The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1915-09-30
Over ], 900 Counties
Have State Agents Under
Smith-LeVer Bill
Continued from page y

the tangible results of t h e r
work are very encouraging. The
personality of the agent is, of
course, "a great factor in deter.
mining themeasure ofhis success.
His understanding o f the real
problems of the region in which
he is working, h is sympathy
with rural people, and his ability
to meet them on t h cir oW n
ground and actually to convey to
them important practical instruc-
ton and information in a con-
vincing way are among the es-
sentials. When to these qualifi-
cations are added studious incli-
nations and habits, the posses
sion of accurate and up-to-date
knowledge of the practice a n d
science of agriculture and busi-
ness ability of high order, we
have a very able and useful man
whose services will mean much
for the agricultural a n d social
advancement of his county.
Inasmuch as it is improbable
for the county agent to deal al
together with Individual farmers,
the problem of the organization
of groups of farm people through
whom they may work is assum-
ing great Importance. Two gen.
eral types of such organizations
are now being utilized. County
organizations, often called farm
bureaus, are being formed which
are expected to take the initia-
tive in securing county or local
financial support for the county
agent, take part in the selection
and appointment of the agent,
and stand behind him in h i s
efforts to advance the agricultur~
al interests of the county. Many
o f these organizations include
business and professional men,
as we'll as farmers, and their
complex organization has given
rise to special problems. | t s,
however, now very apparent
that while the cordial sympathy |
and support of all classes of our
people in the movement for the
improvement of agricultural con-
d itions is very much to
be desired, the farming people
themselves should control and in
the end determine the character
and work of the organizations on
which tn e extension system
must depend for it's local u p
bort.
Another type of local organi-
zatoin being tested in various
places is the small community
Ia b. Where a considerable
number of these clubs exist in
county they are often confeder-
tied to form some kind of a coun-
y organization. The exact re-
atoms of organizations of either
ype to the extension system, the
,readth..and variety.of their func-
ions relating to extension work
r other enterprises, and the
most effective forms for their
rganization are as yet largely
undetermined, and they must
till be considered as in the ex-
erimental stage.
WORK For Boys AND GIRLS. I
Another important line of ex-
ension work which has been 4
eveloped in a large way by the
apartment and the agricultural
olleges prior to the passage of
le Smith-Lever Act and which
as been carried over into their :
ew extension organizations is
le boys and girls club work. a
l the Southern States this enter A
rise is organically associated y
18th the county agent work, but
/ the other States has a more
eparate organization. Through
re club work the extension
gencies are brought into close
ouch with the State and local
ficers and teachers, who largely
Operate in the formation and v
oe tha a1,,hn nh ie, |