Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-04-18
FARM TRAINING
CAMPS FOR BOYS
Three of Two Weeks Each to Be
Held at Vail School, Lyndon
This Spring

Lyndonville, April 1.-THE commissioner
OF agriculture Is making extraordinary
efforts to furnish to Vermont farmers
farm labor for the coming season.
There are in the cities and large towns
OF vermont many boys between the ages
OF IL and 20 years who should be avail
able for work on Vermont farms. The
department Of agriculture, through its
labor agent, r. H. Bickford, proposes to
cooperate with the state department Of
education in locating. training, sorting
and distributing these boys. The commits
sioner Of education has placed at the
disposal Of the department Of agricul-
ture the Theodore N. Vail Agricultural
school and farms at Lyndon Center. This
Is to be known as Camp Vail. and is to
be training camp for boys enlisting
in the service of Vermont.
Through the principals Of the local high
schools the need Of farm labor is to be
put before the boys. and a representative
Of the Vail school Is to speak before the
students Of every large high school Of
the State. When the boys of Vermont
learn of the vital need, it Is believed that
large number will offer their services
to the State and to the country.
Those in charge Of this proposition
realize that not all boys can be eff
cient at farm work. 1t is, therefore,
proposed to take those boys who offer
their services to the Vail school at Lyn-
don Center for a period of two weeks.
Here the boys will be tried out, sorted
and In small measure trained for farm
work. They will be under the eyes of
the instructors for two weeks. During
this time they will be carefully studied
and tested by actual farm work. A GER
tain amount of instruction will be given
them. and, most OF all. the need for their
best and most conscientious effort this
summer will be put before them.
1t is not expected that these boys will
be skilled farm laborers, but it Is be-
| lieved that boys who show signs of ambi-
ton to work, and certain hardness
| at farm operations can be selected and
made available for Vermont farms.
| Upon the completion Of their trial periot
at Camp Vail they will be placed in serv
ice among the farmers of the State by tn,
State labor agent through the count!
agents, or will be held at their homes ii
reserve for farm services later on.
| If the boys of Vermont will prove equa
to their opportunity for service, and 1
the farmers of the State will take thes
boys upon their merits, and will try t
help in the project, 1t will be possible t
| utiiNO III tHc piOuuCtiON VI IOOu d ldUO
! force that would otherwise be idle.
There are to be three camps with
maximum Of 80 boys to each camp. TIL
| dates are as follows:
First camp, May 20 to June 1.
Second camp, June to June Is.
Third camp, June II to June 20.
The only expense to the boy is his car
fare to Lyndonville. All other expense
will be borne by the State.
Every effort will be made to place tn
boys in the most desirable farm home!
and their welfare will be looked afte
during the summer months.
Parents have in this scheme an OF
portunity of giving their sons a chanc
, to be of useful service; to do their shar
in the most important operation of tn
war: and to get the experience Of sun
mer on q farm, with its health -bringinl
outdoor life.
Full particulars can be obtained
writing F. H. Bickford. State Labt
Agent, Bradford. VT, or r. g. Reynold
Director, Theo. N. Vail Agricultur;
School and Farms. Lyndonville. VT.
: There Is no excuse for an idle boy tn
: summer!
/, Camp Vail is ready for recruits.