American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1916-02-24
THE UNIVERSITY AND
RURAL ORGANIZATIONS.


THE UNIVERSITY AND
RURAL ORGANIZATIONS.
Address b President Melvin A. Bran
mon, University Of Ilahe, Farmers
and Heasekeepers' Week., January
g, 1915.
The University OF Idaho, sharing
a common policy with all state uni
vers ties, is definitely pledged to ac-
tive participation In the affairs
which concern the educational, in
dustrial and civic life OF the state
to which 1t belongs. 1t should be
clearly understood that her entrance
into these various fields OF service
is not o~ccasioned by the primary de-
sire of securing larger and larger fl
nancial support in order to exploit
various abstract activities. The uni
versity does not desire to isolate or
~segregate herself In any way what
soever from all educational agencies
which r dedicated to state wide
service. 1t must be definitely known
that her single desire is to make
the greatest contribution possible
through the widest possible uoe Of
every dollar appropriated for her
work This cannot be confined to
one place in Idaho. Her material I'M
its are found in eve different cities
and towns Of Idaho, namely, Sand
point, Moscow. Caldwell, Boise. Good
ing, Jerome and Aberdeen. Moreover
her work cannot be confined to any
single field Of intellectual or indus
trial activity. She ds primarily con-
cerned with teaching truths that are
already. known, and also endcavoring
to discover new truths which pertain
particularly to the state of Idaho. 1t
follows that the university must ar
ticulate herself intimately with the
thought and business Of the entire
state. She Is continually endeavoring
to develop closer and more sympa-
thetic relations with every education
al interest in this and adjoining states
The u~niversit is eager to study the
industrial and civic problems which
pertain to the vital relationships OF
Idaho, and, once more, 1t must en-
phatically announce that he attitude
is that OF the progressive and hope
full university which seeks to enter
eagerly into state service in order to
use ali that she has In the most help
full name for every man, woman and
child. She Ia not increasing her ac-
tivities o e~ndeavoring to relate her.
self to the cultural and practical life
Of this state with the idea merely Of
seeking larger financial support. 1t
is obvious however, that her increased
worth will become recognized and her
powers will be strengthened through
the voluntary and legislative action.
During the past year, considerable
progress has been made In relating
the University to the life Of Idaho.
This has been rendered possible by
using her department of Extension
particularly that part pertaining to
agriculture. Through this last named
agency, there has been developed
496 boys and girls clubs I'm the state.
These clubs have a membership Of
1878 boys and girls. They are
studying animals, plants and simple
but fundamental economic questions.
They put a premium upon the prac-
tice Of thrift and cooperation. In
these clubs nearly ten thousand boys
and girls r learning team work
the one needful lesson which the
whole progress of this state and
nation depends.
There are many rural organizations
which are touched by the extension
service. without attempting to enum-
crate all OF them, mention may be
made of the Grange, Farmers Union,
Society OF Equity, Bureau of Farm
Markets, about thirty local bureaus,
many farmers clubs, vegetable and
fruit distributors associations, live
stock, seed and other associations.
The chief value in the established re-
lations with these various rural or
CARNATIONS Is expressed in two nota-
BILE results. In the first place, the
needs and the wishes of large nJm-
bers Of country people are made
known and are discussed in a thor
ough and systematic amer enab-
ling the participate to benefit each
other than to establish local clearing
houses in which many vexing ques-
tons are settled. The second bene-
ficient result Is the direct and COM
p~rehensive presentation of a%gricultur-
al needs to the workers in the Ag-
ricultural College, and Agricultural
Experiment station at the university.
How can the university know what