The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1910-07-29
VESTS nay OF CHECEFEG RUSH
FR0H THE FAM EXPRESSES
EAST. ~
Enthusiasm for Modern Waysso Agri-
culture Is Aroused In the Country
Lads D Organizing Them Into
Clubs md Giving Prizes.

Oh the naAlO0b great farming IanQ
lies, they have found a way to check
the tide which, ever since the days
following the civil war, has been car
rying the farmers. boys away from
the soil ana into the cities and towns,
there to grow up among the marts OF
trade far removed from thefieIds their
forefathers TILED
The method used IN the accomplish
ment. Of that end Is gradually going
eastward Already there are plans
on foot n New York State to apply
! the method there. and those VINO have
looked deeply into the subject say
there Is no doubt that It will succeed
quite as we'll In the East rs IN the
Middle west.
The method itself Is simple enough
1t is nothing more or less than the
arousing Of enthusiasm In the country
boy for those things which pertain
directly 70 farming-modern farming
mot the kind OF farming their grand
fathers and their ereat-grandfather
did, but the kind Of farming which
pays, which places the farm upon the
basis Of mercantile establishment
and makes Of the farmer himself a
keen business man. With all the acute
perceptions OF the city man Of busi-
ness.
In Iowa. especially some parts of Il,
there Ii the advantage OF many object
lessons to drive home the arguments
of those upon whom the duty has de-
Yolyed Of arousIng enthusiasm for
the farm IN the minds OF the farm
ers' Sons. One does not have to
travel far IN certain sections 10 find
model farms Page county. for in
stance, Il full OF them.
The vehicle used IN arousinE enthu-
siasm IN the sons Of farmers Is not
alone vehicle OF verbal arguments.
Nor Is t alone the object presented
BY model farms and model farmers.
Both help. II Is true. But there Is
another md even more important We
hicle In ne Iowa method.
II Is the creation Of rivalry among
the farmers sons. ; rivalry n the
study Of modern farming, which puts
them upon their mefIie, drives all
thought 81 the city from their minds,
and starts men along the trail Of up
to date agriculture. which leads TO
success early I'm life.
Perhaps the KEY note Of this rival
~ among the farmer ladH Of Iowa IL
10 be found In the boYa' agricultural
clubs which have ben founded in re-
cent years. Starting with one small
club In PAGE county several years ago,
these organizations Of country boys
have spread throughout the State.
have oYaflapped The boundaries
Of Iowa. md have been crawling east
ward until they are nos az the Ihraah-
old OF EeH York State and ready 10
step In.
There IRE some Yery wise hsada in
Iowa There are AIzo some able men
living IN he East. Kho have large
farms uuI here and Hho have done
much toward aiding the native
iowhns IN solving The question OF
keeping tn rpuntrY boys on he farm.
One o. IheRe Is President William
Z. Brown. of the Eax York Central
lines MT. Brown naH model IoEA
farm. Whenever HI railroad duties
are not too arduous ha hops On : train
and rum out here "a Has hnx Ihlnga
are getting along an1 10 rive Hneoar-
agement md advice - those shn arr
carrying IN the work OF educating
Ioga's boYs to the value Of The farms
and modern farming
Only : short time 40 he IafI here
10 go baeE East After attending a
meeting of the DaYz' Agricultural
Ginb Of Page county farmers. boys
and their fathers. which was hid In
the Open House aI ClaTtnda He
vas introduced rum the speakers
stand b. one OF the boys Of the club
> sturdy little chap. whose saIhns-
iasm hsg been directed along aEfIeul-
fnral line and who i AZ earnest q
student 81 those things which pertain
10 successful farming as 4 eIIY boy
IN his hIEh school zIudIeA
President Brown i N enthusiast on
The subject Of boys agricultural eIubk
Al the Iowa farmers are, for that
matter They are IuHI as enthusiastic
about II - the boz themselves. for
they know that the feature Of the
farm depsndA upon tie lads Who are
members IF the cluhz
Robert Z. Ogden. president Of the
Southern Education board. Il another
boys agricultural club enthusiast
lie became 80 recently after coming
With committee GU 10 Iowa u learn
Ill about how Iowanz work the thing
Page county. the heart OF the States
model farms. was considered The logi-
cal county TO inauEnTate The boys
agricultural clubs With oniY : few
youngsters. some Of whom had never
been 10 college, but Hefe interested In
those things pertaining TO the grow
Ing Of crops. the agricultural club vas
started lev years 40.
IL has grown TO ; membership OF
some three thousand. and IL growing
larger al the time. Miss Jessie
Fields. the county superintendent. Is
head Of the club. \ least she exer-
eIses a general supervision over II.
II was she who really organized the
club Miss Fields i herself ! nrac-
teal farmer. IL l. not uncommon
among tie women Of Iowa 10 be good
farmers
The original purpose OF the Page
County boys Agricultural Club was
To encourage the youngsters IN their
studies Of modern farming. While
Its purpose Is still that, the scope OF
the organization has xIdened. Il has
come 10 u the Official .'enthnzera OF
the farming youth Of Page county,
most successful Of Iowa's modern
farmers. ! has accomplished far more
than was ever expected.
Regular meetings Of the club are
held There are branches OF the or
ganization al over Page county. and
n each 81 these the farmers boys are
instructed N the scientific treatment
Of soils. the selection Of seed, the adj
aptability Of certain soils for certain
products md all those other things
which enter into farming on : bnsi-
ness basis.
II 10 In the selection of seed that