DUANE
Duane's take
Here's how the official marker tells it — and this one's worth every mile. Mrs. Edna Westbrook Trigg.
Born December 30, 1868, right here in Milam County, daughter of Ervin and Rachel Walker Westbrook. She'd go on to become one of the most consequential women in the history of Texas agriculture, and most folks have never heard her name. That's the thing about pioneers — the trail they blaze gets so well-worn that people forget who first swung the machete.
Edna grew up, married Charles Letman Trigg in 1892, raised two children — Charles Westbrook Trigg and Eloise Trigg, who'd later become Mrs. Johnson — and somewhere along the way she became a school principal near Milano. Now, you'd think that was the whole story.
It was just the beginning. In 1911, the United States Department of Agriculture came knockin'. They asked Mrs.
Trigg to supervise Texas' first Girls' Tomato Club. Her role covered organization, teaching, and experimentation. Not one of those things.
All three. Then in August of 1912, her clubs brought their canned products to the Milano Fair. The state's first exhibit of its kind.
And by the marker's own accounting, it was a great success. She didn't slow down. In 1913 and 1914, she was working across Childress and Milam counties, holding canning schools financed by local groups and the U.S.
Department of Agriculture. Women learning. Communities investing.
Something building. Then came the legislation — national and state, 1914 and 1915 — that established the Agricultural Extension Service at land grant colleges. And when the structure was in place, they needed someone to step into a brand new role.
In 1916, Edna Westbrook Trigg became the first county home demonstration agent in the state of Texas. The first. Stationed in Denton, she also served on the staff of the College of Industrial Arts — now Texas Woman's University — overseeing courses in methods for home demonstration work and making sure the whole enterprise carried the weight of genuine professionalism.
She passed on November 15, 1946, and she's buried in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Denton. A Milam County daughter who ended up leavin' her mark on every county in the state.
The tomatoes were just the start.
What the marker says
(December 30, 1868 - November 15, 1946) Pioneer leader of Texas women in rural club work. While serving as principal of a school near Milano, Mrs. Trigg was asked by the United States Department of Agriculture in 1911 to supervise Texas' first Girls' Tomato Club. Her role included organization, teaching, and experimentation. In Aug. 1912, her clubs showed canned products at Milano Fair-- the state's first exhibit of this kind, and a great success. In 1913-14, she worked in Childress and Milam counties, holding canning schools financed by local groups and the U. S. Department of Agriculture. After enactment of national and state legislation (1914-1915) established the Agricultural Extension Service at land grant colleges, Mrs. Trigg became (in 1916) the first county home demonstration agent in Texas. Stationed in Denton, she also served on staff of the College of Industrial Arts (now Texas Woman's University), overseeing courses in methods for home demonstration work, assuring its professionalism. Edna Trigg was a native of Milam County, daughter of Ervin and Rachel Walker Westbrook. She married (in 1892) Charles Letman Trigg, and was mother of Charles Westbrook Trigg and Eloise Trigg (later Mrs. Johnson). Mrs. Trigg is buried in I. O. O. F. Cemetery, Denton.