Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1913-05-16
NEW SYSTEM FOR
HELPING FAR MERS
BY DEAN X. L. RUSSELL,
Wisconsin College Of Agriculture.


A new and most important line OF
extension endeavor has been inaugu-
rated this past year through the estab'
lishment of county agricultural repre-
sentatives, who will become resident
representatives OF the college OF agri.
culture in the respective counties OF
the state. In the dissemination OF ag-
ricultural instruction, the lecture
course system has long been followed
with success, but the needs of the
times indicate that more personal re-
lation is likely to prove more effective
than where the instruction is confined
exclusively to the lecture platform.
The name-county agricultural rep
esentative-rather than expert or spe-
cialist, is purposely chosen, as II is
not intended that these men shall
pose as experts upon all things agri-
cultural They do stand however,
midway between the college and the
man on the farm, who may desire to
secure direct information relative to
the problems which may arise. The
purpose of this plan Is that this rep
resentative will be of direct aid to
the farmer. enabling him to establish
a more productive and permanent sys-
tenn of agriculture. AS such. he should
become an economic factor in the
county, but 1t should also be his
chosen mission to awaken and develop
the community spirit and help guide
the social forces along the pathway of
progress.
In addition to the direct aid which
ne is to give the farmers mainly dur
ing the summer months he also has
charge OF the agricultural Instruction
In the county training school for the
training Of rural teachers. This con-
nection with the educational work of
the county is purposely made with the
hope that the character of agricultural
instruction may be improved over that
which has heretofore obtained. The
law requires that agriculture shall be
taught in all of the county schools
The training school provides teachers
for these schools. II the character of
the instruction to these teachers can
be such as to stimulate the teacher
and impart to her some of the en-.
thusiasm which the county agricul-
tural representative should possess, 1t
is to be hoped that the work in the
school may be connected with the
problems of the farmer in direct
and vital way. During the winter sea
son short courses In agriculture for
the farm boy (who, In the main has
already left the country SCHOOL, are
organized, as well as farmers courses
in connection with the agricultural
extension service.
In this work the county defrays one
half OF the salary and expenses OF |
the representative. the balance being |
met from the university treasury.
The work of these county men Is ex- |
ceedingly varied and difficult, and the !
main problem will be to secure prop
erly trained and qualified persons to
carry on the work. This is essntielly |
a zone man" proposition and as such,
success or failure depends almost
wholly on that one man. No material
investment in lands. buildings, or elab-
crate equipment is needed for this
work.
In five months time, two OF these
representatives have held q meetings
with an attendance OF 2,700 persons.
over 400 letters have been written
and $40 farmers have visited the Of
fee for individual help. In Is cases
farmers have asked the representa-
tive TO go out to their farms and 10
visits have been made on the initiative
OF the representative.
since the Inauguration OF this sys-