The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1917-11-23
THE COUNTY COUNCIL OF AGRJ.
CULTURE.

A movement has been started to eff
fect the organization of a County
Council of Agriculture in Okanogan
county. Thousands of cooperative ag-
ricultural associations are working
successfully, besides other thousands
OF farmers clubs, oranges, equities.
ana other secret and non-secret fra
ternal associations that are perform
ing an excellent service for rural or
CARNATIONS in their respective fields.
The County Council of agriculture
will help to unity the efforts of the ex-
isting organizations and to strengthen
the work they are doing. 1t is a nom
partisan, non-sectarian, non-secret
organization representing the whole
farming population, men and women
alike, and acts as clearing house for
every other association interested in
work with rural people.
Essentially it is chamber of agri-
culture, corresponding in many of its
functions with city chamber of COM
merce. The County Council is not a
dream of thorists, but was developed
by the necessity of meeting the need
for effective county agent work. The
agent, as the county agricultural ex-
tension lader found that an organiza-
tion was essential to extend his work
effectively over the county. The Coun-
ty Council of Agriculture has been the
answer to this need.
The purposes of the organization
are:
1. To bring to the county agent the
counsel and advice of the best farmers
in the county as to what ought to be
done and how to do it.
2. To provide an organization for
quickly and easily reaching every
community in the county with informa-
tion Of value to that community or to
the county as a whole.
8. To provide plan for organized
self-help, enlisting the cooperation
of all farmers interested in carrying
out a county agricultural program of
work.
Letters have been sent to every
group of organized farmers in the
county, setting forth the aims of the
plan and asking that each organiza-
ton select a representative to be
present at the first annual meeting of
the council and to represent the Or
ganization and district from which he
comes. In case any organization has
not received such notice, it is hoped
that the members will consider this
published article an invitation to elect
a representative and forward the name
of the party to the County Agricul-
tural Agent at Okanogan.
On December 1, 1916, there were
2S7 such organizations in the 33
northern and western states, with a
membership of 1854. Since that time
large increase has taken place.
These organizations are coming to be
recognized as the official agricultural
body interested in promoting all that
pertains to a better and more prosper
Gus rural life. 1t is quite as much in
terested in home economics, demon
strations, boys and girls club work,
farm management demonstrations,
and the work of the various institute
oral specialists and it is in the dem
onstrations carried on under the direct
supervision of the county agent. Thus
the county council has become the
federating agency through which all
groups of rural people, whether organ
lied or unorganized, are able to Sc
cure a hearing. 1t exercises and de-
velops local leadership in the rural
affairs of each community.
Detailed plans for the first annual
meeting will be published later, but
they will include lectures by farm
specialists stereoptican views of spec
ial agricultural operations, business
sessions to work out plans for the
coming years work in addition to
entertainment features. The farming
public will be invited to attend the en-
tire session.
WALTER A. HOLT,
County Agr. Agent.