Agricultural Hall of Fame - RUTH AUGUSTA CURRENT

RUTH AUGUSTA CURRENT
1901 - 1967

We recognize Miss Ruth Current as one of North Carolina's greatest women. She was a home economist, a pioneer educator, and an efficient administrator of the Home Economics program of the North Carolina Agricultural Extension Service.

A native of Rowan County, Ruth Current was educated at Meredith, Madison and Peabody Colleges and at Columbia and N.C. State Universities. In addition to home economics, her major studies were in sociology and adult education.

She began her career as dietician for the Methodist Orphanage in Winston-Salem. She taught home economics in several high schools before becoming affiliated with the North Carolina Agricultural Extension Service. Here she served as home demonstration agent in Iredell County, as district home agent in the Southwest, and as assistant State 4-H leader. On February 4, 1937, she was named State Agent to succeed Dr. Jane S. McKimmon, retired.

Miss Current served effectively in this position until July 13, 1957, when she was named assistant director of the N.C. Agricultural Extension Service in charge of the State's home economics program.

Gifted with vision, inspirations and leadership, Miss Current's program expanded from basic homemaking skills to include the intangible cultural phases of life which are so essential to abundant living.

It was Ruth Current who first saw that the farm people of North Carolina were ready to accept a "good reading program," music appreciation, art, handicrafts, group recreation and an informed citizenship program. She initiated homemakers' study tour to the United Nations, coordinated statewide county programs with the State Library, the State Board of Health, the State Recreation Commission, and the Medical Society of the State of North Carolina.

For her untiring efforts and her leadership programs, Miss Current has been honored both statewide and nationally.

In 1947 The Progressive Farmer magazine named Ruth Current as "Woman of the Year." In 1950 she was chosen as "Carolina's Farm Leader." In 1953 she was given the title of "Tar Heel of the Week" and named "Woman of the Year" by the Chi Omega Sorority. In 1954 she received the USDA Superior Service Award.

In 1961 when she retired, the N.C. Home Demonstrations Agents Association honored her with a reception at her home, "Mount Vernon" near Cleveland, N.C. Here her portrait was unveiled and presented to N.C. State University.

As a memorial to Ruth Current, a loan fund was established for agents to use in furthering their graduate studies. This memorial was made possible by the North Carolina Extension Homemakers Clubs.

Today we honor Ruth Current for her devotion to duty. In her every action there was dignity, concern and love for the people of her native state. Under her guidance, the people developed many skills, increased their incomes, improved their homes, developed better health care and, in general, provided a richer and fuller life for their families.

Time cannot erase the impressions Ruth Current made upon the lives of rural North Carolina.

Elected to the North Carolina
AGRICULTURAL HALL OF FAME
1976