The Evening Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1917-1920, 1918-04-08
YOUTH OF MISSOURI
ORGANIZED FOR WORK
800 Boys and Girls Clubs
of State Have 10000
Members.
CASH PRIZES GIVEN
Practical Demonstrations in
Gardening, Cooking and
Sewing Made.

Missouri now has an army, 10000
strong, of very young people who are
quietly, but surely and enthusiastical-
ly, doing an important part in the war
work. These are boys and girls from
10 to IS years old, who are members
of the Boys and Girls clubs, of which
there are 500 in the state Prof. R.
H. Emberson of the College of Agri-
culture is state leader. Since the war
began, Professor Emberson has in
creased the number of his assistants
in the state office from three to eight
because of the demand for extra in
struction in cooking, gardening and
special farm problems.
Local leaders in the different coun-
ties and towns direct each club. These
leaders receive instruction from
workers in the state Office here, and
teach the children and distribute
literature among them. During March,
the club workers from the state office
met twenty-one groups of people with
an attendance of 1922 and gave in
struction in leadership for local clubs
During the same time, 1873 demon
stratiOns were given with an atten-
dance of S,2lS, and ninety general
meetings were held with an atten-
dance of 1916. In this period, 1,175
members were secured for the diff
ferent clubs of the state.
Many of the clubs are connected
with the public schools, so a large
portion of the local leaders are
teachers. Each club has weekly meet
ings, and the particular problem of
farm work or home economics i'm
portant at the time, is taken up. At
these meetings practical demonstra-
tiOns are given and literature is dis
tributed among the members. Be
sides, when necessary, individuals in
struction is given gardening, corn
testing, chicken-rasing and other prac-
tical work. The club that finishes its
work satisfactorily is gwen an achieve
ment button. Each club takes up one
subject, but one person can belong to
more than one club. From four TO
twelve months is required to complete
the course in each club. The time
varies according to the subject
The sewing clubs have three diff |
ferent grades. After member is |
graduated from one class, he is ad-
mitted TO the second and then to the |
third. After a member has finished |
his work in the third class he knows |
how TO make coat suits, coats and 9TH
er difficult and practical wearing ap-
parei.
Many of the counties of the state
andRavOF TO stimulate interest among
the club members by offering sub
stantial cash. prizes. Schuyler COun-
ty will give 5000 next fall in cash
prizes to the members of the club in
hat county. The donations will come
rom the business men of Lancaster,
he county seat. Every fall in the
counties that offer the pEizes general
'ound-up of the work is made, and ex-
libits are held at the county seats.
Prizes are also given at the state ex-
libits held at the College of Agri-
culture each year daring Farmers
Week.
George w. Reavis, assistant to Mr..
has just returned from
Schuyler County, where he spent a
eeek organizing clubs and assisting
he county superintendent in Brepar- :
ng premium lists for the c9test next
all. Sometimes as much as $500 is
,iven in prizes. One year Hamilton