Campbell, Thomas Monroe

1883-1956 · Contribution: 1906-1953

Agricultural Extension Pioneer

Became the first agricultural extension agent of any race hired into the USDA's Cooperative Extension System (1906), pioneering the “Movable School” (Jesup Agricultural Wagon) model for bringing farming science directly to rural Black farmers

Agriculture & Food: collage image
Agriculture & Food

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Quick facts

Born
1883
Active since
1906
Category
Agriculture & Food
Best known for
First USDA extension agentThe "Movable School"459-agent network

Impact on the world

Campbell invented the model of taking agricultural science directly to farmers who could not travel to it, reaching families the system had ignored. His work seeded a nationwide network of Black extension agents.

An alternative history

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Sources

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