The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1918-01-15
Leading Agriculturists Of
County Unanimously En-
dorse Proposition
1000 MEMBERS, GOAL;
TO GET COUNTY AGENT
Plan OF Organization Laid AT
Meeting Here; Campaign
Starts Saturday

Knox County Farm Bureau before
January 26."
The above is the slogan about %
farmers, representing different sec.
tions of Knox county, carried away
with them from the meeting held at
the Chamber OF Commerce Thursday
afternoon under the direction of H. L.
Andrews, who is here to represent
the Ohio State university in the or
ganization of farm bureau in order
that the Knox county farmers may
have the same advantage that now
exists in % other Ohio counties of
having the aid of a county agricultur.
al agent available.
AS indicated by the slogan given
above, the idea OF organizing and Sc
curing a county agent met with unan.
imous approval after the question
had been thoroughly discussed from
practically all angles and Mr.. An.
drews had cleared up points upon
which the men were doubtful and
about which they asked questions,
and a campaign for 1000 members
will be begun Saturday and continue
until January 20.
SIMMS is PRESIDENT
At the close of this campaign the
members secured will meet and form
a permanent organization to replace
! the temporary one which was formed
at the meeting Thursday and IS head
ed by Charles Simms of Wayne town
ship as president.
Other officers of the temporary or.
ganization who we're elected Thurs.
day are:
Vice President-William H. Ward
Clinton township.
Secy..Treas John Cunningham
College township.
Prior to calling the meeting Thurs
members of the Chamber of Com
merce at their noon luncheon We'd
nesday upon the subject of County
Agents" and this body passed reso.
luton unanimously approving the
plan to secure an official of this sort
for Knox county after hearing what
the county agents of other Ohio
counties have been able to do.
Mr.. Andrews also visited few
farm institutes in progress in the
county and through conversation
large percentage of farmers were
either unqualiliedly in favor of the
plan or were open to conviction.
GET PRACTICAL FARMER
At Thursdays meeting Mr.. An
drews explained the steps taken to
organize farm bureau and secure Il
county agent and the work county
agents do, showing how the system
benefits the farmers as whole as
well as the individual.
Briefly, county agent is IA man
thoroughly conversant with farm life
and the problems of the farmers,
raised on II farm. II graduate of an
agricultural school and Il practical
farmer as well as book farmer"
lie is hired upon petition of the
members Of county farm bureau
and his salary is paid in part by the
county and in part by the state, each
giving certain amount of money
which not only pays his salary, but
pays the other expenses connected
with the work of his office so that
there is no direct expense of the
county agent or his Office upon the
farmer excepting that portion of his
taxes which helps make up the appro.
4 priatiou. of the county for this pur-
hardly noticeable.
II Is estimated that 1900 of one
mill would he the additional taxation
necessary to raise the $1,000 the
county will appropriate for this pur-
pose The state donates $1,000 addi-
tional, thus bearing more than half
OF the expenses.
SAYS "IT'S UP TO US"
One man at the meeting Thursday
expressed the situation regarding the
cost in an apt way when he said; "If
we don't take advantage of this offer
of the state some other county will
and it will get the benefit so it's up
to us to get busy"
The county agent acts as the ad-
visor of every farmer in the county