SmithLever

SmithLever is a term that has appeared in various contexts. In formal historical and legal texts, it most often refers to the Smith-Lever Act of 1914, a U.S. federal statute that established the Cooperative Extension Service in partnership with land‑grant universities and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Named for Senator Hoke Smith and Representative Asbury Lever, the act created a nationwide system to disseminate practical, research‑based knowledge in agriculture, home economics, and related subjects to rural communities. It authorized federal funding to support extension services and required cooperation with state and local governments to provide matching funds and personnel.

The form SmithLever without a hyphen is nonstandard and rarely used in authoritative sources. In many cases it can appear in unofficial documents, typographical variants, or digitized records where hyphenation is inconsistent. If encountered, the intended reference should be clarified by checking the hyphenated form or the surrounding context.

Other, unrelated uses may exist for the term as a brand name, product, or fictional concept; however, there is no widely recognized device or organization officially named SmithLever. See also Smith-Lever Act; Cooperative Extension Service; Hoke Smith; Asbury Lever; 4-H.