Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1911-06-30
Stimulating
Interest in
the Farm
North Dakota Boys and Girls
Institute Doing Effective
Work

The country boy and girl movement
received a tremendous impetus this win
ter in North Dakota. OF late much
has been said and written on the Back
to-the Land" question, but it has re-
manned for North Dakota to actually do
something of a tangible nature.
For the past five years the Extension
Department of the Agricultural College
at Fargo has been conducting contests i'll
corn growing, potato culture, fruit can
ming, bread making, sewing. etc, among
pupils of rural schools, through the Office
of County Superintendents. During the
season of 1910 thrtytwo counties joined
in this good work where, in all, some
5000 boys and girls competed. Many of
these grew discouraged as the heat of
summer came on. But there were those
who endured, who through persistent,
painstaking effort were able to take en-
tries to their local county contests. To
the victors belong the spoils." From those
whose products scored highest ninety
five were chosen to be the guests of the
Agricultural College for one week Like
Gideon's army, they consisted of those
mot fearful and afraid" The quick, the
alert, the persistent had been chosen
from the multitude the best blood of all
the state.
The first North Dakota Boys and
Girls Institute, in session December 10
to "a, 1910, proved to be a great life
event to the thirty girls and sixty five
boys who had the privilege and honor of
being its members as well as charter
members of what will surely be a great
state organization. 1t would be indeed
difficult to conceive of an equal number
of youth getting more of practical in
struction, lively enjoyment, and real sat
isfaction in an equal time. The morning
and early afternoon hours were given
over to lessons and demonstrations con-
Quoted by different members of the col
lege faculty. If instruction of this kind,
given as this was, could be put into our
public schools, the problem of attendance
in the upper grades and high school
would be solved, and the great exodus of
bright country boys to city and town
would soon be a matter of history.
During the latter part of the after.
moons and evenings everybody had fun.
The main College gymnasium was open
to the boys where every one played in
one or more games of indoor baseball.
At the same time the woman's gym.
nasium in Ceres Hall was occupied BY
the visiting girls where various games
were enjoyed. The Young Mems and
Young Women's Christian Association
rooms of the city were also thrown open
to members of the Institute and very
much appreciated. This. with an orches-
ira rehearsal, a stereopticon entertain
ment, a visit to the Grand Theatre and
trolley ride about the city made up
the principal entertainment features, But
in reality it was all entertainment; tho
novelty of the great buildings with their
strange fixtures, the laboratories with
queer apparatus, the green houses, the
aquarium, home of frogs, fishes and
snakes, the museum. the wood and iron
shops, the barns with their wealth of
sleek, pure-bred animals, the deer park
all contributed to week crowded full of
keenest enjoyment and useful instruc-
tion.
Here is movement other states could
start with good results.