West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1915-09-30
MANY NEW AGRICULTURAL
CLUBS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
Much Time and Attention Given
Over to the Organization and
Supervision of the Work for
Boys and Girls-Co-opcration is
Essential to Success of the Plan

department is the aid given in the
promotion and conducting OF boys
and girls agricultural clubs. These
clubs are being formed i'm rural pub
lie schools in connection with the
courses in elementary and secondary
agriculture. The Office of extension
work in the northern and western
states maintains a section with a lead
er and assistants who give their entire
time TO the organization and supervis-
ion OF the club work. in cooperation
with the extension divisions OF the
agricultural colleges in practically all
Of the states. The office OF extension
wo.k in the South maintains a similar
organization and in addition has more
than 400 county women agents who
give special attention TO girls club
work. The state leader in club work
at the agricultural college is usually
the joint employee OF the department
and the state college and represents
both institutions alike. Thus, through
the assistance of the state leader the
boys and girls are brought into and
become a part OF both the state and
national organizations for club work.
Club work, especially among the
young people, is receiving more and
more attention from those interested
i'm the Improvement of the social, edu-
cational and financial conditions of
farm life. and clubs are being organ
lied TO work in various ways toward
The betterment of some one or all of
those conditions. The plan OF organi-
zation and scope OF the activities of
school clubs briefly outlined below ap-
ply particularly to boys and girls ag-
ricultural clubs. They are, however,
suggestive of plans for the formation
of clubs to work along other lines.
The teacher is. of course, the one
to determine whether the organization
OF school club is practical and desir-
able. If he desires to form n club
and has become familiar with the
plans. projects. rules. etc, of clubs, he
should call meeting for organization
OF as many boys and girls of the
school district as can be brought to-
gether. 1t would be well to invite the
patrons OF the school and have the ex-
tension representative County agenD
for the county give a talk on the ag-
ricultural club requirements and work
If possible, the county superintendent
OF education and the state leader i'm
charge of club work should be present
at this meeting and aid i'm the organi-
Zation work. a simple form OF consti-
tuition and set of bylaws may be
adopted, and the regular officers of the
club elected may include a supervisor.
president. vice president. secretary.
treasurer and program committee.
Among the provisions OF the bylaws
that may be adopted, the following are
suggested as desirable:
"The members of the club shall
agree to read all reference literature
bearing upon the home project This
may include literature dealing with
the growing of corn. potatoes, toma-
toes, chickens. pigs. etc.
"A written plan of the work of each
boy and girl must be prepared for
the teacher. They must do all the
work connected with the particular
contest or project entered upon
THE amount of yield by weight and
measurement of land and other results
of the spring and summer work must
be certified to by the contestant and
attested to by at least two disinter-
ested witnesses. preferably members
of the local school board who are not
relatives
Every member OF the club must
make an exhibit at the annual school
fair.
'In estimating profits the recon-
mendations OF the state agent i'm
charge OF boys and girls clubs will
be observed, and accounts must be ac-
curately kept Rent of land S.....,
work Of club members ..... cents per
hour, work Of horses ...... cents per
hour each, maure So. per two-horse
wagon load
mo club member shall be allowed
to receive more than ...... prizes.
"The committee Of judges for the
annual school fair shall be selected
by the local leader.
Exhibits winning prizes at the
school fair should be sent TO the an
-nual county contest and even TO the
state contest"
The success Of the rural school club
depends largely upon the cooperation
OF the school teacher, county superin-
tendent Of education. extension repre-
sentative, and the club leader OF the
state college OF agriculture. Shortly
after the club is organized the teacher
should submit the names OF the mem
bors to the county superintendent Of
education, who can assist I'm furnish
ing the club with literature directing
them in the work. The teacher will
find 1t advantageous TO have the exten-
sion representative make talks before
the school, as well as a visit the con-
testants' home projects as he makes
his rounds from time 20 time. The
teacher should visit the homes OF all
club members and, together with the
boys and girls and other members OF
their families, go to the prize acres,
etc, and have the owners tell tho