Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1917-05-16
JUNIOR FARMING
BEING FINANCED
Involves 100000 Distribute
Among Over 10000 Eager
Young Farmers.
THE LOANS ARE
FOUNDED ON HONOR
Scheme Consists of Lending Money
to Boys and Girls Sufficient to
Purchase Animals, Chick
ems, Seed, Eggs, Etc.

now occupying place IN the nation
interest equal to that in military af-
fairs Des Moines is the point from
which is radiating a movement cal
culated to go far in the promotion
of the development desired on a per-
manent basis but yet with immedi-
ately far reaching effects.
E. T. Meredith, through Success
full Farming, has offered to finance
from 10, 900 to 10000 boys and
girls between the ages of 10 aId IS
years living in the states Of the mid
die west reached by his magazine for
the starting of an agricultural ven
ture of their own, either the raising
of pig, calf, chickens, corn, pota-
toes or other products.
The plan which is now being oper-
ated under the direction of E. N.
Hopkins, former Des Moines man
who has returned from south where
he was actively associated with the
boys and girls agricultural club
work, was started Jan. /, before the
nationwide agitation for increased
production was mentioned.
Based on Honor.
In itself the scheme is a simple
one. 1t consists of lending money TO
boys and girls, sufficient to purchase
the young animal, chickens, seed,
eggs or other necessities for the
foundation of the youths own enter
prise, and taking in exchange a prom
issory note to bear interest at per
cent for one year or until the har-
vest brings the return on the in
yestment.
mo Strings" are attached to the
loan except that the borrower. must
belong to or join the boys or girls
club of the county in which the ven
ture is to be made, the clubs being
under state and county supervision
and all directed from Washington
by the federal department of agricul-
ture. The signature of the borrow
er's parent is required as evidence
of consent of the parent to the loan,
and the signature of the county
agent, if there be one in the county,
is required as evidence of the Dor
rowers' being in touch with the or
gained agricultural leaders Of the
community. No obligation attaches
to the signatures of any but the Dor
rover and 10 security but honor is
required
Has Three Purposes.
Three chief purposes lie behind
the movement. The first and most
important is the influence expected
to be eXerted for keeping the youth
of the farms upon the farms and
shutting off the tide toward the city,
as well as developing in that youth
a self-reliance and ambition for iIdi-
Vidual participation In the agricul-
tural development of the country.
The second consideration is in
creased food production. The plan
will invest between $4,000 and
100000 in young stock and seeds
which will be brought to maturity
with the greatest individual care
and intensive cultivation, assuring
extraordinary percentage of in
crease and yield.
The third effect of the system viii
be to build up the junior farmers
club movement now being encourag-
ed by the federal government, to
support the extension work of the
agricultural colleges of the country.
to stimulate desire for higher agri-
cultural education among the youth
of the rural Districts and to provide
funds for the qualification of that
desire
Immediate Response.
Immediate response met the ini-
tial announcement of the plan thru
the columns of Successful Farming.
In the three months since its incep-
ton more than 10000 separate ne
gotiations have been begun a1d a
large percentage of these have been
carried through to completion of con-
tracts.
Sentiment enters into the project
in large measure with the practical
features. Among the thousands OF
letters received by Mr.. Hopkins there
have been hundreds from boys and
girls who state that since seeing
the offer their parents or the bank
ers of their communities have made
them similar offers and that they in
tend to carry out the idea without
assistance from outside.
Fathers and mothers have been
awakened to the craving in the