Ripley County democrat. (Doniphan, Mo.) 1905-1920, 1914-02-27
n UMBER IL.
Scholarships IN place Of Trips.

OF the corn, canning and poultry an.
other agricultural clubs be given
years course in practical training n;
some agricultural college. In cas-
the young champions academic train
ing would not enable him to enter ths
agricultural college of his state II
more elementary course in school
where agriculture is taught or
course in an agricultural high isehooll
is recommended
The department considers that SUCH
courses have considerably more last
ing value for prize-winners and for
the agriculture of their sections thar
flying trips to the capital. The state
and local organizations which have
heen 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 con1
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.wnner.
Given his choice of all the prizes Of
fered by the state, including the trip
10 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 a scholarship
given by the bankers association.
The same association gives similar
scholarship To the girl champion Of
the canning clubs,
Suggestions Regarding Prizes.
Other suggestions regarding pri7es
have been made from time to tine by
those who have been most interested
in these clubs and understand tbs
needs of the boy and girl farmers.
Some Of these suggestions are offerea
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 10 county winners.
II has been suggested that such coun,
ties ss care TO give prizes give one or
| Oh fa hn taf @Nta.
cultural and mechanical colleges 20
| 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 ot rined.
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:
4 pair of registered pigs.
A pair of full-blooded chickenS
A fine colt.
A registered calf
An up-to-date corn planter,
A two.horse wagon.
A gold watch
Books on agriculture.
A doublebarreled shotgun.
A first-Class bicycle.
A ton of good fertilizer.
A s5 hat.
A fireless cooker (for girl Wis
nors).
More Prizes Make More cortsstants-
In general it is better to offer many
small prizes than a few large ones. If
20 boys try for a prize and only enc
ls fortunate, some OF the 10 unsue-
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-
celved recognition and the remaining
Is will see more possible opportuni-
ties of success the following year.
Some board Of trade and chambers
Of commerce have also recognized the
efforts of the clubs by giving ban.
quets for the young people and enter
tanning them with street car and auto
mobile rides. On other occasions
clubs have been honored by an invi'
tatien to march in paradeA where
they have attracted deserved atten.
ton.
A Trip to the state Fair.
From Memphis, Tenn, comes an In
terssting story which is a sample OF
what has been dene In other states
for young prize-winners. In the three
states ARKANSAS, Tennessee and Mis-
sissippD, which are annually ropre
sented at the Memphis Tri-State fair
II was decided to send certain boy
prizewiAnsrs to the fair IS a reward
tsr their excellence.
Ads for immigrants.
epringfield.--John J. Schneider