The Oskaloosa herald., 1905-01-12
KEEP BOYS AND
GIRLS ON FARM
YOUNG PEOPLES CLUBS SOLVING
DIFFICULT PROBLEM.
SUCCESS IN KEoKUK COUNTY
Boys Taught to Study Agriculture
and Apply Best Methods and Girls
Shown How Drudsery May
Be Avoided.

The farmers Of Keokuk county
seem in a fair way to solve a problem
which has been often discussed at the
Mahaska County Farmers Institute
how to keep the boys on the farm,
Cap Miller. who is the county super
intendent in Keokuk county, has or
ganized among the farmer boys a club
to cultivate a love for agriculture and
an interest in the work of their faith.
ers. This is the Boys Agricultural
Club and numbers over two hundred
and fifty members. The girls are
Joined together in the Girls Home
Culture Club and this organization
has similar ends in view. 1t is to
teach the girls to love the home and
to be interested in home work. There
are one hundred and seventy-five mem
bers of this organization.
Following the successful organiza-
tion of these two societies Mr.. Miller
has organized a Farmers Institute up
on the lines of the local organization
and the Boys and Girls clubs are to
work in conjunction with the Instt-
tute.
The industry of Keokuk county, like
that Of Mahaska, lies largely in farm
ing. In creating a new interest
among the farmers for their work,
Mr.. Miller has done a big thing for
his county. The day is not far dis
tant when the Keokuk Institute will
be the factor in the county life that
the Mahaska Institute is in this coun-
ty. And the organization will receive
a new impetus constantly through the
young folks organizations which will
be stimulating interest in the farm
and fitting the young folks to succeed
their parents in the Institute and on
the farm.
Girls clubs.rdiHi shrdl shrdl shrdl hid
The Keokuk County Boys and
Girls clubs have had a decidede adj
vantage III working in connection
with the county school system, and
the teachers Of the county have been
Of great assistance to the county sup
! erintendent in his idea of an educa-
Heart. But the Keokuk's, as they are
called, have been at a disadvantage
in not having a Farmers Institute to
back the movement.
Although young, the societies have
an influence that is felt throughout
the county and is not unlike the iniu-
ence of the Mahaska Institute.
The idea OF the club is similar to
that of the Institute. Through the
efforts of their teachers and the in
fuences brought to bear in their
homes the children are encouraged to
raise certain farm products, If they
are boys, or to make certain house
hold necessities, if girls. These things
are exhibited in a school contest and
the best shown are chosen to repre-
sent the school district at a county
contest. This county contest is called
the County School Fair and is con-
Quoted along the lines which are used
in the conduct of the Mahaska Coun-
ty Institute. Premiums are offered to
the young folks who have done the
best in their respective lines.
In the organization of the young
folks into these bodies Mr.. Miller has
had the assistance of Uncle" Henry
Wallace, of the Wallace Farmer, who
is delighted with the plan and be,
lieves that it will help in a great
measure to interest and keep the
young folks on the farm. Professor
p. G. Holden has been glad to assist
in the organization of the clubs and
looks to them as a source of great
benefit to the Keokuk county farmers.
Mrs. Alice Head Mendenhall, who is
well known in Oskaloosa, was an in
terested helper in the organization OF
the girls and lent the support Of her
presence, as did the others, to the
first meeting of the organization. Pro.
lessor John E. Cameron, of Cedar
Rapids, who was one of the instruc'
tors at the last Mahaska County Nor
NAL was also present and helped in
the work.
Interest in the clubs has been OF
the most tense character. Fathers
and mothers have assisted in encour.
aging the children and every effort OF
Mr.. Miller in the matter has had the
cooperation of the prominent farm
ers of the county. In spite of the
great expense in travelling over the
county to give personal attention to
the organization, and in the procur
ing Of Uncle" Henry Wallace and
Professor Holden, with Mrs. Menden
hall and Professor Cameron, the
movement has been self-supporting
The township and school contests
have paid for it all by charging q
small admission. After the ~organiza
tion expenses have been paid the
clubs have left in their treasury some
thing like $4,000.
The Herald advocates that a SINH
lar organization be made in Mahasks
county and that steps in the matter
be made at the meeting of the Insti
tute next week. The organization
would be made in connection with thu
Institute and the younger folks woult
! go with their parents to the farmers
I convention and find there things o
personal and vital interest to them
selves. They wguld learn to love thu
I great agricultural industry and woult
! become better satisfied withe tn,
! farm home. In Mahaska, as in Keo
kuk county, the clubs would solve thu
| nrnhlam GLOW shall we keen OH