A UC Cooperative Extension septic tank demonstration project in Kern County.

In 1914, Congress and the president realized that, in order to feed a great nation, ag research advances from top universities had to reach farmers. So they created Cooperative Extension. For 100 years, Cooperative Extension academics have worked side-by-side with farmers to boost yields, battle pests, ensure food safety, protect the environment and make the best use of irrigation water available.

Some of the families to be honored Thursday are:

The Carver-Bowel family
The first generation of the Carver-Bowel family came by wagon train to California in 1850. Six generations have worked the cattle ranch that straddles the Kern-Tulare county line.

The Porter family
Farmer Dick Porter's grandfather planted oranges in Kern County in 1902. When the trees produced fruit, he hooked up his private train car to a trainload of Midwesterners to sell them land where they could grow "California gold." (A photo of the train car is below.)

The Fry family
Like UC Cooperative Extension, the Fry Ranch got its start in 1914. Mary Rebecca Yarnell Fry Lamb purchased 20 acres of undeveloped land in the Shafter area. In time, the family began a dairy and grew feed for the milk cows. They acquired land and, over 100 years, grew everything from alfalfa to wheat.

"When Kern County was created, the flatlands were considered uninhabitable, but over the years determined farming families put down roots and became the foundation of an industry that now produces farm crops valued at more than $6 billion a year," Marsh said. "Agricultural research and teaching have played a tremendous role in achieving that milestone and will continue to do so in the future."

The Porter family rail car used to entice Midwestern families to Kern County.