The Mena weekly star., 1917-11-15
HOME EXHIBITION
 BENEFITS COUNTY
President Calling On Women and Girls To Do Their Part in Win
 ming This War.
By Connie J. Bonslagel, State Agent in Charge of Home Demonstration
 Work For the Extension Divi-


 sion of U. of A
 Never before in the history of the state have the men making up the membership of the quorum courts had such an excellent opportunity to help the people of their counties. These men have recognized the value of the demonstration work in the past, and on account of the war and the in- creased demand for trained workers the counties now having the work are already asking the Extension Division to help them retain their agents. Many of the counties that do not have women agents have petitioned for the services of one of these ex- perts during the coming year.
 The President is calling on the wo- men and girls to do their part in win ming this war while Congress has made an emergency appropriation which makes 1t possible not only to place agents in counties not having the work at this time if the quorum courts desire it, but this appropria- ton makes it possible to pay a greater portion of the home demon stration agents salary from Federal funds than ever before. If Arkansas is to do her bit we must have an agent in every county. What is your county doing?
 From the 4S home demonstration agents now working in 47 counties of the state much evidence has been gathered concerning the importance and amount of work that our girls and women are doing toward increas- ed food production under the direc- tion of these experts. Practically everyone who had ground has grown garden this year. The output from garden, field and orchard has not been allowed to go to waste as has former ly been the case The number of quarts of canned goods put I'D this year shows an increase of 200 per cent over the number put up last year Much of this will be kept for home use, some has been sold and some has been "put up for the soldiers and donated to the Red Cross Socie- ty." Interest in three lines of work will continue throughout the winter inc care of dairy products. the care of poultry and gardening.
 In addition, county agents have had many calls for instruction in the eco homie use of foods, in the selection of foods, planning meals so as to elemi- nate waste, economic cookery, use of home grown products, meat and wheat 1 substitutes, infant feeding, etc Much l has been said and written about sub l stituting chapear foods for the more 1 expensive ones" but this advice must l be accompanied by some instruction from the women agents if substitutes are to made safely
 While the drive being made during the present crisis has been toward the production and conservation of foods mainly, other phases of the work have not been neglected. A thoughtful attitude toward homework has been encouraged. "using the head to save the heels" as some one has l put it. To this end the use of home made labor saving devices has been included in the course given to Home Demonstration Clubs, Fireless cook CTS, canners, iceless refrigerators. ironing boards, wheel trays, shower baths, water systems, vegetable dri- CTS, window screens, fly traps, and many other devices were made under the direction of the home demonstra- tion agents.
 It is impossible to estimate in dol lars and cents the amount saved In food products this year through the efforts of the women agents. but 1t is certain that the canning and sale of hitherto wasted products has afforded source of income to the farm wo- men and girls The value of the work done by the agents among the girls alone through clubs cannot be over estimated. A number of girls make money enough from their club prod ucts to put themselves through high school or college. Many remain at home contented, being able to make their own spending money who would | otherwise have sought some poorly paid employment in town. The busi- ness training that the girls get in tho keeping of record books and market ing of their club products Is also valu- able and the girls expect to receive only what their products are worth. The day is past when canning club girl cares to have a sentimental public buy her goods just because she is s canning club girl She knows she is competing on business principles with business concerns, that her products must be as good as the best-or a it. tie better-or she cannot sell them: she is prepared to guarantee every can of goods bearing the All Brand label; she appreciates the fact that | if she sells wholesale to a merchant at a certain price she cannot turn around and retail the same product to his customers at a price lower than the retail price that he has to charge
 Let us give the girls and women of our rural districts a chance by putting a home demonstration agent in every county In Arkansas. Remember, the emergency appropriation just made by | Congress has made 1t possible for the Extension Division, University of Ark ansas, with the help of the quorum courts, to extend this work.
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