mix with the latest research. That’s a successful recipe that's gone back for a long time,” said Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) Director Ken Smith. “Looking ahead, that’s a role we want to continue to play.”

The Extension is planning a number of events to celebrate its 100th year in Chenango County, starting with a collaborative exhibit with the Chenango County Historical Society. CCE and the museum will debut a special agriculture exhibit in the newly constructed Loomis Barn at 45 Rexford St. in Norwich. The exhibit will feature documents, photographs, and machinery that shows a timeline of how farming tools have tranformed over the last century, from the horse-pulled plows of the early 20th century to the automated GPS-driven equipment of today.