Wake County, NC - Bicentennial File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Barbara Kawamoto Reprinted with permission of the News & Observer and cannot be reproduced without permission. The News and Observer Bicentennial Special/Early 20th Century December 29, 1991 Raleigh 200 By Treva Jones ‘When We’re Green We Grow’ Raleigh native Jane Simpson McKimmon was one of the state’s premier how-to experts and an evangelist for a better way of life for North Carolina’s farmwomen. In 1911, she became the first North Carolina home demonstration agent and was one of five pioneer agents in the South. Initially, her job was to teach farm girls how to grow and can tomatoes to earn extra income. Under her leadership, by the spring of 1912, home demonstration agents had been placed in 14 North Carolina counties. Farm boys had started "corn clubs" that were so popular that girls formed clubs of their own. They in turn made farmwomen want to get in on the action. Home demonstration clubs were established and spread until there were agents and clubs in all 100 counties. In later years, the program was broadened to encourage reading, health and music appreciation. McKimmon, daughter of William Simpson and Ann Cannon Shank Simpson, was born in Raleigh on Nov. 13, 1867. She graduated from Peach Institute when she was 16. In 1886, she married Raleigh merchant Charles McKimmon. They had three sons and a daughter. She earned a bachelor’s degree at N. C. State College in 1926 and a master’s degree in 1929. For her leadership in adult education for farmwomen, the University of North Carolina gave her an honorary LLD degree in 1934. From 1924 until 1936, at a time when few women worked outside the home, she was assistant director of the North Carolina Agricultural Extension Service. Known by associates as "Miss Jennie," she retired as home demonstration agent in 1937 and began writing a book about the work. After publication of "When We’re Green We Grow," she left the extension service in 1946. Two years later, she was featured on NBC Radio’s "Cavalcade of America." McKimmon said of her work: "It has been a ready and receptive people with whom I have worked, a people who were green and ready to grow and I have seen the sap rise, the leaves put forth, and a multitude of blossoms bring forth fruit in its season." She lived to see home demonstration club membership total more than 75,000. Today, the North Carolina Extension Homemakers Association, Inc., has nearly 1,300 clubs with nearly 20,000 members in the 100 counties. McKimmon died in November 1957. In 1976, the Jane S. McKimmon Center for Extension and Continuing Education was completed on the N.C. State University campus at Western Boulevard and Gorman Street. ============================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. The electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. ==============================================================