The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1918-01-10
WILL HELP FAR MERS
A Good County Agent Would Prove
of Benefit to Every Farmer
in Mile Laos County.
The State and United States Provide
the Means to Defray Near
ly All the Expense. ....-.

the Means to Defray Near
ly All the Expense. .-.....
In the food control act passed by
congress last August provision was
made for the appointment of compe-
tent agent, who must be a practical
farmer of at least five years expert
ence, in every agricultural county in
the United States, and the sum Of ST.
800 provided by the state and federal
governments, is given each county
that complies with the necessary re-
quirements which are as follows:
/. Each county must raise annu-
ally enough funds locally so that, with
\ the $1,000 state and federal funds
available, competent agricultural
agent may be paid and balance Of at
least 81, 1000 left for expenses.
2. Whether a portion Of the local
fund is raised by appropriation by the
county commissioners or not, the coun-
ty commissioners must, in accordance
with the law, agree to the employment
of an agricultural agent approved by
the dean of the college of agriculture.
No person will be appointed as county
agricultural agent for any county un-
til representatives of each co-operat-
ing party, including the county organ
ization, county commissioners and the
department Of agriculture of the uni
versity of Minnesota, are mutually
agreed upon the candidate.
8. Each county mast have a county
organization representing the farmers
and business men. The chief purpose
= a Z this organization is the development
Of agriculture in the county. 1t shall
have membership in good standing of
at least 200 residents of the county,
with not less than so per cent of it's
membership actual farmers, and shall
furnish to the department of agricul
ture satisfactory proof annually that
it has on deposit in a local bank at
least 5000 to be used in maintaining
such organization. ........>-.-.-.--
No mere boy without any practical
farming experience will be appointed
county agent. Here are some of the
qualifications a county agent must
possess:
1. Experience. An agent prefera-
bly, should have been reared on a farm,
or have lived on a farm the year
around for not less than five years
since he was IL years of age. His
farm experience should be such as to
show that he has been employed upon
or operated a successfully managed
farm, and is therefore familiar with
the details of farm practice and the
virciples of good farm management.
&C is preferred, also, that an agent has
other business and executive expert
ence.
2. Technical Training. A county
agent should be sound1y trained in
agriculture, have broad agricultural
outlook, and be an apt student Of
country life affairs. A full four years.
course at a good agricultural college,
or equivalent experience or training,
is important.
8. Interest in Farm Life. To win
and hold the respect, confidence and
friendship of farmers, an agent must
have a sympathetic interest in farm
ers, farming and farm life; be willing
to enter into situations and face diff
culties that confront farmers; and be
willing to actually share the life Of the
people with whom he works.
4. Personality. The browning fac
tor of an agents success is his person
atty. He should have the ability to
work with people, and to get people to
work with each other, which means
that he must possess initiative, facili-
ty in approaching farmers and other
business men, and such other quail
ties as make for good leadership and
organizing ability. He should possess
maturity of Judgment, sterling per-
sonal qualities, and good moral char
acter.
The county commissioners, very
properly, appropriated $1,000, as re-
ouired by law. Now all that is neces-
sary is to get at least 200 farmers and
business men-the majority must be
farmers to form county farm bureau
association and raise $500.
The special objects involved are:
/. Increasing the acreage and yield
of food crops common to the localities
2. Assistance to farmers in secur-
ing good seed, fertilizers; live stock,
credit facilities and farm labor.
8. Effecting cooperative organiza-
lions for the economic purchase of
farm supplies and marketing of farm