The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1920-02-24
Boys and Girls Club Activities
In Idaho Holds Much In
Promise On Basis Of Past
Success.

W uat - S1uD WoIAy VI idIu pul eau
junior work. as you people now cali
it in Idaho? ! am hearing great
deal about it but have never quite I'M
dcrstood the what the why and
the how of it."
This is a question that is frequently
heard OF late and in this article an a..
tempt will be made to answer the
questions and give both general and
specific information concerning the
work.
In the first place, answering the
what" Of the question. club work or
farm bureau junior work. as we now
designate II. is a part Of the farm bur.
eau work, hence any detailed cxplana-
ton Of junior work is of necessity en-
braces farm bureau work, or the farm
bureau plan" that we hear so much
about
The farm bureau is not "plan,.'
however, II is growth, a movement,
the expression Of deep seated de-
sire on the part Of many, many far
mers-men, women and children--for
better farm and a better farm home
life.
Essence Of Democracy.
The Idaho farm bureau movement
is the very essence Of democracy. No
one attempts to tell the farmer, his
wife or his boys and girls, what should
be done. All activities are planned by
the farmers themselves in their own
communities.
These statements also answer the
why" Of the question, at least In
part.
"But how is it all donel" is asked
In every community certain prob
lens confront both the farmer and
his wife. They woner how they can
improve their stock to bring about
better results; their hens are not lay,
ing; their potatoes are diseased. etc
They gather together as farm bureau
members, take up their problems, de-
eide to make them the basis Of their
years work in the farm bureau, and
appoint project leaders problems
become projects when taken up for
solution by community
One leader may have charge Of the
dairy project for the community. In
der this project the farmer takes up
the matter of better stock, the wife
takes up butter and cheese making,
the boys or girls enter the dairy calf
club work. The farmer has the assist
ance of the county agent. his wife has
the aid of the home demonstration
agent, the boys and girls have their
county leader, and all have the help
OF the project leader and the state
dairy specialist and the cooperation of
the county, the state and the United
States department of agriculture, All
these. working together in harmony,
constitute the ideal farm bureau and
typify the idaho plan" Their organ
ization is carried out by community
committeeman, county farm bureau
and state farm bureau.
Records Show Big Saving.
Records show that adult farm bur
eau work in Ddaho during 1919 re-
turned net saving to the state Of
$2,S00OOO above the cost Of conduct
ing the work Such result is as
founding to most people, for they
know that farm bureau work is COM
paratively new; that. as matter of ]
fact the oldest farm bureau organ.
ization in the Pacific Northwest is |
that in Canyon county. Idaho. which
was organized four years ago. The
farm bureau movement has grown in
Idaho from one county organization
to SO in these four years, with total
membership of nearly 10000.
1t may be a matter OF still greater
surprise to some people to learn also
that the Idaho farm bureau junior
work for boys and girls club work
did not cost the state one cent during
the year 1919, Records show that the
total cost of conducting the junior
work in Idaho, in both state and coun-
ties, was approximately $4,000
Reports from the 1850 club members
reporting. show total profit OF $751; J.
SN.ol, or an average of more than
s1O per member. 81 per cent of the
members, or 76l, failed to report. As .
'uming that their profit equaled, in
proportion, that of the members re-
porting, we have approximately, SIS
20, in addition to the above total
profit, or grand total of $73.l2461. L
Taking from this sum the amour, $