In 1918 the two Extensions Agents Kyker and Miller organized the first Union County Fair. It was supported by the County Commission who donated $1,000. The County Commission only supported the fair for one year. They traveled to Knoxville for the District Exhibition and competitions. This was a big deal for the 4-H members and the women of the Home Demonstration Clubs. Most had never traveled outside the county.
Agents had to travel by horse and buggy to the various communities.
County Commission contributed $10 to support a remolding of a room in the Court House for a Community Kitchen. It was used by the community as a “Canning Center”. Presently (2024) we have a community kitchen located at the UC Farmers Market. There were many Canning Centers in the various communities back then.
Tin Cans were used in the canning process. The cans were ordered ahead of time and delivered by rail in Luttrell. The cans were loose in a box car in cardboard boxes. The cans were picked up and hauled by wagons to the various canning centers.
In the 1930’s the Ball Canning Company sold glass jars used for canning. This allowed homemakers to can in their own homes.
Many different vegetables and fruits were grown and canned in Union County. Beans were preserved by drying them for their seeds to be used in the next growing season. Potatoes were easy to grow and after they were dug in the Fall, they were stored in a cool dry place for up to five years, if stored properly. Usually storing underneath a house. Sweet Potatoes were a popular crop and would even grow in poor conditions. Apples were a popular fruit. The average farm in Union County had 18 apple trees. They dried the fruit and made jellies, apple butter and the favorite, fried pies and apple stack cakes. Apples were wrapped in newspapers and stored in a cool dark place for eating all Winter.
Vinegar was made from the sour apples, it was stored in wooden barrels until it fermented. The “Home Brew”. was also made from the apple juice by adding yeast and sugar. After fermenting, it made a bubbly Champaign. Local farmer Clayton Irick said farmer Jess Evan’s had 500 apple trees of various kinds of apples. They also made Apple Brandy at the Peter Beeler Distillery. Corn was also grown to feed the farmers family and his livestock.
Agent Miller organized the local Home Demonstration Clubs for the women of Union County. They met in each others homes in their communities. Miller taught canning in the various ways available such as cold pack method.
In 1925 the Union County Extensions consisted of a County Agent, an Assistant Agent, a Superintendent and a Home Demonstration Agent.
They planned on how to add libraries to Union County and its various communities. This was called the “Library Project”. Libraries were set up in people’s homes and community country stores.
With TVA buying up farms in the fertile bottoms of Union County, Relocation Extension Agents were brought in to the county to assist families on relocating. They searched the surrounding East Tennessee area for acreage.