The Oskaloosa herald., 1909-03-11
SHORT COURSE FOR
MAHASKA COUNTY
BIG TREAT IN PROSPECT FOR
FARMERS INSTITUTE.
Retail Merchants Association, osI<a.
Ioosa Commercial Club and the
Board of Supervisors Unite
in Boosting Project.

The biggest treat Of any project in
the state will be offered In Oskaloosa
next winter if the directors OF the
Mahaska Farmers County Institute
are successful in their efforts to se-
cure the Short Course in Agriculture
under the Extension Department og
the Iowa State College at An1es. A
whole week of the greatst educational
features that could be offered, fifteen
to twenty professors and assistants
from Ames at the expense Of the
state, car load of live stock and
paraphrenalia from the state college,
and premium list three times as.
big as that offered at the Farmers
Institute are among the attractive
features in the enterprise which, IL
secured, Will draw attendants not only
from every corner OF the county, but
from adjoining counties and cities for
a considerable distance around. Few
people realize the nature and extent
of the Short Course, and it is difficult
to explain briefly the value it will BIO
to the people of the county education
ally and commercially, bur when the
plans have been fully explained there
should not be an opposing voice. but
every farmer, every business man, the
women, the county and CITY superin-
tendents, in fact everyone should get
into the game" and push, and push
hard for the securing of what Is now
the biggest plum within the grasp OF
Mahaska county people.
f. F. Everett and Thos. Soseman
are behind the movement, together
with the other officers and directors OF
the Mahaska County Farmers Insti-
tute, and. % show that their plans are
not merely dreams. 1t can be stated
that not only has the movement been
heartily endorsed by the Commercial
Club and Retail Merchants Associa-
ton, but the County Board OF super
visors made special trip to the Coun-
ty Poor Farm where in consultation
with Supt. J. T Williams they ar
ranged to set aside ten acres for an
experiment farm in connection with
the extension department Of the Snort
Course and have appropriated a sum
from the county general fund not 10
exceed 5000 to support this additional
feature of the plans. The Short
Course is not yet assured. in fact the
conditions which must met are
enormous, but much work has already
been accomplished which has not
been given publicity until now. The
promoters of the enterprise kept their
plans quiet until they felt the thing
practically assured, and now to ac-
complish their purpose they only need
the hearty cooperation of everyone.
The Short Course is not only of value
to the farmers and their wives, but 10
every man, woman and child in the
city as WE'LL Every housewife win
receive in the Domestic Science De-
partment instruction which is OF the
utmost value and Importance.
President Rosenberger has looked
into the work and says that ne be-
lieyes il would be good for every stu
dent at Penn College to attend the
Short Course, and he has promised
to excuse from tine college work all
who wish to attend the various SEES
sions.
Everything cannot be explained at
once, but work must be accomplished
this week or the plans win fall through
A guarantee fund of $4,000 or more
must be subscribed. 400 to 500 tickets
must be sold and live interest
shown in the movement or the applica-
ton of oskaloosa for the Short
Course win be denied.
On April 18th, one month from next
Monday. the list OF Short Courses 10
be had in Iowa during the coming
season will be made. There are now
over fifty applications in from va
rions counties and the funds appro.
priated by the state are not sutH-
cient to enable the extension depart
ment to hold more than twenty
courses next winter, Fourteen courses
which were neld last season will
probably be continued next year and
consequently only six new counties
can secure courses out OF the tairty
six to forty new applications. Many
viii necessarily be disappointed, but
several things favor Mahaska county
and with the work already done and
the effort now being put forth there
is little doubt that the plans win be
successful.
What is Needed.
Prof. Holden, OF the State College.
said that Mahaska county has the
best Farmers Institute in the state.
and with the organization now had be
believes Mahaska couny could hold
the best Short Course In the state.
The Farmers Institute and Short
Course win be combined and much
Of the program OF the former win be
used. There win be four evening en-
terfainmants IN addifir,r, "a e..o .r,..ninl-