Interview with Susan Langley Cruse, March 12, 1985

Interview Summary

Susan Donald Langley Cruse "was born on a farm near Spotsville, which is an area in Henderson County, Kentucky, on August 19, 1927". She received her B. S. degree in Home Economics from Western Kentucky State Teacher's College (now Western Kentucky University) in 1949. In 1971, she went back to W.K.U. and received a Master's degree in Home Economics Education. Cruse says she "was almost born into extension work"; her parents were great supporters of extension services, and she was named Donald Langley, the Henderson County Extension Agent at the time. Cruse became an Assistant Home Demonstration Agent for Ohio, Logan, and Christian Counties in Kentucky during the summer of 1949. She recalls the differences in these areas, from rural to refined in terms of the people she worked with. She recalls there was more on-the-job training and less theory when she first began in the field, and that training methods are different today.

Since 1950, Cruse has served in Larue County, Kentucky in her current position as County Agent. She describes the dynamics of this area and some of her projects, such as food and nutrition, food preservation, tailoring. She talks about her work with the Homemaker Clubs, and the Utopia Clubs for young people. She talks about her work with the 4-H Club, especially the county fair. Cooper was also an Area Agent in the Lincoln Trail area during this time, and worked primarily in the area of food and nutrition, which she recalls gave her the opportunity to travel to various counties and meet different people. She discusses her work with the County, Area, and State Extension Councils, as well as various organizations, and how they have provided the opportunity for leadership development to the farmers. Cooper describes how the contributions of the University of Kentucky's College of Agriculture helped her become a better County Agent. She mentions that she was the first County Agent allowed to stay in the program after marriage and maternity leave. Cruse talks about her two marriages and her family.

Interview Keyword

Kentucky's Cooperative Extension Service

Interview LC Subject

Cruse, Susan Langley, 1927- Cruse, Susan Langley, 1927- --Interviews Home economics University of Kentucky University of Kentucky--History University of Kentucky. Cooperative Extension Service

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Interview Usage

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