The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-12-20

and if we boys and girls continue
through life with as firm purpose as
We have worked these years In order
that we might be here to enjoy all
these great opportunities, l think we
certainly must do the world some
good, as you all know the growth of
the institute depends upon the growth
OF the county organization; of these
the county superintendents usually
have charge This year twenty three
counties have sent the largest number
of boys and girls. Of course it all
Is from Fargo, although there is. one
county in the state which does not
stop for that and that is Hettinger
There has been a great growth of
interest in that county. The first year
they sent one~ boy, last year two
boys and one girl, and this year five
boys, three girls, myself, county
superintendent and one teacher. Now,
that shows that we are taking in
terest in this institute, and / believe
If we all did that we'll it would be
with Professor Randlett like the old
woman who lived in the shoe who had
so many children she didn't know
what to do. The purpose of this in
stitute, of course you all know by this
time, and if you don't it is your own
fault. The purpose is to get the win
ners together in order that they may
| talk of the things they have done dur
| ing the summer, but the main thing
| is to show you boys and girls what
and how things are done. You also
| may get a train ride and see the larg-
est city in the state which some of
| us don't see very often.
Live in the Present.
We all live in the present with the
! good example of the past to push the
| of ft1ly
are going to advance it as much as
| possible, and as you all know this
| advancement will have to be in the
county first. l hope and believe that
| this advancement will be made along
the lines of fruit growing and forestry.
| The county work is really the root
/ of this institute, but of course in the
end we profit by it. To some of you
boys and girls it probably seems as
| though there is not much use raising
! and experimenting with corn and po-
4 tatoes or anything which we work
for prizes, and have no doubt that
a few of you are doing ii for the
prizes only, but you know that is not
| the main thing we are seeking.
Finding Best Methods,
We are trying to and not only try
| ing, but we are finding the best
| methods of doing all sorts of things
1
| methods are of various sorts of which
will not try to tell you. There is
one thing we must do and | think
| YOU will agree with me. We must have
4 fence around our corn patch or you
will know what will happen. heard
1 of more than one boy who lost his
prize corn by the good judgment of
some old bossy. If in the fall you
| have. succeeded in saving your corn,
you should pick out the best ears
I for seed. There should be enough to
| plant much larger field the next
year, probably then you will have
| enough to sell some, which will pay
you for all your trouble, and not only
yourself is profited by 1t but your
neighbor thinks that If you can raise
corn he can too so he tries and usually
| succeeds. ....
Mott the Spot.
Around Mott it is nothing unusual
to see a good sized field of corn, and
/ know that the county corn con-
| tests have done it. We really don't
know what can be raised, or is rails
/ ed in county or state until there
| Is fair of some kind, This year Mott
had two-day fair and 1t was GER
| tatnly surprising to see what was and
could be raised in Hettinger county.
Later the boys and girls corn con-
test came off and there were pretty
| good exhibits of corn and If we had
not had such an early frost there
would have been some much finer
corn. In the afternoon of the same
day we organized into Hettinger
| County Boys and Girls institute,
There were not many present but lust
the same we elected our president and
other officers and made a constitution,
and now we hope to grow as fast as
/ this institute has, There Is no rea :
son why we should not for there are
nearly 1000 boys and girls in Het-
! finger county, of which l think near
| ly all will join. / think that it would
be a good thing for all the counties
| to organize into an institute of this
/ kind. Each year we must do hard
! work. We have started corn, po-
/ tatoes bread butter and such stuff,
which is the greatest need to us all.
/ None of us are sorry we have work
/ ed in these contests, yet next year
| let us strive to influence school Of
ficers to fence and plant trees or
shrubs. think all of us boys and
! girls could start the ball rolling a
long distance. In my county, and
some others, they are starting this
work, but 1t is slow. Let us keep
| up the interest. There is nothing
so nice as to rest in the shade of a
tree. The cattle like shade too.
Better Bread Makers.
Then let us work for more and
better bread bakers and makers. They
are beginning now to talk of con
servation of wives and mothers. Let
! us help to save our mothers by, say
baking bread or something like that.
Let us work for better schools, CEN
trail schools, good debating clubs,
fences for corn, and all for good
farming and good farm homes. Our
colors, green and gold, speak les
son. When we look at them-gree
means life and growth, and gold
wealth. and success.
/ Now thank you all for listening
| to what little have said, I hope
we may all meet here again to be
guided by Professor Randlett and
| kind teachers in these fine school
rooms, and now to be true to this in :
stitute, let US remember our motto