The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1917-06-01
County Agent Chosen
For Bingham County

.
helping the farmers to get acquainted
with each other, bringing to their at
| tentiOn the best methods as practic-
ed in their own county in work each
Is doing on his farm, and to be a
student Of Bingham county's needs
on the whole. The reason that q
county agent can learn these needs
Is that he Is sort of expert observ-
er of tactics all over the county. and
as an observer usually knows more
about a checker game than the actu-
al players who are immersed in the
plans and moves, the agent sees
much that no farmer has time to
look for away from his own enclos-
ure. He disseminates news of good
examples. If farming were like dane
ing, the county agent would be the
floor manager, introducing people,
showing them some of the latest
steps, and making everyone enjoy
himself.
Comparing Notes Already.
AS an example of what farmers
may learn from each other: When
Louis Felt mentioned the abnormal
loss of young stock in this section,
Mr.. Wiley added that in the southern
end of the county they had the same
trouble, especially with colts and
calves. And Immediately several of
the men opened their minds to the
proposition that if this condition were
general it must be something pecul-
lar to the feed or the manner of
colt and calf raising used here by
most farmers. Here is one of the
problems county agent is hired for. i
What farmer would have the time
to leave his work and go cruising |
about in his car to find out how gen.
eral this situation is and what are the |
usual methods concerned?
To further advertise the advant-
ages of giving strong popular sup
port to the farm bureau a publicity |
committee was appointed, to consist
of Chairman A. J. Snyder, Secretary
Treasurer HI. K. Wiley and L. G.
Aicher, who is in charge of the Aber-
deem farm experiment station.
Prejudices to Meet.
Mr.. Hochbaum outlined the most
usual set of objections that are to be
met among farmers who are not IA
miliar with county agent work, as
THAT he is a white collar"
farmer coming to 'shoot advice"
Answer: The agent is not paid for
what he knows, but for what he can
accomplish by getting the farmers to
work together for the best methods.
2-That he is government man
come out from some office to tell the
farmers things. Answer: The agent
Is practical man of farm experience
and thoro training in agriculture. He
makes his home in the county and is
paid for the good things he can en-
courage in the county, and for the
Dad things he can eliminate.
3-That this farm bureau is some
promotion scheme to get lot of
men into a financial obligation. An
,wer: This is nothing but standing
;ogether Of the county's best citizens
or the purpose of raising the stand
ard of farming. The dollar is obtain
I'd principally to make the members
EEL more interest in the organiza-
ion.
Immediate Helps.
Mr. HOchDaum suggested tnaC the
reasury money be used for some
such scheme for buying or building
! number of silo forms for the bu-
eau, to be let out to individual
armers at cost, so it would not be a
great expense for man to own a
lilo. Or, have large waterproof
'igns made to placard the farms of
members of the bureau. 1t would be
fine advertisement for the mem
,er, calling attention to his up-and-
loing character. And then the mon
~ might be used for purchasing new
'trains of seeds to lend out to farm
IFS who desire to try them out, on
condition he will return out Of his
,rop like amount of seed for some
,ther fellow. And thus the good work
will multiply. Prizes might be put up
or boys and girls clubs. A good
armer can do much in one lifetime,
,ut there is no limit to the wonders
county of men can do pulling to-
,ether. ,,