The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1915-12-30
County Agent Brings Redemption
To Farming and Livestock
Raising

The county agent, or expert agri
culturist, has come to stay and is
growing in popularity throughout the
entire country. He is not a white
collared boss, or smart-alex. but on
the contrary is a helper of prac-
teal useful kind, who's does things
who leads off instead Of simply direct
ing others. Lewis county has en-
ployed county agent with success
for the past two years with the help
OF the government, and other coun-
ties t3'c south part Of the state
are doing likewise. Idaho county has
talked of doing SO. but so far it has
only been talk. We should get busy
and do it.; we are losing good money
every year we neglect to take up
with this progressive idea of the ma
tional government, and are placing
ourselves in q class with other old
fogies who in the past refused to ac-
cept and utilize other progressive and
advanced ideas, until their more en-
terprising neighbors had far outstrip-
ped them In the race of life.
The county agent, or his PROTOTYPE,
had his beginning in this country
about fifteen years ago, in the south
ern states, when 1t became necessary
Tor the cotton growers to organize to
protect their industry from the raw
ages of the cotton boil wevil The
result or the movement was the dis
trfcting of the cotton area and the
hiring OF an expert to supervise each
district. The work was Immediately
successful, because the farmers, with
this expert advice, were able to con-
troll 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 re-
suit that nation has risen from a
poverty stricken to a prosperous land.
In fact, Denmark is the agricultural
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 experts.
Utah has probably made more rapid
progress In this line than any other
western state. The Salt Lake Trib-
une, In recent issue gives brief
history of the work i'm that state and
how opposition to the employment of
county agents was overcome by req
son of clear demonstration of their
efficiency, until at this time there is
no thought of doing otherwise than
employing county agent The Trib-
une says:
The county agent Is without doubt
the most important factor in the de-
velopment of the new agriculture In
Utah Practical information on farm
ing discovered In the laboratories is
Valueless unless 1t reaches the farm
ers, and the county agent is the most
valuable factor In disseminating this
information. At the present time Salt
Lake county, with ten other counties. |
LIS profiting greatly by having its farm |
ers instructed daily at the hands of |
the farm expert. There are nine of |
tnese agents busy in the state, two of |
whom cover two counties each. Mr.. |
Stewart covers Carbon and Emery |
counties and Mr.. Harris Uinta and
Duquesne. The work has grown very
rapidly since its Inauguration in 1911, |
and this year received a special impe-
tus In the swelld appropriation pro
vlded for in the famous Smith Lever |
bill.
County agent work began in Utah
In 1911, when L. M. Winsor, now irri-
gation expert for the state, was sent |
INTO Ulnta basin as farm expert.
since then the work has gradually and
s.ns 6AoNH until, at the present
time, about half the state in area
and more than half In population. is
receiving expert advice constantly
from these men.
Being a new movement, it is and
mas been subject to much opposition.
most OF which comes from the land
sharks, either directly or indirectly.
AFTER vain attempts to get the county
agent to help sell their lands Sop,a |
unscrupulous real estate men have
launched campaigns against the agent
and have seized every opportunity TO
thwart his plans. One man was nj
most driven from his county by these
land sharks.
In addition to this hindrance. conn.,