Feature Story
NJ Agricultural Society – A History of Service to New Jersey
F
or over 240 years, the New Jersey Agricultural Society has played a prominent role in New Jersey’s agricultural history and has served to support this important industry. From its inception until present time, the society has worked to further New Jersey agricultural pursuits. As agriculture has evolved over the past centuries, so have the activities of the society. However, the mission remains the same today as it did in 1781; “To preserve and enhance agriculture, farming and related activities and businesses in New Jersey through educational, informational, and promotional programs.” To illustrate just how long the society has been in existence, when it was formed in 1781 the United States were still colonies fighting for independence. George Washington would not become President for another eight years! While most of the society’s initial records have been lost to history, the earliest reference to the society was a notice in the NJ Gazette advising that the next meeting of the NJ Society for Promoting Agriculture, Commerce and the Arts would be held on September 7, 1781. The first secretary of the society was Samuel Stockton. Born in 1751, Stockton was a Princeton graduate, lawyer, diplomat to Austria & Holland during the Revolutionary War, Secretary to New Jersey’s convention to ratify the constitution and later served as New Jersey’s Secretary of State. The society’s activities really took off in 1818 when Andrew Kirpatrick (who was also serving as New Jersey’s Chief
Learning Through Gardening program
48 WINTER/SPRING | 2021
Justice) became its secretary. Under Kirpatrick, the society became instrumental in disseminating information to the industry. Topics included: Improved Farm Practices, Systems of Cultivation, Crop Rotation, Manure Applications, analyzed grain and forage varieties, and varietal studies for apples and cider as well as studies to develop profitable breeds of livestock. Do these activities sound familiar? If you think about it, the society was almost a forerunner for what is now Rutgers University Agricultural Experiment Station. Since agriculture was New Jersey’s largest industry at the time, the organization was vital to supporting and advancing this industry to help meet the challenges of a growing nation. In fact, the society would coordinate their meetings to coincide when New Jersey’s legislature was in session. The society advised the legislature on all agricultural matters. Since the NJ Department of Agriculture would not be formally organized until 1916, the society acted as an “unofficial” department of agriculture to the government. In 1839, the society reorganized and changed their name to the New Jersey State Agricultural Society. They expanded their activities to sponsor agricultural fairs held in various locations throughout the state. These fairs served to exchange the latest information and showcase new agricultural practices among the industry. To encourage improved breeding, prizes were given out to various categories and breeds of livestock. The society sponsored speakers who came from all over the country to lecture on the latest agricultural technology. The society even funded a special committee whose job was to investigate disease outbreaks in crops and livestock, as well as offer recommendations to mitigate these problems. By 1855, the society became more structured. A constitution was created, and an executive committee and board of trustees was formed. Dues were one dollar per year, or ten dollars would buy you a “life membership”. The state legislature began a yearly appropriation of $1,000 toward funding the society’s programs. Charles Olden became President of the society. (Olden is noteworthy to New Jersey history since he later became Governor and his former estate, “Drumthwacket” now serves as New Jersey’s official Governor’s residence.)
