Rutgers Cooperative Extension Joins University’s 250th Year Celebration

CREST HAVEN – Rutgers Cooperative Extension and Cape May County, perfect together. That was the summation of Marilou Rochford’s presentation to freeholders Jan. 26. As Rutgers marks its 250th anniversary, Rochford, County Extension department head, the service, headquartered on Court House-South Dennis Road, plans many activities for the public.
“Rutgers’ history is the nation’s history,” Rochford said. The university started before America’s Revolution, “and grew from a small, private Colonial college to one of the most diverse universities in America with over 65,000 students,” she added.
It was Nov. 10, 1766 that the royal governor of New Jersey created Queen’s College to educate young men for the ministry. As such, it was the eighth of nine Colonial colleges. In 1864, Rutgers prevailed over Princeton to become New Jersey’s Land Grant University, as it remains to this day, Rochford said.
For the sports-minded, Rutgers is the place where college football was born in 1869. The university is composed of 31 schools with more than 22,000 faculty and staff, as well as over 470 living, active alumni, Rochford said.
“To show our connection to New Jersey, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Cape May County wants to show our connection to the county and community as part of our celebration of this 250th anniversary,” Rochford said.
“Our job is to take information from the university and bring it to the community. We are more informal, we have no formal classrooms, and we offer service to all ages. We have three program areas, Family and Community Health Science, 4-H Youth programs, and Agriculture and Resource Management,” Richford continued.
County Agent Jenny Carleo, who works with all county farmers to assist them with agencies, trailing and consultation, has offered $2 soil testing for homeowners whose lawns may have been inundated by salt water in the latest winter storm. That test will show what chemicals may be needed to bring the soil back to the proper level to support grass, shrubs and flowers.
The 4-H Youth Development program, under Linda Horner, reaches over 200 children who “learn about life skills,” said Rochford. The annual 4-H Fair, this year July 21, 22 and 23, will showcase those youngsters’ projects and skills.
There are programs for any interest in the 4-H program from cooking, marine science and horses to computers and robots.
“Every night in February a 4-H club is meeting in Cape May County,” Rochford said. Some older 4-H members will be attending the South Jersey Teen Conference in Cherry Hill, March 4-6.
“March 14-18, we invite you to come and see our 4-Hers at Atlantic Cape Community College as they all participate in presentations,” said Rochford.
Family and Community Services programs help residents “stay healthy and active with a variety of workshops and online training to make choices to improve their health,” Rochford said.
Some of those activities include parenting skills as well as courses for grandparents raising their grandchildren.
She cited the Winter Wellness, “New Year, New You” program, a four-part series that started Feb. 2, and will be held Feb, 9, 16 and 23, with another planned in the spring. They will focus on health and nutrition. Others will be held in April and October.
“Many things are happening and they could not happen without your support,” Rochford told the board.