Interview with Frances Hackworth Benge, March 19, 1985

Interview Summary

Frances Evelyn Hackworth Benge was born in Salyersville, Kentucky, Magoffin County, on June 24, 1936. Benge attended elementary and secondary school in Magoffin County and graduated from Eastern State Teacher's College, now Eastern Kentucky University, in 1958. She attended one semester at the University of Kentucky in 1950 and received a Master's degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1969. She remembers she always wanted to be a Home Demonstration Agent. Benge was appointed Assistant County Agent-in-Training in Boyle County, Kentucky in 1964. She discusses her experiences of learning the duties of a County Agent and a 4-H Agent "on the job".

Benge was Public Information Specialist, then Home Demonstration Agent for Bracken County from 1961 to 1967. After taking sabbatical leave, she was Home Economics Agent in Russell County until 1971, when she became a 4-H Area Agent in July, 1971. She describes her duties and training programs, and discusses the difficulties of this work. Benge talks about the Extension Councils at the state, county, and area level, and the responsibilities of each. She describes the services offered by various organizations such as the Kentucky Farm Bureau. Benge discusses the contributions of the U.K. College of Agriculture in her work as County Agent and Area Specialist. She talks about her membership in various professional organizations. She describes her experiences with Extension Services, both satisfying and dissatisfying. Benge recalls her work with the Home Interest Council and how it represents the county Homemakers Clubs. The interviewer lists the many awards she has received.

Interview Keyword

Kentucky's Cooperative Extension Service

Interview LC Subject

Benge, Frances Hackworth, 1936- Benge, Frances Hackworth, 1936- --Interviews Home economics University of Kentucky University of Kentucky--History University of Kentucky. Cooperative Extension Service

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.