The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-10-03
WILSON DECLARES
AGENTS BUSY
Farm Agents Gould Not Elk
hibit at Tri.State Fair,
Says Mississippian,

Sweeping denial that there was any |
truth in a statement made in an article |
In The News Scimitar during the week |
Of the Tri-State. fair that North Mis- /
sissippi counties did not exhibit In Agri-
cultural hall because Of the failure of
county farm and home demonstration
agents to cooperate on combined ex-
hibits. has been made by r. S. Wilson,
director of extension OF the Mississippi
Agricultural college Mr.. Wilson's let
ter, at his request, is published
below
Tho writer of The News Scimltar ar
ticle received the specific information
to which Mr., Wilson takes exception,
from X, e. Wilson, Of Dresden. Tenn,
one Of the county agents who had All
exhibit at the fair, This information
was specifically confirmed by W. NJ
l.andess, county agent Of Shelby coun-
y, and supssrintendent Of the county
agents exhibits at the fair, Previous
to this, the writer had been led to be.
leve from his owp@ observation and
discussions heard during the prepara-
| tons for the fair, that Mississippi
agents would not exhibit, because In
certain instances the men farm agents
| and the women home demonstration
agents were not willing to make
combined exhibit, as the fair associa-
ton insisted.
! 1t was the aim Of the fair associa-
| tion In insisting on the combined ex-
hibits that not only the progress made
on the farms, but also in the homes Of
the tri-state territory should be re.
vealed by the exhibits, Both Arkansas
| and West Tennessee extension agents
| fell In with the plan and made eX-
! hibits which reflected great credit on
the rural populations of the two states
and drew the admiration Of the thou
sands who trooped through Agricultural
hall during the week OF the fair, The
absence OF Mississippi exhibits attracted
| attention and regret, az II was felt by
the affectonate admirers of that great
| and fertile commonwealth, that exhibits
OF agricultural and domestic products
1 from her northern counties would not
only have made the Tri-State fair n
better fair, but added to the fame Of
| Mississippi The marvellous live stock
lexhibits sent by Mississippi to the fair
1 only served to emphasize this absence
of exhibits from the county agents and
add to the sense of the incompleteness
Of Agricultural halls exposition.
Mr.. Wilson'S letter follows:
Agricultural College, Miss,
Sept 26 1919
Editor Memphis News Scimitar
Memphis, Tenn.
my Dear Sir:
"A statement appeared In recent
issue OF your paper to the effect that
Mississippi had no county exhibits at
the Tri-State fair for the reason that
the farm demonstration agents and the
home demonstration agents would not
cooperate,
II do not know who was responsible
for this statement, but is was absolutely
false.
Several Of our home demonstration
agents have been exhibiting at the Tri-
State fair for several years and were
| ready TO do 30 again. The fair man
agement made ruling that nothing
less than county unit would he recog
nized. In other words, an exhibit from
i the home demonstration work IN a
county would not be accepted unless
the farm demonstration agent exhibited
| also. We do not question the right
of the fair association In adopting this
rule, but 1t so happened that the farm
demonstration agents In these particular
counties, owing to the pressure OF other
work, were not In position to make ex.
hibits Therefore, under the rules o.
the fair association, the home demon.
stration agents were prohibited from
exhibiting.
q Everyone in touch with the extern
i sion organization In Mississippi know
4 that a more harmonious organization
4 does not exist In the country, and sine,
a the statement in your recent issue wa
uncalled for and was gross injus
tice to our organization. I hope you will
8 rection.
= tsisned) aR, =. WILSON,
Director Of Extension.'