Williams County Homemakers' Council records

During the 1930s, the office of the home demonstration agent was established to assist the County Agent in providing extension activities geared to the homemakers in the county. The William County Home Council (later called the Williams County Homemakers' Council) was organized in October 1943 with representation from each township. Meeting quarterly, they planned programs and activities for homemakers' and 4-H clubs, encouraging leadership and self-government. A small charge per club paid the expenses of the Council.

The duties of the Home Councilors included helping to secure project leaders for topics of interest to the local groups, chairing local meetings, maintaining mailing lists, and arranging special projects such as the Fair Committee, Women's Camp, and Farmers' Week and Institute. Programs for youth and adult clubs included such topics as nutrition, clothing, home furnishings, home and farm management, crops, livestock, and community affairs, with child development and family relations later additions. The home agent coordinated the activities of all the councils and clubs, brought in experts for lectures and demonstrations, lectured and demonstrated herself, gave radio and television presentations, spoke to various community groups, directed publicity, and judged contests and fairs.

Extension agents and clubs still are an active part of rural life in Williams County, and continue to be instrumental in keeping participants up-to-date in new products and methods used in housekeeping and farming.