The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1921-09-15
RELATION COUNTY AGENT To-
PEOPLE
By A. G. TRUE, Director, States Relations Service


BY A. G. TRUE, Director, States Relations Service
The county agricultural agent public official whose bust
it is make available practical form the knowledge of
agricultural science developed by the state experiment sta
TONS the United States department of agriculture and the
suits of the best farm practice He expected to show by field
demonstrations publications and otherwise the application of
such knowledge to local farm conditions.
Demonstrate Improved Farm Practices.
The advantages of improved farm practices demonstrated
the successful farms in the county where the agent
is employed called to the attention of farmers in his terri
tory With these demonstrations before them individual
farmers able to determine negehty the extent to which
they viii apply the lessons of the demonstrations conducted by
the agent
The county agent officer of the college of agricu
and the United States department of agriculture He may
also be employed in cooperation with the county
the county farmers organization contributing to his support
and aiding in his work He not however, expected
the business agent of the individual farmer of groups
farmers in carrying commercial transactions He not in
hired man, operating the farmers farm
terprises.
The subjects which county agent may give demon
STATIONS advice as the needs of the farm pop
uaton in his county 1t is his duty to demonstrate the app
cation of agricultural to soil and build
ing the control Of plant diseases and insect pests
PRODUCTION of better varieties Of farm crops and improve
men in methods of feeding breeding farm
The economic management of the farm yield
largest net returns the study of systems of marketing
farm products advice the purchase Of farm supplies
eratvey and otherwise broader phases of his diversified
work.
Definite Plan Of Work Is Important
As cooperative empoye of the United States department of
agriculture the state agricultural college and the county,
county agents first duty is to inform himself how
intelgenty all the people of his county He get
general idea of conditions Of the local systems of farming
kind of people he is to work with and knowledge of soil
dtons He must meet with representative farmers Of the
county and with them formulate definite plan of
gard to their more urgent problems.
AS he must endavor to reach of the people
sbe and help them raise the average standard of farm
ces there must be number OF demonstrations well
scattered the county from which definite reports of
suits can be secured The county agents strength Of
ship is demonstrated by his ability perform his duties
out drifting into superficial work to maintain balanced
programs to distinguish between essentials and nonessenas
under existing conditions get people help themselves and
to cooperate with them in such way as to secure their as
sstance and to assist them in making and carrying the gen
eral program. HzE 1sz
While the county agents position and duties make the
leader in agricultural matters he fairly be expected
an expert all agricultural subjects He should have uf
ncen general knowledge to advise the leading questions
and he should know what specialist help on tech
nical or difficult problems that may arise
Those in charge of cooperative extension work. in the