Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1915-02-25
HOW COUNTY MAY
GET farm Agent
X. 8. A. @. Man Explains Plan Dick
insOn Farmers Favor
MUST FORM A FARM BUREAU
Al Least 100 Farmers Should Join
*. 8. A. @: Supplies
One-Half Advisors
Salary
MUST FORM A FARM BUREAU

for Marcn ., IN the NohhAO
rooms here, to take further steps,
At the request Of the Reflector, the
Journalism department OF the agri-
cultural college obtained an inter-
view from Edw. G. johnson, who Is
in charge Of county agent work Tor
the college. The plan of which Mr.
johnson speaks could be varied TO
suit local conditions.
Before a farm bureau Is organized
in any county, says Mr.. Johnson a
group of not fewer than 100 to lou
Influential farmers should signify
their willingness to organize a farm
bureay and become members for not
less than two years, paying an an
nual membership fee OF % eacn'
When 100 to $50 men pledge this
amount they thereby show how In
terest and belief in the farm bureau
and county agent movement and
success is assured from the start.
The amount subscribed in this
way, namely $500 to $3.50 a year.
for two years, of course will not pay
for the county agent work, as the
expense of two years work will be
approximately:
Salary of agent for two years. ap-
proximately $500.
Equipment at the start, consisting
of office equipment, automoDlle'
demonstration tools, ETC., $500.
Running expenses of the bureau
for two years, $1,000.
Total, $1,000.
X. S. A. G. Supplies Half Salary
OF this amount the agricultural
college will supply one-half the
salary of the county agent from
funds obtained from the United
States government fdnr....atonoh$
States government and from the
so-called Smith-Lever funds; that is,
the college will furnish from gov
eminent funds approximately $3.50
for two years, leaving approximately
$3.50 to be furnished by the county
itself. If 100 men belong to the
farm bureau and pay each a men,
bership fee of SIS year, they Will
raise $1,000 for the two years, leav-
ing a balance of $3.50 to be secured
in some other way. In some of the
Kansas counties in which county
agents are now at work, the bankers
of the county have subscribed this
whole amount. In other counties
wholesalers, retailers, commercial
clubs, bankers and professional men
have cooperated in raising the funds.
In several counties $50 to 175 farm
ers belong to the. bureau and the
contributions from farmers, there
fore, are larger than the amount
here mentioned. In one county the
farmers are paying membership
fee of $3.50 a year. Usually 1t is easy
to secure the money needed after
100 to $50 farmers show their in
terest, because the business men OF
the towns have shown the finest
kind of cooperative spirit and have
freely to this work.
County Agent Bill Pending
A bill now before the legislature
provides that when farm bureau
in a county shall have been or
ganized and certain requirements
fulfilled the county commissioners
of county shall appropriate not
less than $500 nor more than $1,000
per year to help in paying the sal
airy and expenses of the county
agent. Should this proposed legisla-
ton become a law, 1t would be easy
for any county to raise the addition
al funds necessary. The agricultural
college would still contribute from
government funds towards the sal
airy of the county agent not less
than $500 a year.
Farmers Must Take First Step
Any county that wishes to organ
ize at present, however, should
first take up the matter with the
farmers of the county and get suf-
ficient number of farmer subscrib-
ers to show that there is the right
kind of interest in the movement.
This usually is best accomplished by
a committee of three to seven farm
ers who will get the required mem
bership. A few men can soon secure
q sufficient number of farmers sig
natures to support the county farm
bureau and county agent for two
years. After this has been done the