The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1920-08-04
BY E. 7. MEREDITH, Secretary Of
Agriculture.

BY E. 7. MEREDITH, Secretary o
Agriculture.
Many young men in the various oc
equations OF the cities find thei
minds turning to thoughts of the out
door life of the farm, but they do moi
know how to start farming. 1t is tn,
purpose of this article to point tn,
way to successful career as farm
er. assume the young men il
question are looking about for a jOt
that will give them use for their mus
cles, combined with work for theil
brains and an outlet for their initia
tive-something that yields a gooC
living and, most important of all, has
prospects for the future.
A mere job is not enough. Even Il
the pay is good, there must be some.
thing to satisfy the ambitions of such
q man. The man | have in mind does
not want to be wage Garner all his
life. he hopes for independence in
middle age and the best of oppor-
tunities for his children, and be
looks forward to an old age Of COM
fort and freedom from financial wor.
~.
More Chances Than They Realize.
For men of that type there are
more chances on the farm than they
may realize, and | should like to tell
about few of them very briefly.
We may imagine such a man put
ting himself through an examination
something like this:
How much money have your
'NOt much"
what do you know about farm
ing?"
VERY little; but I'm good and
strong. and hard work never scared
me-"
What would you like to do for a
living7"
Il would like to own a farm some
where and work it. I'd like to live in
decent style and marry and bring up
q family"
1t is peculiar how the idea always
crops up that the first step in farm
ing Is to own a farm. "A farm of
your own" is all right as a goal to
look ahead to, but the man who lacks
either the requisite money or expert
ence will reach the goal quicker by
starting In as hired man. If he has
money and needs experience, he wi
not find 1t profitable to acquire and
operate farm until he has gained
that skill and judgment which will
enable him to manage a farm sue.
cessfully. The cheapest and quick.
est way to gain this skill and knowl-
edge is by working on well.lfn
aged farm III the summer and at.
tending the winter short course in
agriculture at the nearest agrcuI
ture college.
The young man without money will
find working for wages on the farm |
the means of saving little mo,
and establishing his reputation as a
skilled workman and a man of in
tegrity. With good reputation in
these regards but little money is re-
CURED to start in as a tenant farm.
err where he can realize on the extra
energy, the better skill, and the good
management he is able to put into his
farming business.
Road to Success Not Hard.
The road is open to the farm of
your own and the road is neither
longer nor harder for one who likes
farming than is the road to success
In other occupations, but the safest
way is to start in at the bottom and
climb the agricultural ladder"
| do not remember any time when
farm labor was in such great demand
as at preseht. or when wages for I'M
skilled farm labor were as good or
when tie standard of living on the
farms was AS high as it Is now.
From all parts of the country comes
the demand for men who are not
afraid of work. If the schedule of the
days wages in the cities appears law
1sh when compared with the pay of
the farm labOrer, just remember that
the latter gets his board and rent
and usually his washing and a lot of
other things-and that in the cities
where the wages are higher, these
things are commanding greatly in
creased prices.
In other words. what the farm la.
borer receives in cash is pretty near
~ clear gain. Most of it can be placed
in the savings bank and begin to draw
while the wages paid in the
cities shrink to something much less
when all the bills are paid.
In the right sort Of farming com.
munity and the right sort of farm.
er's household the hired man is re-
ceived on his merits as man. If he
10 straight, clean sort of fellow, his
good qualities will be appreciated in
the country as readily as In the city.
A great deal more SO, should say,
'or the individual human being seems
% count for more out on the farm
han be does In city where great
numbers OF them are crowded togeth. i
n.
In short, II Is strictly up to the man r
himself to make good and If he does I