90 Years of Technology at Farmingdale

In the earliest years at Farmingdale, technology revolved around farming. The course of study included Farm Crops, Soil Fertility, Dairying and Animal Husbandry, Forestry and Be ekeeping, Olericulture and Fruit Growing, Farm Mechanics and Farm Management, among other things. Here, an early student is shown riding a Cletrac Tractor.

The Institute acquired many pieces of farming equipment.

In 1920, the Institute began it s Farm Equipment Show under the auspices of the Mechanics Department. "Several makes of tractors were shown and there were exhibits of pumps, water systems, and electric light plants" (from Historical Sketch of the New York State Institute of Agriculture At Farmingdale, N. Y., archival document). The program soon became a popular event called the Country Life Program, and ran once a year. Shown here are salesmen, at a Country Life Program, probably in the 1930's, on the second floor of the Agricultural Equipment Building. The salesman on the right is displaying a Hoover Vacuum Cleaner, and A Hoover Duster. The salesman on the left is standing in front of two "ice boxes." The sign on top of one of them says "The Famous Frigidaire Cold Control--for faster freezing."

In 1920, the legislature appropriated money for the establishment of the New York State Egg Laying and Poult ry Breeding Contest. The first contest was featured on the cover of the Oct. 1920 Long Island Agriculturist.

As the school matured, its focus widened to include science and technology in addition to the agricultural sciences. Here a student uses a "strength of materials test machine" in Lupton Hall. Even today, the college offers a course in Strength of Materials in the Mechanical Engineering Tec hnology (MET) Program. In April 2001, Dr. Ahmed Ibrahim of the MET Dept. received a Summer 2001 Research Fellowship at NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC). Dr. Ibrahim was selected as a result of his contribution to the area of fatigue and fracture of thermally sprayed materials. His research project at NASA will focus on the fatigue and fracture of advanced aerospace materials.

As was the case at most col leges, World War II saw an increase in the number of female students. Also, the college offered a four-week War Industry Course of four weeks in 1943 and 1944. This course offered the opportunity to learn basic knowledge in sheet metal work, the use of tools, layout, forming, drilling, riveting, and assembly. There was also a War Industry Course in 1944 for Republic Aircraft employees to train in shop work and sheet metal. This course was 7-10 days in length. (From History and Data Relative to the St ate Institute of Agriculture at Farmingdale, New York, November 1945 Archival Document.)

Here two women are shown soldering and using a blow torch.