The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1916-02-08
COUNTY Agent
DIRECTOR SAYS AGRICULTURAL
EXTENSION SPELLS BIGGEST
EDUCATIONAL MOVEMENT
OF THE DECADE.

Mitchell. Feb S.-"The county
agent is not guided by the idea of Civ
ing wholesale advice or of teaching
other people their business" said Di-
rector of Extension G.. w Randlett,
before the Corn and Grain Growers
association. The county agent is in
sense the executive office Of the
farmers-he is their representative,
who shall live with them, think. plan
and work with them. He goes to
county as the result of concerted
thought on the part of the farmers
themselves who understand that they
have real problems TO solve. that il
is necessary for them to formulate a
program of action, and that they
must cooperate for the benefit OF
their farms and farm homes.
Educational Movement.
Agricultural extension, including
home economies, spells the biggest
educational movement of the decade,
perhaps of this quarter century 1t is
a big moYement-fi first because of its
geographical scope. This movement
having its origin less than a dozen
years dBO Ill a. lew VI NuG COuillNli II
states later crept into the east and
/ finally westward over the entire
country At present agricultural eX-
1 tension, including home economies, is
I being carried on in every state in the
union.
again it is big because Of its per
sonnet Horace Mann conceived of a
mighty big idea when he championed
the cause of universal education,
1t was he who gave utterance to the
slogan, THE education of all the chill
dren of all the people" Prior to his
time it was conceded that the chill
dren of people occupying rank and
position were entitled TO an eduea-
ton. The present movement of ag-
Irieultural extension, however, in
cludes not only all the children, but
Iall the adults of all ages, sexes and
conditions of life.
Studying Problem.
Again this movement is big be
cause ii is democratic in its concep
= ton. 1t arises from a desire on the
part Of the people TO study their owl
lproblems, to better their own finan
cial. educational and home condi
tions, to make the farm and farm
, home bigger factors in the great pro
cess of human betterment.
Attempts have been made by com
mercial and other interests to hell
the farmers to a better understanding
of their own business. These efforts
+ have been received with but little
cordiality In some cases they have
2 even ended disastrodsly The Amer
lean farmer does not feel himself Dc
pendent and justly resents any sell
t Imposed guardianship. lie know
, that he is not ignorant of the funda
mentals that make for success in hi
own business. He does not Away
. succeed as he should and as he know
he could if he were not hampered b.
conditions. Lack of working capita
for instance and scarcity OF eompe
tent. dependable labor are the tW'
+ greatest limiting factors.
! Because he is inclined 10 resen
superimposed assistance does no
{ mean that he is satisfied with tn
+ knowledge he possesses or that nj
h business and mode of life are entirel
q satisfactory to him. God Almight
n has not yet created the man VIII
r knows all that may possibly be know
!. about any business or profession. Tn
remedy, however, must spring trol
his own efforts. Herein lies IN
= strength of this great extension sys
, TEN, a system of education and proc
ress inaugurated by the farmer
s themselves for themselves.