The Colorado statesman. [volume] (Denver, Colo.) 1895-1961, 1919-02-22
ARIZONA FAMILY
STAYED ON farm
extension Worker Shows a Tired
Housekeeper How to Tighten
Her Home Labors.
MADE LIFE MORE CHEERFUL
Work of Home Demonstration Agent
Not Always Shown on Surface
Big Results Are Too In
tangible to be Listed.

Reduced to figures, the work of a
home demonstration agent or a county
agent does not always truly indicate
the magnitude and the character of the
extension work under the supervision
of the U. S. department of agricul-
ture and the state colleges. But big
movements are made up of countless
well-done trifles.
"Helped $40 women retrim their
hats. showed $50 how to make fireless
| cookers" Nothing seems very epic
In such an account from home dem
onstration agent, and where imagina-
ton is lacking it appears like petty
work for the United States govern
ment to foster. The big results, though
real and important, are too intangible
to be listed in any report, and they are
often overlooked.
The actual assistance given to fam
| lily in western Arizona by the home
demonstration agent was summarized
as Instrumental in installing a dish
drainer in the DIS home; helped Mrs.
d. make some homemade furniture"
The complete returns would show that
abled a man who was a born farmer
to stay food producer rather than to
move to nearby city and enter a field
already overcrowded with workers.
In one county of western Arizona the
home demonstration agent told her lit
| tie audience, composed of wives of
ranchers: "If any of you would like
me to come to your home and talk over
your individual problems, 1 would be
very glad to CO." There was a pause.
The extension work was new in that
county. 1t was quite evident that most
of them felt their individual problems
were not the kind which could be
solved by outside help. Finally, a dis
couraged-looking little woman, per-
haps feeling that she had reached the
place where she was willing to try any
thing, listlessly said she would be glad
to see the speaker the next day.
Under burning sun the agent drove
her little machine through thick dust
to a dilapidated, unhomelike shack.
Worn out in working against too heavy
odds, with little knowledge of house
work and no conveniences, the woman
had lost all ambition to improve her
home, and her husband was too busy
with farm work. Everything was at
skies and sevens, and swarms of flies
added the last depressing touch.
Practical Housekeeping Needed.
The extension worker was surprised
when she learned that her dlspirited
hostess was a graduate of famous
eastern college, where she had special
lied in music. There was little oppor-
tunity now to use her musical knowl-
edge, but there was much for home
economics, which had not been in
cluded in her curriculum.
The dish washing, which the home
| demonstration agents coming had in
terrupted, was resumed. Anxious to
help, the agent hesitated-so cold and
Shiny was the dish water, and so nause-
ating the half-washed dishes, which
were to be dried on a wet and none-too
clean towel. Feeling some apology was
necessary, Mrs. ID. confessed she had
lost heart trying to make things hab-
liable. All she did, day after day, was
cook, wash dishes, and mind the baby.
Her husband had promised not to rent
the ranch again, but to move into town
In the spring, and she said she was
enduring until that happy time came.
OF all the tasks she loathed, she said
while fishing another plate out of the
| semi-liquid dish water, dish washing
held first rank. The agent thought II