The Monte Vista journal., 1913-08-02
FARMERS AUTO
EXCURSIONS


guilty Of living in his own little world,
not caring or feeling very much con-
cerned about what the other fellow is
doing, when perhaps little time spent
in visiting with his neighbor would
mean considerable, not only to himself,
but his nelghbor also, as there never are
two men that meet and exchange ideas
without one or the other being bone
fitted 1t is by contact with Others that
one is encouraged to go on with the
tasks he has started and TO undertake
new and greater ones, FOR it is by this
method he first learns that others are
Interested in him and the things he is
doing.
The interest may only be from tho
competitors viewpoint, in hopes Of gath
ering information as to the methods
used in accomplishing certain things,
but this is no drawback. On the other
hand, it spurs one on, making him more
active and interested IN the work he is
doing. Good, healthy competition is one
OF the great secrets OF success.
No doubt the great tonic Of social con
tact which is proving so helpful to the
farmers in other sections Of the state
would be very beneficial to those Of tho
San Luis valley, for by coming together
and exchanging ideas they would be-
come better acquainted with each other
and the different methods Of farming
hntpp, naal in tha vullny ut thn
time. In this way the agricultural pos
sibilities of the valley would be more
clearly understood. For instance, il farm
er Mr.. A., in one section, is not familiar
with the methods farmer Mr.. b. lis pur-
suing, in another section, and Mr.. A.
visits Mr.. b. and each explains his sys-
TEN Of farming, there is no question but
what both would receive valuable infor-
nation which could be put into practice
on their own farms.
1t Is often said, Seeing is believing"
Therefore II the farmers OF the various
sections OF the valley could be taken on
excursions from their sections into other
sections, seeing the things which are
being accomplished by farmers in those
sections, much good in the way Of better
farming would be the result OF these ex-
cursions.
This was brought most forcibly to the
GUS parts Of the state, where farmers
Excursions are being made for the pur-
pose OF investigating and finding newer
and better methods of farming. The
great enthusiasm and good feeling be-
tween farmers and business men stood
out very plainly. The business men took
part in the farmers excursions and were
as interested as the farmers themselves
The way in which these excursions
are made is: The farmers and business
men join together, map out the territory
they desire to visit then select some Of
the best farms in the proposed territory
on which modern farming is being prac-
ticed and then these farms are visited
by auto, where the owner Of the farm
takes the visitors over his place, explain
ing his methods and the results he is
getting. After he Is through some time
is given to the visitors for asking ques-
tions about anything they have seen
which later might prove helpful to them.
In this way the visitors have an oppor-
tunity to compare their present system
OF farming with those Of the farmers
they visit. Many valuable suggestions
and new ideas can be obtained as well
as seeing the results Of the methods
used by farmers in the different sections
Of the valley.
| The farmers in and around Alamosn
will make one of these EXCURSIONS Au.
gust 9th, 1913 to Monte Vista, Del Norte
and Center and it is hoped that every
farmer Of the Alamosa section will make
an extra effort to go on this excursion,
for he will be well paid for his effort.
The business men OF Aamosa have
shown their keen interest by kindly con.
senting to furnish auto transportation
for the farmers, and much thanks is due
! them.
The excursion will leave Alamosa at
7 a. M, returning at G:3O p. m, stopping
at Del Norte for dinner.
In the near future the writer hopes it
will be possible FOR similar excursions to
be taken from every main center in the
4 valley. A. q. COOLEY,
Alnmosa, Colo.