The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1909-12-01
MAN WANTED.
Minnesota Bankers Want Farm School
Dean Who Can Make Good.

At the last convention of the Min
nesota Bankers association COM
mittee was appointed to look into
agricultural education in this state.
That committee addressed letter
to John Lind, president of the board
of regents of the state university, in
which it says it has obtained large
amount Of information from all Sec
lions of the state with regard to
agricultural conditions and the ia
cilities for obtaining education in
scientific agriculture. The letter
continues as follows:
THE committee learned, among
other things, that, while in our
sister state of Wisconsin compulsory
agricultural education in the rural
schools has been in vogue for many
years and is admittedly largely re-
sponsible for the intelligent interest
taken by the people of Wisconsin in
agricultural matters, in minnesota
we have no such law. with the re-
suit that practically nothing is being
done in our rural schools along these
lines.
The committee has visited the
Agricultural college at Madison, and
also our own agricultural school at
st. Anthony Park. We were par
ticularly interested in learning. if
possible, why the Wisconsin school
is, reputed to be the best agricul-
tural school in the United States, if
not in the world. and we believe
that we have found at least three
good reasons why it is accredited
with such a reputation.
The Wisconsin school has thor
oughly competent, Intelligent and
efficient administrative organization.
1--WE found, also, that its extern
sion short course in agriculture for
farmers, given at.sMadison. had an
attendance last year of something
over 800 farmers as against the at
tendance of similar course at our
own school of 1863.
eve were also very much i'm
pressed with the intelligent and
effective handling of many other
features of the extension work.
I'VE also found in the Wisconsin
school thoroughly organized and
efficient publicity departmentswhich
not only enables the schools to keep
in close touch with the farmers of
the state, but also to.sthoroughly
advertise throughout the world the
results which the school is accom-
plishing in raising corn yield per
! acre in Wisconsin from twenty-five to
approximately forty two bushels.
1T is also through the efforts of
the publicity department of the Wis
consin school that the fact that the
best cheese in the United States is
i made in Wisconsin, has been spread
broadcast.
1--WE are satisfied that the plant
and equipment of the Minnesota
= school is superior to that of Wiscon-
, sin. We are also satisfied that our
: teachers in the various departments
II are competent men and of callber
i as broad, if not broader, than those
= or the Wisconsin school.
IL I'm view of the fact, however
that it is conceded there is to be a
> change in the executive head of our
/ Agricultural school, there is more
. or less disorganization and conse-
quent lowering of the efficiency OF
' the work. There is no incentive te
introduce new methods and systems
so long as the appointment of new
dean is postponed.
t. 1T is the opinion of our com
IS nittee that the position of dean Of
,r the Agricultural school is one of the
e most important in this state, fol
IL many reasons. While Minnesota i:
r, generally known as an agricultural
d state, we find that as matter Of
" fact, its manufactured products ex
r, coed in value its agricultural prod
ucts by many millions of dollars
t, We also find that less than one-thirt
of the tillable soil of Minnesota i
under cultivation.
"The committee believes that BY
no other means can the agriculture
mr. development of our state be SO wei
! assured as by the appointment 0
- the best and most competent MAJ
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