Rocky Ford enterprise., 1910-10-14
ROCKY FORD COLORADO. FRIDAY. OCTOBER IT, 1910.
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS
Organizing to Interest Children Ia
Agricultural Matters

Under the direction of the agricul-
turists OF the American <Beeet Sugar
Co. and the State Agricultural Col
lege, boys and girls clubs are being
organized in the rural schools of the
valley. with the intention, if possi-
bic. of interesting the children in all
kinds OF agricultural questions, bear
ing on all conditions OF the irrigated
west.
Iowa and Illinois. under the Uni
ted States government have increas-
ed the production OF corn through the
interest taken III seed corn breeding
and proper cultivation by the children
in the rural schools. Other crops
were studied also. and perfect types
impressed upon the growing minds
OF the children. That was several
years ago. Now those children are
the young farmers of those states. and
are proving the worth of the govern
ment idea of|boys and girls clubs by
producing annually so per cent.
The plan as outlined by the gov
crnmcnt in these middle states gave
to each child in the school a chance
to do practical farming on small
scale at his own home. The parents
OF the children were impressed with
the idea OF not only educating their
offspring in the ordinary educational
lines and along the practical farming
lines, but also along the more scien-
rotation, etc. as shown the children
through the clubs on the rural schools
and as practiccd on the acre small
farms" that each child secured from
his parents.
Prizes for the best seed corn and
best results attracted the entire
growing population of Iowa and llli-
nois, and the seed corn turned in,
bred and raised by the children was
50 far above the standard Of what
was expected that the officials in
charge OF the work were amazed. The
.orn samples were swecpstakc win
ncrs. and some of the bred up seed
from those has been used as the foun-
dation OF thousands of bushels Of
seed that has resulted in an enormous
increase of production from the ell
lire state.
Not only docs the boy see the
value of experimental plots. plots that
Is a rule the father has no time to
prepare. but he is directly interested
in farming. and its possibilities when
Young. and when hi, mind is shaping
tself for his futuse work. The boys
and girls clubs have been the most
potent means used so far to keep the
,hildrcn of the farmer on the farm.
rather than having them raised with
the usual migrating spirit OF the
American shild. who wishes to
change.
In this section the work has just
been started. and the government is
taking a great interest i'll what has
been done. Already few OF the
schools have organized under the by
laws and constitution furnished by
the United States Department of Ag-
riculture. and the children arc en-
thusiastic students OF agricultural
conditions.
Ii is the intention. as in the east
"rn states to have prizes for the best
.rops from the small farm plots
-aised by children. and the competi-
lion should he strong next year. The
work this fall and winter will be
along organization lines. which will
result in every boy and girl attending
he rural schools being a member OF
is individual club. the main organi-
| zation of which is part OF the Uni
led States Department of Agriculture.
under the direction OF James Wilson.
The eastern states, New York. New
Jersey and others have had wonder
ful success with the boys and girls
.lpbs. and further organization is GO
ng on all over the country.
From present indications the Ar
kansas Valley is not going to be a
particle behind the other farming sec
tions Of the country in the movement,