Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-01-20
Youths Agricultural Clubs Formed.

Youths Agricultural Clubs Formed.
On Tuesday, December 80, 1918, F. 81,
Bickford, of the College of Agriculture
Extension Department., State Leader OF
Boys and Girls Agricultural Clubs
work, was at Scarboro High School
building, and organized Boys Potato
Club of seventeen very enthusiastic
members, each one of whom agreed to
enter the State contest and grow one
eighth acre of potatoes, according to in
strucl ions to be given. Mr.. +. 81. b
Heald of Scarboro is local leader of the
club and the fact that the Scsrboro club
is the fourth in the state to complete
their organization, and that it is the larg-
est yet formed, is a decided credit to
Mr.. Heald's ability.
The first Boys Potato Club to be or
ganized in this state was at Good Will
Farm, Hinckley, on December Sth, with
DIR. 4. NJ. Santee as Local Leader. DR..
Santee will have club Of eighteen or
twenty boys, each growing one-half acre
of potatoes, and competing with the
other boys 10 the state, To enter in Divi-
sion l. Plans are now being made to or
gsnize girls canning club at Hinckley.
and with the able leadership of the ma
tron, they should attain very satisfactory
results, causing the other girl contest
ants in the work of growing and can
ming string beans, to be up and doing IN
the race for the state prizes which will
be given in the state exhibit.
Tuesday, December 9th, the second
Boys Potato club of twelve members was
organized at Erskine Academy, South
China, under the local leadership OF
Miss Eva Pratt, Principal of the school.
These boys were very enthusiastic, and
no doubt will be heard from. when the
crop is harvested at the seasons close.
The girls of this school are also very
much interested in agricultural club
work, and it is possible that a Girls
club will be started there this
season.
The third club in the state was organ
lied at Cape Elizabeth High School
December 10Th, under the local leader,
ship of the principal, George F. Went
worth. This consists of eleven boys,
from fourteen 10 eighteen years OF age,
who will agree to grow one half acre of
potatoes, according to instructions. The
special, scientific study which these boys
are devotiug to agriculture and their
lines which they are TO follow in the con-
test, will give them the ability to come
in with honors, at the close of the sea-
son.
Besides the clubs which are already
organized, there are many others in the
process of development, and judging by
the great interest now manifested in this
important method of education, all over
the state, there will undoubtedly be hun
dreds of boys and girls enrolled in the
near future. As the amount Of work
that can be done in this line Is limited
tor the first season, educators in many
sections of the state are already hasten
ing to apply for club of either kind,
realizing the Importance of teaching q
practical branch of agriculture and do
mestic science to the young people of
school age, who may never have the
privilege of higher education than that
offered BY common schools and acade-
mics.
10 addition to the clubs already form
ed, school people and others have ex-
pressed a desire to have clubs in the
towns of Lincoln, Litchtield, Bethel,
Mexico, Rumford. Exeter, LaGraDge,
Msttswamk az, Newport, Solop, Free
dom, Wells, Kennebuuk, Kennebunk-
port, Vassalboro, Buckfield, Carmel,
Holden aud Cherryfisld. 1t is expected
that organizations Of clubs will DO COM
pleted in most of these towns within the
next few weeks, as all desire to be
among the first TO form clubs, and thus
be pioneers, in this valuable work which
will u, doubtedly be carried on in ever
increasing measure in the wears to come