Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1914-02-26
COURSE IN AGRICULTURAL cot
tEoE is RECOMMENDS FOR
PRIZE; WINNERS
FAR MORE VALUABLE REWARD
Federal Agricultural Department Bull
letn Says Washington Trip Is
Spectacular, While College
Permanently Benefits.

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 a
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
more elementary course in a school
where agriculture is taught or a
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 a
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.
| Giyc;l 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 a 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.
1t has been suggested that such coun-
ties as care to give prizes give one or
more short courses in the state agrl-
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 or
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:
a pair of registered pigs.
A pair of fullblooded chickens.
A fine colt
registered calf.
An up-to-date corn planter.
A two-horse wagon.
4 gold watch.
Books on agriculture.
A doublebarreled shotgun.
A first-class bicycle.
A ton of good fertilizer.
A. So hat.
A fireless cooker (for girl win
ners).
More Prizes Make More Contestants,
IN general It is better TO offer many
small prizes than a few large ones. Il
20 boys try for a prize and only one
is fortunate, some OF the 10 unsuc,
cessful contestants will probably b.
too discouraged to try again. But
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
! tics of success the following year
Some board of trade and chambers
| of commerce have also recognized the
efforts OF the clubs by giving ban
QHets for the young people and enter
, tanning them with street car and auCo
mobile rides. On other occasions
clubs have been honored by an invi
tation to march in parades, where
they have attracted deserved atten
tiCD.
A Trip 10 the State Fair.
, From Memphis, Tenn, comes an in
teresting story which is a sample o.
what has hsen done in other state:
for young prizc-winners. In the three
states ARKANSAS, Tennessee and Mis-
, sissippD, which are annually repre-
scented at the Memphis Tri-State fair
it was decided TO send certain 30!
I prizewiDners 10 ice far as a rewsTC
! Ior their excellence.