The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1918-08-09
Field Workers Entitled to Much
Credit for Present Expan-
sion of Agriculture.
DON'T LINGER IN LIMELIGHT
often Give Unusual Service in Pc.
culiar Way-Put Enthusiasm and
Interest Into Work Essential
in Bringing Results.

In the present great expansion and
development of American agriculture
officials Of the United States depart
melt Of agriculture are confident that
large share of credit must be given
to the county agricultural agent-the
missionary Of better farming who
works comparatively for the federal
government and the states and carries
to the farmer the knowledge developed
by the specialists and scientists.
The work Of the county agent, like
every other line Of work, Is largely
routine and 1t is never spectacular.
But there is ample evidence that the
county agents as whole put into
their work the enthusiasm and the in
terest always essential in bringing re-
suits. And occasionally, too, may be
found instances of unusual work done
In ap unusual way.
Working on SnoWshoes.
The picture with this article shows
county agent who travelled 20 miles
on snowshoes to help farmer. He
knew that the farmer wanted an an
alysis made of his business SO that he
could know what crops would bring
him the largest return. The county
agent chose the wintry weather be-
cause he knew 1t would prevent the
farmer from doing outside work. So
he put on his snowshoes and made
the journey over the snowdrifts and
rough country of Ell Paso county, Colo
RADIO.
Five years ago there was no pure
bred live stock in William county,
North Dakota, which is well adapted
for grazing. The county agent began
to advocate live stock raising and now
the county has approximately fifteen
fine herds Of Shorthorn, Angus and
Hereford cattle. A demand for pure
bred cattle is now strong in this
county. At two sales last March and
sune more than two hundred head
were sold by Williams county farmers
to their neighbors.
Supplying Seed Corn.
Last spring Indiana farmers found
they did not have half enough seed
corn for their needs. They put up
their plight to an assistant state leader
for county agents, with the result that
the county agents surveyed the state
and got accurate estimates from farm
ers of the amounts needed. The assist
mt state leader spent several weeks
In New Jersey, New York and Della
ware and personally selected enough
corn TO meet the Indiana demand.
Preferences in shipping were given to
the seed corn and ii was delivered in
ample. time for planting.
In Illinois county agent was sta
toned in Chicago with the state coun-
Gil of defense to work on the seed
corn situation. He handled 10000
bushels Of seed corn and met the nli-
nois demand. The work was financed
ut first by Chicago bankers and later
by the department of agriculture.
An Opportunity Developed.
In Madison county. Kentucky, the
county agent found that the farmers
In ono portion placed little value on
the soil and took little interest in try
ing to improve it. He also found that
many farmers of this section were
growing In an Indifferent way small
acreage of cantaloupes and that the
cantaloupes yielded well and were of
the quality. The county agent started
IN to develop cantaloupe growing and
n 1916 induced about twenty farmers