Morgan County republican., 1914-03-05
Scholarships In Place Of TrIps.

Jefferson City.-A communication
to the headquarters Of all the boys
and girls farm clubs all over the ma
ton has just been received, and rec.
ommends that in place OF trip to
Washington the young prize-winners
| Of the corn, canning and poultry and
other agricultural clubs be given q
years course in practical training at
some agricultural college. In case
the young champions academic train.
Ing would not enable him to enter the
agricultural college of his state a
more elementary course in a school
where agriculture is taught or q
course in an agricultural high school
Is recommended.
The department considers that such
courses have considerably more last
ing value for prize-winners and for
the agriculture Of their sections than
flying trips to the capital The state
and local organizations which have
been paying for these trips have been
sincerely interested in developing q
true appreciation of farming as
business among the boy or girl farm.
ers. Some Of these have already con.
sidered this question and have de.
cided on the agricultural course as
the more desirable prize.
One of the first persons to raise the
question as to whether the practical
training or the more spectacular trip
was preferable was Willie p. Brown,
an Arkansas corn club prize winner.
Given his choice of all the prizes Of
fered by the state, including the trip
TO Washington, he selected scholar
ship giving him years tuition in an
agricultural school. This gave i'm
petus to the idea in Arkansas. and
now the biggest annual prize offered
the corn club boys is scholarship
given by the bankers association.
The same association gives a similar
scholarship to the girl champion of
the canning clubs.
Suggestions Regarding Prizes.
Other suggestions regarding prizes
have been made from time to time by
those who have been most interested
in these clubs and understand the
needs of the boy and girl farmers.
Some of these suggestions are offered
herewith for the consideration of 9TH
ers who might care to profit by them.
While a years course, with all eX-
penses paid, is the suggestion of the
department for the biggest prize for
state winners, less extensive courses
might be offered to county winners.
It has been suggested that such coun-
ties as care to give prizes give one or
more short courses in the state agri.
cultural and mechanical colleges TO
the fortunate county champions.
These courses are usually only two
weeks long and are held in winter or
in summer. The training given is OF
the most practical sort, and the
amount of time spent is no gauge Of
the amount of benefit to be obtained.
These short courses have already
been given as prizes by certain coun.
ties and have proved most valuable to
the young people.
Large cash prizes are not to be en-
couraged, according to those who
have worked with the young contest.
ants. Better suggestions are as fol-
lows:
\ pair OF registered pigs.
A pair of full-bloodcd chickens.
A fine colt.
A registered calf.
An up-to.date cor. planter.
A twO-hOrse wagon
A gold watch
Books on agriculture.
A doublebarreled shotgun.
A first-class bicycle
A ton of good fertilizer.
A S. hat.
| A fireless cooker Qor girl win
ncrs).
More Prizes Make More Contestants.
In general it is better to offer many
small prizes than few large ones. II
20 boys try for prize and only one
Is fortunate, some of the 19 unsuc-
cessful contestants will probably be
too discouraged to try again. But II
five of the boys are rewarded for
their efforts more merit will have re-
ceived recognition and the remaining
Is will see more possible opportuni.
ties of success the following year.
- IL. II.