The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1920-07-23
OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUCCESS
ON THE FARM.
by +. I. Meredith, Secretary of
Agriculture.

Many young men in the various oc-
equations of the cities find their
minds turning to thoughts of the ONT
door life of the farm, but they do not
know how to start farming. 1t is tho
purpose of this article to point the
way to a successful career as n far.
mer. | assume the young men in
question are looking about for n ioh
that will give them use for their
muscles, combined with work for
their brains and an outlet for then,
Notwithstanding that Yields a
good living and, most important of
all, has prospects for the future.
A mere job is not enough. Even if
the pay is good, there must be some
thing to satisfy the ambitions of such
a man. The man have in mind does
not want to be a wage Garner all his
life. He hopes for independence in
middle age and the best of opportun
tiles for his children, and he looks
forward to an old age of comfort and
freedom from financial worry.
More Chances Than They Realize.
For men of that type there are
more chances on the farm than they
may realize, and I should like to tell
about few of them briefly.
We may imagine such man put
ting himself through an examination
something like this:
GLOW much money have you 20
mot 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
living?"
81 would like to own a farm some
where and work it. I'd like to live
in decent style and marry and bring
up a family"
1t is peculiar how the idea always
crops up that the first step in farm
ing is to own farm. "A farm of
your own" is all right as 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, &c
will not find it profitable to acquire
and operate a farm until he has
gained that skill and judgment which
will enable him to manage farm
successfully. The cheapest and
quickest way to gain this skill and
knowledge is by working on a we'll
managed farm in the summer and at
tending the winter short course in
agriculture at the nearest agricultur-
al college.
The young man without money will
find working for wages on the farm
the means of saving little money
and establishing his reputation as d
skilled workman and man of integ-
rity. With good reputation in these
regards but little money is required
to start in as tenant farmer, where
he can realize on the extra energy,
the better skill, and the good man
agement 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 than the road to
success in other occupations, but the
safest way is to start in at the bot
tom and climb "the agricultural lad
der"
I do not remember any time when
farm labor was in such great demand
as at present, or when wages for un-
skilled farm labor were as good or
when the standards 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 APP
pears lavish when compared with the
pay of the farm laborer, just re-
member 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 increased prices.
In other words, what the farm Ia
borer receives in cash is pretty near
ly clear gain. Most of it can begin
to draw interest, while the wages
paid in the cities shrink to something
much less impressive 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 a man. If he
is a straight, clean sort of fellow, his
Good Qualities will he apDreciated in