Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1920-03-31
DEMONSTRATION AGENT
for DELAWARE COUNTY


PLANS FOR CARRYING ON LMPOR.
TANT WORK MADE AT MEET
ING OFlDIRECTORS.
CHURCH FEDERATION PLAN FAILS
Presbyterian Church Votes Down Plan
mt Annual Meeting Held Tues
day Evening.
The following report Of the meet
ing of the directors of the Farm Bu-
reau has been contributed by the Of
ficers OF the Woman's Division, and for
which we are pleased to give space:
AT a joint meeting Of the Delaware
County Farm Bureau and the Wo-
mans Division of the Farm Bureau
last Thursday, the question Of contin-
uing the woman's branch OF the work
and employing a Home Demonstra-
tion agent to succeed Miss Cannon
who was forced to resign on account
of the serious illness of her mother
was thoroughly discussed. Plans were
made for carrying on the work and
committee representing both the men
and the women authorized and ap-
pointed with power to act. The money
for this work has already been set
aside in the years budget and as soon
as the proper woman can be secured
the work will continue. There are
several desirable. candidates avail
able at this time and although many
counties are seeking agents, Miss
Knowles, the state leader, assured the
members that Delaware County would
be shown every consideration possible.
The whole question OF w0man's
part in the Farm Bureau work was
discussed from every angle. II was
brought out that the Farm Bureau
Plan is service for the whole family"
women as well as men-and that the
membership includes not only the
farmer but his wife. Miss Knowles
told of what the women are accom-
plishing in the various counties. She
emphasized especially that now that
the war is over the Home Agents can
take up the really constructive work
of making the homes healthier, happier
and more efficient. She called special
attention to the fact that the work OF
the agents is not to teach cookery but
to help the women plan balanced food
for their families, to help them to do
their work more efficiently by the use
Of modern conyeniences and appli-
ances, to help them make the family
income go farther by the use of
carefully planned budget, In short,
to help them solve their problems and.
to foster also the community spirit
among them.
A definite health program was
planned for the county. The close
cooperation between the Red Cross
Health work and the Home Demon
stration work was shown not only as
a state policy but also in this couE-
ty. The County Red Cross nurse. who
was at the conference, assured the
directors that Home Demonstration
agent was almost a necessity in her
work and that she was seriously
handicapped because OF the lack of one
here. 1t is impossible for her to do
the follow up work in the homes that
is needed in correcting faulty habits
and diets, etc. The two workers are
hand in hand in their work. She also
said that while she needed an assist
ant badly, yet good Home Demon
stration agent was more vital to her
work at this time. The broadnessi OF
the work of the agent was also noted
Not only can she help most effectively
the health work in the county by CO.
operating with the Red Cross nurse
but her work is not limited to one
field as would be the work of an as
sistant health nurse, even should the
Farm Bureau decide to employ a
health nurse.
1t was the decision of the confer
ence that the Home Demonstration
work should continue as already
planned in the budget and that steps
be taken Immediately to employ sue
cessor to Miss Cannon, the salary to
be determined after an investigation
of the Farm Bureau budget, the state
aid, etc.
While the women of Delaware coun-
ty have been unfortunate in having to
change agents several times through
absolutely unavoidable circumstances
and the continuity of the work neces-
sarily handicapped by these frequent
changes, still much has been accom-
plished. A number of food study
clubs have been conducted, the wo-
mems burdens lightened by introduce
tion of modern equipment, the health
of the family has been carefully con-
sidered as never before and decided
impetus given to community better
ment. The women who have investi-
gated the work and know what it has
done feel that 1t is far from being a
failure in Delaware county and are
anxious that the work be continued
with as little interruption as possible.
Annual Church Meeting.
The annual meeting of the First
Presbyterian church was held on
Tuesday evening. following dinner
served in the church at $3.50. In ad-
Ae. - Al