The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-10-13

ern States. Being naturally full of
curiosity, | have observed a good
many things. Thinking over and try
ing to decide what I should say on
his occasion, / decided to make a
few remarks about the greatest needs
of our rural communities in the
southeast. In thinking over this
proposition l could not get away from
the conclusion that the thing that is
most needed in almost every single
rural community l have visited is eff
ficient leadership. / wish to assure
you that l have not come to this con-
clusion without giving the matter
very serious thought. There is not
the slightest question IN my mind but
that the creates need of practically
all Of our rural communities, and l
might say the crying need, is efficient
leadership. To know how to do
things ourselves and to show others
how to do them is entirely a different
question. We find in every rural
community some farmer who is very
efficient in his farming methods.
Usually such n man is interested in
everything that has to do with the
betterment of his community; but
he has given most of his thought to
efficient farming and Is not entirely
capable of effectively leading in most
of the other community interests
Now 1t is here that We find the OPP
%portunity for an agricultural college
graduate. OF course it isn't ncces-
sary for q leader to be q graduate of
an agricultural college, but, other
things being equal, the agricultural
college graduate is more suitable for
community leadership. I wish to
point out in the few remarks hat /
shall make this morning h a great
opportunity every agricultural college
graduate has to go back at home and
develop into a leader of his
ity. And | would lay emphasis upOn
that word develop" because danger
will surely result if any young agri-
cultural college graduate goes back
into his neighborhood imagining that
because he is a graduate of an agricul-
tural college he is already the leader
OF that community. At this time he
Is only in shape to begin to prepare
himself fot leadership in tina COM
munity. Now every agricultural stu
dent. about the time he graduates,
must ask himself the question, What
shall | do, unless of course he decided
this previously. We find open for
him teaching jobs, experiment sta
ton work. farm demonstration work
n the farm itself.
Lucky is the agricultural college
graduate who has a rarm back home
that he can go to. Many Of then
are not this fortunate, and apparent,
are forced to accept salraied positions
Many of course accept salaried posi-.
tons in the beginning with the hope
that In a few years they will be able
C save up enough money to go t.
farming for themselves. Unfortunate
~ a very large per cent of thes,
never save up enough money to fee
that they can go back home ant
properly equip a farm.
1t is my belief that the creates
possible opportunity is open for GU
agricultural college graduates RICH
back at home on the farm, whethe
the farm is owned or not. Those VIII
are not afraid of work and are will
ing TO stick to it through thick an,
thin IA go back home and pay for
farm sooner or later.
DIPLOMACY and Fact Needed.
Now, what are some of the thing
that an agricultural college grad
uate can do back at home? These ar
SO numerous that it hard to pick GU
the most important. Such a person
especially if he is comparative
young, which is the case in the ma
Jority of instances, must go about thi
matter OF picking up the reins {
carefully. While it isn't a crime t
be young still many people seem t
nave this view of the matter. There
fore, n young agricultural gradual
when he goes back home and Al
tempts to pick up the reins of leade,
snip must use a lot Of diplomacy an
tact. The best way to become a leaf
er is by doing things ourselves, an
not by attempting to tell other poop,
to do things before we have dor
them. Therefore, the proper thin
for n to do who is ambitious to b,
come a leader in his community is
just simply make himself a part
everything that comes up in h
neighborhood. In the first place., |
must put into practice the up-to-da
and scientific methods of farmir
taught him at the agricultural colleg
Don't try to convince the neighbt
that he should do like you tell hi
before you have demonstrated tn:
your ideas and methods are right ar
then get in some good hard ticks. A
ter you nave done a piece Of work
such way as to prove that yo,
methods are better than those cor