The Covington leader. (Covington, Tenn.) 18??-current, 1920-12-30
EXTENSION DIVISION
THOUSANDS
OF TENNESSEE FARMERS
Carries Message of Better
Farming and Home Making
to Remote Parts Of State

During the past year the Extension
+ Department Of the College Of Agricul
ture Of the University of Kentucky ha,
served in most effective way, thru
short courses IN agriculture and home
economics, BY means Of visits upon the
farm and IN the home BY county and
home demonstration agents, thru
boys and girls clubs Of various kinds
adult community organizations and
field demonstrations, more than 8OO,-
900 people Of Tennessee
The Division Of Extension has been
an active integral and organized part
Of the University since 1914 and there
Is probably no force that-is of so wide
a benefit or is giving greater returns
to more people Of the state than this
organization with Its corps Of able and
efficient men and women agents and
specialists.
Rural progress in Tennessee Is writ
ten in every line Of the annual report
Of the Division prepared BIZ Charles A.
KeffeE director 1t is the purpose Of
the extension service to carry directly
to the farms and the homes Of the
country and secure the adoption in
practice Of the best available lnfor-
nation regarding agriculture aud
home economies thru county agents,
who deal with farm problems; home
demonstration agents who deal with
the problems Of the home club lead.
ers who carry on work with young
people and specialists in the various
branches Of agriculture and home eco
Monies.
The charge sometimes made that
the county agent Is a "white collar
farmer" meaning that he does not get
our among the farmers In the field, but
spends most Of his time In the office,
can not be held against Tennessee
agents The annual report shows that
10 per cent OF their time was spent
III the field and only % per cent in
their offices. Statistics are not always
interesting, but the following, showing
the accomplishments Of the agents.
will convince the most skeptical that
county agents work is worth while I:
In performing their duties of the
year the agents visited 1858 demon
stratOrs, 1894 co-operators, 1887
farmers not directly cooperating with
them, 1900 business men, 6,777 boys'
club members, making a total number
Of visits by them 4S,627. They trav-
eled 27857s miles had 22,Ss2 personal
calls, 1904 calls by telephone and as-
sisted IN 3,B18 faraers' meetings which
were held under their auspices or Di-
vision OF Extension. They addressed
4,7S8 meetings, with total attendance
OF approximately 100000 and conduct
cd 662 field meetings, with the total
attendance Of 1887. They wrote
N, 1923 official letters, prepared for pub
locations 2.046 articles, sent out 100000
circular letters and distributed 5O,255
United States Department Of Agricul-
ture bulletins, 25,138 bulletins or cir
culars for the State College Of Agrl-
culture and the Division Of Extension
mid visited 1891 schools to interest
them ID agricultural work. More than
$3.50 farmers are now practicing fall
blowing 4,BSa selecting seed and 1905
are growing improved seed for sale.
AS evidence that this work is--0f
money value to the farmer, enabling
him BY the improved methods put into
practice to pay or mortgages and open
bank accounts, agents report that over
600 farmers have opened bank ar
counts for the first time since begin
ming demonstration work, and 1,0Sp
have been able to increase their bank
deposit. More than 1000 farmers
have paid of their mortgages on their
farms since starting demonstration
work and 8e per cent Of the farmers
cooperating with the agents are de-
creasing their Indebtedness, 81 per
cent are showing increased interest In
agricultural meetings and SO per cent
are showing a desire to study the farm
business and progress. Labor saving
devlses have been placed In $40 homes
Of co-operators and demonstrators as
result Of agents work. Some Of the
more noticeable effects Of farmers,
homes and family as resulting from
the work Of the agents Ii the building
Of better homes, barns, breeding OF
better livestock. attendance at fairs,
short courses and conventions, taking
Of more papers and magazines, pur-
chase Of automobiles, improved roads,
installing Or water and light systems
in the home and providing Of home
amusement.
Some Of the outstanding pieces Of
work done by the agents demonstrates
the value Of the work.
The J, G51l acreS Of corn grown under
methods aalocated BY county agents
IN 1919 produced in average of Az
bushels per acre; the average yield in
these same counties was a bushels
per acre, which shows that the yield
was practically doubled due to demon
stration methods. This applies equal
" to cotton. tobacco and small grains
The agents influenced s54 farmers to
select seed corn in the fall for next