Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1915-08-18
BOYS AGRICUL-
TURAL CLUBS
Estate Leader Boys Agricultural Club Work.
In Farmers Week Course, University OF
Maine, 1915

No movement in recent years has been
OF more value or more permanent benefit
than the formation of agricultural clubs
for boys in the rural districts. Starting
in New York in 1898 and spreading to
nearly every state in the Union, with an
enrolment at present Of more than 200,-
900, the club project now stands among
the foremost educational movements in
recent years.
Clubs were first formed in Maine in 1918
under the auspices Of the extension
department OF the college OF agriculture.
During the year 1914, thirty potato and
poultry clubs were organized in ten
counties and twenty-sev towns, with a
total enrolment OF nearly 300. Forty-two
per cent OF those enrolled reported at the
close of the season.
The average yield per acre of potatoes
by those reporting was 3i3.5 bushels. The
average cost per bushel was 81 cents. The
yield was excellent, but the cost per bushel
was little high, due no doubt to lack
the crop.
Two projects are carried on in the clubs,
potatoes and poultry. The plan OF
organization is simple and is made up of
local, general county and State clubs.
A local club is formed in any town or
community in the State where six boys
between the ages OF ten and eighteen
years are interested and local leader can
be secured to supervise the club. The
members meet and elect their officers
president, vic-president, secretary and
treasurer-and the same form is followed
in their meeting as is used in any business
or social organization.
The general club is made up Of boys
who live away from the centers and are
unable to join local club but wish to
grow the potatoes or poultry. These boys
enroll directly with the State leader who
is in charge. This affords the "lone boy"
a chance to do something.
Contests each year are held for each local
club, at which essays are read on show
Made and Marketed my Crop, and re-
cords presented showing in detail the
total cost OF production, and an exhibit OF
potatoes or poultry.
Prizes are usually offered for the best
records, essays and exhibits. The con-
tests for the general club is held in conec-
ton with the county association OF clubs,
that is held each year on or before Dec
ember /. The county association is made
10 in membership Of the winners at the
local contests and the general contests.
Prizes are usually offered. This contest
is directly in charge of the State leader.
The State association Of agricultural
clubs is made up in membership OF the
winners from the county contests, and is
held each year during the Christmas re-
cess at the University Of Maine. Prizes
are offered and competed for as at the
local and county contests.
AT the contest held at the University
last December, seventy-six boys and girls
and ten local leaders were present, and
$3.50 in prizes were awarded to thirty-six
different boys and girls. 1t was the great
est event OF their lives.
That is only beginning. 1t has
opened an avenue OF approach to the
country boy that heretofore had been un-
dreamed OF. Through the club work, we
hope to give every boy a chance to earn
more money, get better education, be
better citizen, be of more service to his
community and State, make homes
brighter, schools better and opportunities
Invader