American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1915-11-25

that one is not needed, the expense is unnecessary.
COUNTY AGENT BRINGS SALVATION.
The Salt Lake Tribune, in telling of the disappearance
of opposition to the employment of county agents in Utah,
by reason of a demonstration of their efficiency, says:
"The county agent is without doubt the most important
factor in the development of the new agriculture In Utah.
Practical information on farming discovered in the labor
atories is valueess unless it reaches the farmers, and the
county agent is the most valuable factor in disseminating
this information. At the present time Salt Lake county, i
with ten other counties, is profiting greatly by having It's
farmers instructed daily at the hands of the farm expert.
There are nine of these agents busy in the state, two of
whom cover two counties each. Mr.. Stewart covers Car
bon and Emery counties and Mr.. Harris Uinta and Du-
Quesne. The work has grown very rapidly since its lnaug
uration in 1911, and this year received a special impetus
in the swelled appropriation provided for in the famous
Smith-Lever bill.
The county agent, or his prototype, had his beginning in
this country about fifteen years ago, in the southern
states, when it became necessary for the cotton growers
to organize to protect their industry from the ravages OF
the cotton boil wevil. The result of the movement was
the districting of the cotton area and the hiring OF an ex-
pert to supervise each district. The work was immedi-
ately successful, because the farmers, with this expert ad-
vice, were able to control the wevil to such an extent that
the cotton industry was saved from what looked TO be
certain destruction.
A similar system was established in Denmark about
1850, and as a result that nation has risen from a poverty
stricken to a prosperous land. In fact, Denmark is the ag-
ricultural phenomenon of the time. She has learned the
secret of cooperation, both in production and marketing,
and has educated her people mainly through her farm eX-
perts.
County agent work began in Utah in 1911, when L: M.
WinsOr now irrigation expert for the state, was sent into
Uinta basin as a farm expert. Since then the work has
gradually and steadily grown until, at the present time,
about half the state in area, and more than half in popula-
ton, is receiving expert advice constantly from THESE men.
"Being a new movement, it is and has been subject to
much opposition, most of which comes from the land
Sharks" either directly or indirectly. After vain at
tempts to get the county agent to help sell their lands,
some INSCRIPTIONS real estate men have launched cam
paigns against the agent and have seized every oppor-
tunity to thwart his plans. One man was almost driven
from his county by these land sharks.
"n addition tn this hindrance. county agent work has
been subject to severe criticism and Encouragement that
is ALWAYS in store for a new idea. Farmers are as a rule,
and very wisely, conservative, and the practicabnity and
usefulness of a new idea must be thoroughly demonstra-
ted before they will accept it. In Salt Lake county 1t fell
to the lot of H. J. Webb to prove to the farmers there
that the county agent was necessary to their agrlcul-
tural progress and success. He was on trial for one sea
son. At the end of that season a mass meeting OF the
Salt Lake county farmers was held to get the opinion
not. Mr.. Webb came to the meeting, ignorant of the real
purpose thereof, and not knowing that he was to be on
trial He remained in the rear of the hall and listened
shall we say breathlessly?-to the proceedings of the
meeting. Farmer after farmer arose and expressed his
approval of Mr.. Webb's work.
"eHe saved my hogs by showing me how to check the
cholera 'He showed me how to select my potatoes ir
clover in nv swamp land. | couldn't raise a disturbance
on the land before, and now | get a crop. OF hay, anc
about a hundred dollars worth of seed besides.
"These are samples of the expressions. Needless to say
the meeting resulted in a wholesale and enthusiastic APP
proval of county agent work in Salt Lake county.
"The life of the county agent is by no means a slmpl
> n The requirements made of him are legion. HI
must have a wonderful fund of working information. III
knowledge must cover every branch OF farm work. n