The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1914-01-15
COUNTY AGENTS
/ D0lNGIGnAT WORK
UNUSUAL ATTENTION BEING
ATTRACTED TO WEST CEN
TRIAL MINNESOTA.
FARM VALUES ARE ADVANCING
NINETEEN COUNTIES ARE BE-
ING BENEFITED BY CLOSE
COOPERATION.

Morris, Mimi, Jan. 12-Unusual at
tention has been attracted to the west
Central part Minnesota as the result
Of the recent corn and alfalfa EXPOSE
ton and many people are wondering
just what territory is comprised in the
West Central Development Associa-
ton and what is the cause and the re-
suit of all the talk and excitement.
To satisfy this wonder it seems prop
er to give some of the facts.
There are nineteen counties that are
more or less closely affiliated with the
much talked of association. These are
beginning at the north, Clay, Becker,
Wilkin, Ottertail, Traverse, Grant,
Douglas, Bigstone, Stevens, Pope,
Todd, Stearns, Swift, Kandihohi, Lac
qui Parle, Chippewa, Yellow Medi-
cine, Renville and Redwood. Of these
counties Redwood, Stearns, Todd,
Becker and Clay have somewhat diff
ferent problems and it is probable
that in the more perfect organization
contemplated the active work of the
association will be limited to the
other fourteen counties named.
AS whole these counties have as
fertile soil and greater possibilities
for the intelligent tiller Of the soil
than almost any section Of like area
in the United States or Canada. Until
two years ago they were being over
looked by the buyers rushing west and
north and south. Since that time the
production, methods and spirit of the
section have been wonderfully i'm
proved and the immense amount Of
publicity recently given west central
Minnesota has attracted men in all
parts of the country who are looking
for homes on good land that can be
bought for a reasonable price.
Advance just Begun
West central Minnesota is coming
into its own. The price@of farm lands
has already advanced, but all authofi-
ties agree that the advance has just
begun. There are still thousands Of
acres for sale at a price that will
make the new owners independent in a
few years. The men who at present
have large holdings are no longer
worrying about buyers. Buyers are
coming to them and most of them are
trying to sell to men who will come to
live on the land and will add to the
rapidly growing number of men and
women who have the west central
Minnesota spirit and are working in
telligently for better farming, better
business and better living.
Naturally, some of the counties
have made more marked progress
than others. Swift county won the
most prizes for the best corn at the
recent exposition and by taking home
the sweepstakes prize for the best ten
ears Of any variety established its re-
putation as the corn-growing county
of west central Minnesota, at least un-
til the exposition next year when it
will be given a great contest by some
thirteen neighboring counties.
Pope is admitted to have the largest
number of boosters. At least it was
proved that its boosters are the best
travellers and when 1920 men and wo-
men from Glenwood, Stareuck and
other Pope county towns came to-
Morris On one train competing count
les admitted that Pope was entitled
to the big silver loving cup offered by
the association. This organization and
get-together spirit is just getting un-
der way in Pope county and it means
progress Of every kind from now on.
In the Other Counties
Big Stone and Traverse counties
have been showing their sister count
les how to handle the hog cholora
problem as well as how to grow corn
and alfalfa. Chippewa county farm
ers have known good deal about
corn and livestock for some time,