From its inception, home economics extension work in South Dakota was organized primarily at the neighborhood and community level, with counties supporting anywhere from one to several individual clubs. In areas where multiple home demonstration clubs were well-established, county demonstration councils were formed to coordinate activities and advise the county home demonstration agent. These councils helped shape programming and priorities, while a state-level council convened annually during State Farm and Home Week to provide broader direction and share recommendations with local groups.
The earliest predecessor to Extension clubs in South Dakota was the Farmers’ Institute, a university-sponsored program that delivered lectures on farm and home topics. Homemaking was a central part of these programs, enabling rural women to benefit from shared knowledge and discussion. Prior to formal Extension work, community women’s clubs created their own educational programs and met in rural churches or homes.
Following the passage of the Smith-Lever Act in 1914, Venia Keller was appointed the first female Extension worker in South Dakota. Her work, and that of early specialists, was closely tied to the Farmers’ Institute and homemakers’ clubs, offering demonstrations and lectures—particularly on food preparation—at county fairs and other public events. During World War I, funding from the Federal Food Production Act enabled the employment of county home demonstration agents, who worked with the Food Administration to promote food conservation, canning, and alternative food sources, including cottage cheese.
The 1920s saw steady growth in home demonstration work, with organized clubs expanding across the state. Districts were added, leader training meetings were introduced, and new educational efforts were launched in food, clothing, and home management. In 1928, the Capper-Ketcham Act provided funding that allowed agents to focus on fewer counties, improving service. That same year, the South Dakota Federation of Home Demonstration Clubs was formally organized at the State Fair, with its first business meeting held in early 1929. The Federation encouraged participation from individual clubs and held two annual statewide meetings—a business session at the State Fair and an educational gathering during Farm and Home Week at South Dakota State University.
The Federation aimed to facilitate the exchange of ideas about home life and relied on the Extension Service for educational materials and planning. Early projects included state contests in poultry, egg recipes, ironing, bread baking, and vegetable preparation, enhancing club programming. During the Great Depression, district meetings were held to reduce travel costs, a practice continued into the 1940s when Farm and Home Week was discontinued.
In 1950, clubs undertook their first statewide fundraising project, sponsoring a German exchange student to study home economics and extension at SDSU. Extension clubs also contributed funds to organizations such as the Crippled Children’s Hospital and the South Dakota Art Museum.
By the 1970s, local leaders began planning meetings independently to emphasize local needs while still promoting Council goals. The main function remained consistent: to strengthen county participation, promote educational projects, and build community ties. Over time, the organization’s name evolved—from the South Dakota Home Demonstration Clubs to the South Dakota Home Extension Homemakers Clubs, and later to the South Dakota Community and Family Extension Leaders—but its core mission of improving home and community life remained unchanged.