Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1913-05-22
NEW SYSTEM FOR
HELPING FARMERS
BY DEAN n. 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-
sCutatives, 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 a more personal re-
lation is likely to prove more effective
than where the instruction is confined
exclusively to the lecture platform.
The name-couuty agricultural rep
resentative-rathert than expert or spe
cialist, is purposely chosen, as it 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
lSStIIl dlINt Will w vi ulICNI ulu w
the farmer, enabling him to establish
a moro productive and permanent sys-
tenn of agriculture. AS such. he should
become an economic factor in the
cOunty, but it 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
he 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, If the character OF
the instruction to these teachers can
be such as to stimulate the teacher
ara lIlpdIl " lCl SplllC VI Vic VII
thusiasm which the county agrtcul-
tural representative should possess, it
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
H.. lie. :, ,4,,- .nl,, 40
organized, as we'll 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-
ceedngly varied and difficult. and the
main problem will be to secure prop
erly trained and qualified persons 10
carry on the work This is essntielly
"one man" proposition and as such,
success or failure depends almost
wholly on that one man. No material
investment in lands, buildings, or olab-
crate equipment is needed for this
work
In five months time, two Of these
representatives have held - meetings
with an attendance OF 200 persons
Over 400 letters have been written
and $40 farmers have visited the Of
flee for individual help In Is cases
farmers have asked the representa-
tive to so out 10 their farms and 10
visits have been made on the initiative
OF the representative.
Since the inauguration of this sys-