The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-09-17
OREGON
Has $4,000 Children TI|Iluq
The Soil
Prizes Are Offered To The
Value Of $4,000

Portland, Ore, Sept. 13--Barely six
months ago committee OF members OF
the Oregon State Bankers Association
met in Portland to discuss plans for
creating greater interest I'm agricul-
tural and industrial work in the public
schools, says the Oregonian. Today,
prizes to the value of $4,000 have
been promised, already there are an.
proximately $4,000 schoolchiIdren who
will have exhibits, or three fifths Of all
the children in Oregon. and Ss chill.
dren's fairs have been repaired.
In addition, Prof. C. II. Lane, assist.
ant in agricultural education at Wash
ington. ID. c., whose visit to Oregon
last May was mark of recognition
Of the movement by the national gov.
ernment, awarded this state need of
praise beyond all others.
Oregon" he said, has started this
work on broader scale than any
other state. have never found
state in which bankers, breeders and
business men have given Industrial
education such liberal support at the
outset. The next step should be to
make this work an integral part of the
public school system
The committee at the outset adopted
what has come to be known as the
Yamhill county plan. This met with
approval all through the state, and
has encouraged children to grow gar.
dens and to make useful articles, by
offering prizes and awards at local,
county and state competitions for boys
and girls.
As. a start, the Bankers Association
placed at the disposal of State Super.
intendent of Public Instruction Alder.
man 1900, for the salary and expens.
es of field manager and for the sal.
ary of stenographer until the close
of the state fair. which is to be held
in Salem, Sept. 2 to
Mr. Alderman appointed C. C. Thorn.
ason. field manager. Mr.. Thomason
visited all the countries in order to
enlist local aid and cooperation, to
direct the organization Of contests and
to assist in arranging local prize lists.
N. c. Maris was appointed by the I'm
ion stock yards to work in connection
with Superintendent Alderman. These
two men already have visited 80 coun-
tries since field work started, Feb. 1.
Every assistance was given by the
Oregon Agricultural College. which
placed the field organizers on its ex.
tension staff.
With the first of the year start was
made Of compiling the premium list
for the state fair. The response by
farmers and men interested in the pro.
duce Of the soil especially, but also by
business men in general, was gener-
GUS. Animals and commodities for
children's prizes already have been do.
ated to the value Of $2.5OO. while the
state fair board supplemented this
amount by donation of 81 900 cash.
All the first prizes and some of the
second prizes have been specially do.
mated, among them being prize Shet.
land ponies, dogs, calves, sheep, pigs
and chickens. Furniture and silver
ware are among the other special priz-
es donated. The second, third, fourth
and fifth prizes, except where other
wise specified, are of the value of So,
IS, $4 and SO respectively.
In the agricultural section prizes are
given for chickens, ducks, pigs. corn,
melons, pumpkins, potatoes, cabbages,
onions, celery. grain, bread, canned
fruit and vegetables, jelly, sweet peas
and asters. In the Industrial division
awards are given for a bird house. a
piece of furniture, lab0rsaving de-
vice, hand and machine.made aprons,
and darning.