In 1955 there were 1400 farms in Union County, according to the census report that year. The total profit from farming was $1,107,595.40. The next highest income was from the sale of livestock amounting to $230,000.00. This included cattle, sheep, horses and mules.
In the 1950s and 1960s, the Home Demonstration Clubs of Union County began selling the crafts they had made. They averaged $1,000 profit per year. The ladies in Union County clubs belonged to the prestigious “Southern Highland Guild.” In 1957, the ladies purchased a kiln. There were 13 clubs in different communities throughout Union County.
In the 1960s, Extension Agricultural work was implemented by the County Planning Commission. A County Council was formed from all the different clubs. There was a County Council until 2021, when the Covid epidemic took place and clubs folded because of fear when having meetings and the fear of contamination was going on throughout the world.
In 1963, the UC Home Demonstration Clubs purchased a hospital bed to be used by anyone in the county. After forming a County Council in 1962, the UC Home Demonstration Club joined the National Home Demonstration Council. They chose Becky Andrews as their voting delegate. They also voted to fold the Rose Hill Club because of lack of members. That was the year they voted to change the name from “Home Demonstration” to “Homemakers” Clubs.
In the 1970s the name changed again to EHC for Extension Homemakers Clubs.
The president of the County Council was Mid Barnum and the agent was Debbie Johnson, who later married Agent Bill Morgan.
Today, under the University of Tennessee, it is called FCE for Family Community and Education Club. There is only one club remaining and it is the original Big Ridge Club. Our Agent is Abby Cabbage Thomas.
In the 1966 report, Agent Harold Julian and Anna S. Hobt taught homemakers how to purify water, how to stockpile food in case of an emergency and how to drain a water tank in case of a nuclear disaster. They even taught how to survive a nuclear attack.
I remember when the year 2000 rolled in, people were fearful of the world coming to an end and stockpiled canned goods. The Home Demonstrators assisted with the distribution of the polio vaccines. They made school basketball uniforms. They assisted with the organizing of recreation activities for the youth in the county. They purchased equipment for the Little League and even financed the coaching staff.
In 1963, a Home Demonstration member from the Arevalo club won the “Woman of the Year” award with her involvement with homemakers and 4-H. Unfortunately, records did not mention the name of the person.