Our Wisconsin: Henry Ahlgren and Extension

The Wisconsin Idea inspires alumni to carry the beneficent influence of the university to every home in the state — and the UW–Extension has long been one of the primary vehicles through which that beneficent influence travels. The Extension was created as a division of the UW in 1906, but it was Henry Ahlgren 1931, MS 1933, PhD 1935 — an agronomy professor that the UW from 1935 on and chancellor of Extension from 1969 to 1974 — who turned the program into what it is today. He led efforts in rural development, helping farmers across the state leverage university research to improve their agricultural techniques and output. He also served as deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture from 1970 to 1971. This sculpture includes a map of the state’s 72 counties and a copy of My Land, My Home, My Wisconsin, a book for which Ahlgren wrote the foreword.