La Junta tribune., 1917-08-30
COUNTY AGRICULTURAL AGENTS
Now Il the Time for Oscro County
70 Get In Line With Other Pro-
grcssdve COuntics In State

ASu ~ eOOaN ttAhG hoh otoiO
county to get In line with other
progressive counties in the state
and employ county agricultural
agent! The county agents at pres
ent employed In the state are work
Ing sixteen hours q day in an effort
to transform their counties and the
state OF Colorado into better condi-
ditions cs living and better oppor-
tunities for making . living. Eigh-
teen counties In Colorado now have
county agriculturalists and there
are more coming. Pueblo county has
had = county agriculturalist since
1913. and Fremont county since
June Of last year. These are the
only counties In the Arkansas VAL
ley that have = county Agricultural
ist as yet. In eleven other counties.
however. movements to secure such
experts are under way. and II does
seem a. though the coun,. that won
the Hearst trophy cup as the great
est agricultural county in the Unit
ed States should have one This fact
might be proof positive to some peo-
pie that Otero county does not need
one. but the first county aGricul-
tural agent was appointed In Colo
RADIO in 1912. and the Hearst tro-
ply cup WAS awarded to Otero
county In 1919. Other counies are
making an effort to adva:ce along
agricultural lines. and the next
Hearst trophy cup may be won by
some other county. II Is up TO Otero
county to keep in the front rank
along agricultural lines by utilizing
every available means to attain this
desired end.
Perhaps . word or TWO relative to
the history. the work and the meth
cd Of securing 4 county agricul-
tural agent would be OF interest at
this time. The funds for the salary
and expenses OF the county agricul-
turai agent are derived from fed
erai. state and local sources. Fed
erai funds are appropriated in pro-
portion TO the agricultural p0pula-
tion Of the state. thus the appro-
priation for this work In Colorado
IL comparatively small. Counties or
ganised for this work In the past
have been provided with from 800
to 1890 from the state and federal
funds. Counties employing agents
In the future. and also older coun-
ties. eventually. will receive 5000
annually from federal and state
funds. these funds being available
July lst. Of each year. and usually
being paid ~ salary TO the county
agricultural agents In monthly pay
ments. Experience has shown that
at least $1,000 II required to carry
on the work successfully In . coun-
". II Ia thus necessary that the
county raise at least $4,000 and We
would recommend s?.?50 to be
raised In each case. From this
fund. the remainder Of the salary Ia
paid to the agricultural agent and
he In furnished with an automobile
and all travelling expenses are paid.
Thus the county agricultural agent
work IL financed by the United
States congress. the state legislature
and the county commissioners In
some Of the counties. the CONNER
ciaI clubs and farm bureaus are as
sisting In financing the work by sp-
propriatinE funds which have been
raised by subscription or otherwise.
Tho county agricultural agent has
definite place In the agricultural
extension machinery Of the county.
state and nation. lie u the joiput
representative Of the United States
Department Of Agriculture. the State
College OF Agriculture and the far
mefs Of the county. lie II broad
minded. weii-irained man with prac-
teal farming experience. who under
stands the work which the United
States Department Of Agriculture
and the Agricultural College are do
Ing. and also understands the many
problems confronting the farmer.
lie II a man who IL In direct touch
with the United States department
Of Agriculture and the Agricultural
College. and knows how to obtain
any assistance from these sources
which the farmers Of his county ms,
need. lie does not 20 into . county
10 teach the farmers how 70 farm
but IL there TO work With them Ia
the promotion Of improved methods
Of crop production. the introduction
and study Of new and profitable
farm crops. the promotion Of bet
ter methods Of live stock manage
men,. the promotion Of methods soi
combating diseases and 'nsecs pess'