The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1915-12-11
One Of Chief Attractions to Delegate.
of Northern Minnesota Develop
ment Association Meet.
FIRST SHOW FOR BELTRAMI
COUNTY POULTRY ASSN.
Over 300 Exhibits Of Potatoes; Dis
play Extraordinary Fine; Prof.
Erickson Explains Club Work.
RESULTS OF EIGHTH OF
AN ACRE CONTEST GIVEN

The combined poultry and potato
show held in connection with the
Northern Minnesota DEVELOPMENT as
sociation, Thursday and Friday, was
very successful.
There were large number of ex-
hlblts and much interest was shown
IN them by the delegates to the meet
ing and others. 1t was generally de-
clared that the exhibits were among
the best ever seen.
Prof. T. A. Erickson, state leader
in Boys and Girls club work and
agent Of the United States depart
ment of agriculture in Minnesota, in
speaking Of the boys and girls po-
tato contest, said:
The boys and girls potato con-
test in Northern Minnesota is a part
OF the junior extension work carried
on by the University of Minnesota. :"
In connection with the boys and
girls farm work in Minnesota, Prof.
Erickson said:
Three thousand five hundred boys
OF Minnesota are growing from one
to five acres, each, of corn, doing
their best to use the best methods
for producing high yields at low cost
Eighty counties of the eighty-six are
represented. One thousand boys and
girls are each growing an eighth of
an acre of standard variety of po-
tatoes, and competing on yield and
cost of production. Three hundred
fifty boys and girls are showing
what may be done with one pig, or
litter Of pigs, in making the swine
industry a paying proposition on the
farm. Two thousand junior farmers
have gardens varying in size from
a few square feet for the ten-year-
olds up to the regular club gardens
Of one-eighth Of an acre for those
from 12 to 1S years, growing a; few
standard vegetables, supplying their
own homes with a supply Of fresh
vegetables, selling what they can,
and then canning the surplus for the
market or for winter use in their
own homes. twenty-five hundred
girls from sixty counties have We'd
with each other for eight months to
see who could become the most pro-
ficient in the art Of bread-making.
Calf Contest.
"Forty boys in Wabasha and Sib-
ley counties are in calf contest,
with the object to show who can
produce the best calf in the most
profitable way. Several hundred ru-
raj schools of the state have conduct
ed egg laying and poultry growing g
contests with splendid results. AL
falfa growing has been a club project
in few counties. During 1915 there
were in the state 700 regularly Or
ganized boys and girls clubs, with
officers, constitution and plans of
work for carrying on some special
club project.
"The big lesson that farming pays
is being proven by our club boys and
girls. One of the leading agricul-
tural men of Minnesota, when asked
to make conservative estimate of
what the boys corn work meant to
the state in dollars and cents, said,
1T has increased the value of our
corn crop at least $1,OOO,000.'
"The purpose of the boys and
girls club work is: CD To interest
the boys and girls in farm life and
help them realize the wonderful op-
portunities of the farm; (2) to teach
them better methods in agriculture
and home-making; GO to establish
in boys and girls habits of thrift and
industry, by teaching them how to
prevent waste in home, garden and
. field; (4) to develop leadership in
country life; 90 to connect the
school and the home.
The Potato Work.
"For Northern Minnesota, a one
eighth of an acre potato-growing con-
test has been the special project. In