Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-09-03
KENNEbEC FARMERS
CONSIDER BENEFITS
OF ORGANIZATION
County Agent Deering
Tells Them That Sit
uation Calls for Co.
operation Tempo
rary Offices for Farm
Bureau Elected

A meeting OF two score farmers rep
resentins 1e towns of kennebec coun-
,ty was held in City Hail. Augusta,
Saturday afternoon at o'clock. for
the purpose of discussing the agricul-
tural needs of the county and various
forms Of organizations.
County Agent A. L. Deering called
the meeting to order and introduced
DR.. Leon S. Merrill, director of Agri-
cultural extension work, who said in
part:
Friends, we have come to a point
in extension work where some sort of
the work is TO spread. We need such
an organization for many reasons but
more especially for the following ones:
In the present war emergency some
group of representative farmers Is
necessary to handle the problems
which they are facing and will face
before this crisis is over.
The county agent needs the coun-
sci and advice of the best farmers in
considering the needs of the various
towns and shaping a program of work
for that town; then in bringing to-
gether the plans for the several towns
and shaping them into county agri-
cultural program Of work that can be
carried out successfully.
The assistance Of the farmers in
every community is needed in carrying
out the program of work decided upon
for and. by that community. The
county agent working alone as an in
dividual when he gives his entire time
to the service has reached his maxi
mum accomplishment, that is, he can
never increase his value to town or
the county beyond that point without
the active assistance of the farmers
and business men of that town or
county beyond that point without the
active assistance Of the farmers and
business men Of that town or county.
To use concrete example. the mem
bers Of a county organization resid-
ing in a certain town might get to-
gether; discuss the town needs, de-
eide that demonstrations in orchard
ing, poultry and crops. boys and
girls clubs, and extension school and
the cooperative purchasing supplies
NouiQ pC lOI tIlo USIeHl Oh the TOWN.,
then the location Of the demonstra-
tons could be planned; the number of
meetings to be held during the year
decided upon and a committee ap-
pointed to see that the citizens Of the
town know about these plans. In one
evening the people Of a town could
map out and set in motion a program
which would take the county agent ~
compelled to discuss Il with indi.
viduals a week TO even get under wav.
The result would be that the county
agents trained services could be used
in other work in the county for tho
time saved by this plan. It would in.
crease his value to the county MANY
old and permit him to reach every
community or town with extension
work
The county organization is not a new
tning as every state in the North and
West with the exception Of Wisconsin and
Delaware have them. One has recently
been organized in Hancock county with
a membership Of over 800 The County
Farm Bureau has long since passed the
experimental stage. Where they are i,
operation they have saved thousands of
dollars for farmers and done untold good
in communities.
IF you gentlemen think the county
agent and extension work is worth while !
in Kennebec county. think you will
agree with me that 1t would be a fine |
thing to multiply this work several times
over during the next few years by mes ms !
Of q County Farm Bureau
"A county organization would work in ,
fun cooperation with and give moral