The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-07-15
"Why / Expect to be a Farmer"

|
The following is the prize essays
in the contest to decide who, from
this county, was to have the trip to
the Iowa State Fair, transportation
and expenses to be paid by the Fair
management, written by Ronald Sip
herd, of Grand River:
do not believe there is more
honorable occupation under the can
opy of Heaven. Nowhere else can
the beauties Of nature be so fully ap-
precated The green meadows,
waving grain. and thrifty live stock,
present picture the poet is at
loss for words to describe. The
farmers have great future. The
opportunities were never more prom
Using for the present and future agri-
culturist, for the valuable assistance
of the Agricultural Experiment Sta
ton; studying the best methods of
handling the different soils, testing
various varieties of seeds and plants.
and conserving moisture, all guaran-
tee abundant remuneration.
The productiveness of the land is
being greatly increased by the farm
er knowing it's chemical elements.
Why do we farm?
| Inc universal answer tnat IS SlVeus
for profit in one sense is true. 1t
is a profitable, as we'll as independ-
ent and pleasant occupation. To my
mind to answer that question cor
rectly, one needs only to stand a few
minutes on any of the busy thorough
fares of our large cities, and watch
the throngs going to and fro. The
thought comes to my mind, who feeds
l u nd 1nf h oct Of Lr,r n
ity?
Thousands of our foreign neigh
bOrs have been saved from starVa-
ton by the products of the Ameri-
can farm.
To help to produce the necessities
of life, what greater mission could
one perform?
The Introduction of that valuable
plant, alfalfa, which has a very high
feeding value, either as hay, or pas
ture; as soil builder, this phase Of
alfalfa growing will not be over
looked, nor its importance underes-
timated by those who realize the
need Of giving much greater atten-
ton to maintaining the fertility of
Iowa soils.
To a certain extent it will supplant
| the large acreage of corn, which is
| a great soil robber. And by SO do
| ing help to solve the important ques-
ton ON motive power, which is an
expensive factor to the farmer. By
eliminating much of the hard work
in raising corn, it will naturally
shorten the work hours. A thing
heralded by every country lad. It
is going to revClutionize farming in
the United States.
Farming is an art.
A large percent of the failures ex-
perienced every year is attributable
to the lack of knowledge of ones
business
Boys ae like pencils, they need to
be sharpened and pushed before they
will make mark.
My present desire is to enter
four year agricultural course at
Ames after completing my high
school work.
To own and live on an Iowa farm
that shows prosperity is the height
of my ambition. l hope that I will
never be guilty Of using the slogan
back to the farm" which you hear
our city cousins use SO often.
Would l exchange places with them
nd cast my lot with the thousands
that are struggling to earn the nee
essities of life sufficient to keep soul
and body together? Emphatically,
no! They are denied the fresh
fruit and vegetables.
pure air. and congenial surroundings
which we enjoy so much.
One of the depressing things
about city life is the lack of sociabil-
ty, for "a great city is great soil
:ude."
Living to self alone is a narrowing
habit to form. Get acquainted with
your neighbors-you might like
them. The question has sometimes
been raised whether the people who
live in the country are not drifting
apart in these days of fast living and
losing some of the finer touches of
life. Such as characterized the peo-
pie in pioneer days.
Farming is becoming more attrac-
tive many ways. By the labor-saving
Rural Free Mail Delivery,
Mutual Telephone, and many other
;hings.
The isolated farmer is a thing Of
he past.
City conveniences are being en-
oyed at nominal cost. The auto
gives agreeable diversion to mind
md body. After the days work you
IAN take spin to town, or tour
through the ncighborhood, while the
Yorkhorses are enjoying their we'll
earned rest.
Every farmer should plan to take
| weeks outing every fall with his
amily and attend the State Fair. 1t
las so many valuable educational
features that you can not find else
where. 1t breaks the monotony and
outs new life into your work.
lope to attend the Fair this fall
wen if am not the winner in this
Ontest.
We should unite our efforts in
the lives of our song birds
rom the gun in the hands Of
boys, and the wholesale
obbing of nests. They are the farm
rs friends. Thousands of dollars
re saved annually in crops by them
n the countless numbers of insects
nd noXious weed seeds they destroy.