The Owosso times., 1920-12-10
Boys' and Cirls' Clubs Show Steady
Growth During 1920.

During the first six months in
1920, 208,257 boys and girls in the
Northern and Western States enroll
ed in the clubs which are supervised
by the U. S. Dept. of Agriculture
and the State colleges. The large
enrolment is these clubs promises
that soon, possibly before the next
census is taken, the exodus from the
country to the city will be definitely
checked. Club work has already
dignified agriculture in the eyes of
thousands upon thousands of farm
boys and girls, and made them sa-
tisfied with country life, for the or
ganization brings new interests into
the lives of it's members and enables
them to make money of their own.
While club work encourages boys
and girls to procure a higher educa-
ton, if possible-987 northern and
western club boys and GOT club girls
are in agricultural colleges this year
it does not educate them away
from the farm.
One per cent Of the total popula-
tion Of the country, or l ,041 AL per-
sons, were reached the first six
months of the current year through
the juvenile club events. When the
boys and girls put on an exhibit it
is popular with all ages and all ages
attend. The work in the clubs was
carried on by 173 permanent county
club agents and 8,046 volunteer local
leaders. The number of permanent
club agents has nearly doubled in
six months. Large numbers of farm
bureaus now are paying the salary
of a club leader as well as that of
a county agent and home demonstra-
ton agent.
What Milb Does for Riddles.
The school nurse in one Missouri
town weighed and measured all the
children in the first four grades, find
ing only fifteen per cent of them
normal. Of the eighteen hundred
children, forty-eight per cent, or
eight hundred and sixty-four were
ten per cent or more below normal.
Following this work the nutrition
specialist from the university talked
to the mothers about food for chill
dren.
In order to reach other mothers
and convince them of the value of
milk in the diet for children, the
home demonstration agent acting
under the direction of the specialist
secured the cooperation Of the
teachers to carry out an experiment,
using fifteen children who were de-
cidedly under weight, for the pur-
pose. The teachers agreed to see
that each of the fifteen children
should have a half-pint Of milk at
each recess, and to weigh and meas
ure each child once q week.
The agent also found dairyman
who would deliver the milk at school
each day, the children going to the
home Of the school nurse on Satur-
day and Sunday. A local newspaper
explained the object of the demon
stration and solicited funds to carry
it out. This brought a contribution
of $50 from the Rotary Club and
SIT by private subscription.
The mothers Of the children to be
used must be seen and their sane
tion and cooperation secured for the
project. This was done by the school
nurse, and home demonstration
agent. The visits to the home gave
insight into the homo life and en-
abled them to understand conditions.
At the completion of the expert
ment, which was carried on for six
weeks, it was found that each child
had gained from one-half to five
pounds. A father who had said be-
fore the experiment was started that
he was in favor of it, if it would
make his little son fat, made trip
to school to report how pleased he
was because his boy had gained four
and half pounds in spite of being
sick part of the time; during which
period the milk was carried to him.
A new class that purchase the milk
used has been formed, and this boys
father gladly pays for milk used by
the child.
The principal reports that the at
tendance was more regular and the
work better; and that milk drinking
has become quite popular, not only
among the children but teachers,
too. The dairyman does a thriving
business at the school.
Michigan Farmer.