The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1917-09-26
Federal, State and County
Governments Unite in
Bringing Modern Meth
ods to States Farmers.
1900 MEMBERS OF
JUNIOR FARM CLUBS
Boys and Girls Clubs Have
Been Great Force in the
Spread of knowledge of
Crops and Livestock.

SALTWATER, Okla. Sept u
lSpeclal.)-Ten years ago the United
States department of agriculture sent
w. u. Bentley of Wichita Falls, Texas,
INTO Oklahoma with SIX agents and
$lo,OO IN money to launch the farm
ers demonstration" work in this state
In brief decade the work has grown
and broadcned until at the present
time, under direction of the agricul
nral and mechanical college and the
United States department OF apric,ll
ture, working in operation. there are
lD men and women employed in car
rying the most modern and effective
ideas from college and experiment, sta
ton direct TO the farms and homes of
the state.
The seat OF this work was originally
lishomineo, later Oklahoma City and
IN l9l4 was moved to Saltwater. fol
lowing the peaceful settlement of dif-
ticultleS existing between the state col
lege and the United States department
OF agriculture Added to the original
purpose OF farm demonstration in crons
and livestock>js similar effort To be
OF service to the women OF the farm
and through the boys aud girls clubs to
complete the family circle
q. S., State, and Counties Cooperate
The $4,000 that started the bali roll
ing IN 1917 has grown annually. With
the passage of the Smith Lever act by
congress in 1914, both federal and state
support were planned in increasing
sums until the permanent basis is
reached in 1872 During the present
fiscal year, for instance, the normal an
preparation under the terms of the bill
are SS3,349 from federal sources and
AJ,J49 from state sources, the an
nual federal grant being $1,000 in ex-
cess OF the state appropriation, In 1922
when the adjustment on a permanent
basis VIII be made the work will re-
ceive $l2l O84, from federal and Sill
oSA from state sources County COM
m'ssioners may supplement these funds
by county appropriations and CONNER
cial clubs, business men. etc, aid lib.
orally in additional financing
Officially, this work is carried on un
der the name of the Extension Diyis-
100 OF Oklahoma Agricultural and Me
chanical college in cooperation with
the United States Department of Agri-
culture"
The present director OF this work ie
James A, Wilson, who is the connect
ing link between federal and state att
thorlty. Mr. Wilson is a graduate of
the agricultural course at the Univer
sity OF Minnesota but has spent most
OF his life since graduation in Okla
homa. He has been at various times
president of district agricultural
school, director of the Oklahoma agii.
cultural experiment station. county
agent director of boys and girls clubs
assistant dircctor-of extension and f.
nally director II is doubtful if any
man now living in Oklahoma has
spoken before as many Oklahoma au-
diences, Judged exhibits at as many
county and community fairs, or has as
large speaking acquaintance with the
farmers OF the state as has Mr.. VII
son.
Agent In Every County, Aim.
Since that date in 1907 when Mr.
Bentley and his big six demonstration
agents invaded Oklahoma. i, has been
the dream of the friends OF this work
that at some time there would he a
demonstration agent in every county of
the state. Just how close this dream is
to realization at the present time is
shown by the fact that, at the date Of
this writing, there were seventy four
counties with men agents. and the
names OF two other agents had been
sent to Washington for approval. This
lett but one county in the state with
ont immediate prospect for a county
agent. In addition to these seventy six
men agents, there will be. soon after
this is printed, ffty-fivc women agents
in the field, food conservation agents
in four of the principal cities, seven ne
gro agents for work among members
OF their own race. six district men
agents and two dis,ric, women agents
four field agents in the Boys and Girls
clubs work, and battery of specialists
and administrative officers and EN-
ployes at Saltwater to supplement and