In late 1909, USDA decided to start girls’ tomato canning clubs similar to the boys’ corn clubs. Hearing that a domestic science program was planned, Virginia Tech President J. D. Eggleston spoke to state extension demonstration agent Thomas Sandy, who recommended Agnew to develop a program for their rural schools. She began work on February 1, 1910 and immediately began organizing cooking classes and garden work in several agricultural high schools. On May 31, she met with Dr. Seaman Knapp, Gov. William Mann and other officials in Richmond. She was appointed “State Agent of Girls’ Tomato Clubs” and was to work in two counties to organize small groups to grow and can tomatoes.
Knapp persuaded the USDA Secretary to appoint her as a USDA field representative – the first home demonstration agent. In 10 years of work, she reached over 320,000 rural girls and women and developed the first handbook for county home demonstration agents. She helped to lay the foundation for 4-H and Extension Homemakers organizations. Agnew went on to work for the YWCA National Board finance department, the first female editor at Southern Planter magazine “Woman’ Department” section and finally as head of New Deal relief activities for women at Federal Emergency Relief Administration, which became the W.P.A. She retired in 1943, but continued to be involved in civic affairs until her death in 1958.
