Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-12-15
What Extension Service
Has Done in Maine

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Portland. Me-, Dec. 14.--Lester H.
Shibles Of Orono. State leader OF
Boys and Girls club work in con-
nection with the Maine College Of
Agriculture extension service. report
ed as chairman of the committee on
club work, as follows:
In 1914 congress passed the Smith
Lever law which provided for the
teaching of better practices Or agri-
culture and home economics. In &C
cordance with this law and in the
same year boys and girls club work
had its beginning in this State.
This year the total Cub enrolled in
the State was 1887 and the total num-
Der reporting was 1857 or percent
age Of 53. This is the highest per-
centage ever finishing in the State.
OF these boys and girls finishing 20
We're in the young farmer division
which is composed of members who
are over Is years Of age. The follow
ing are some of the interesting items
taken from the summary work done
by these boys and girls: 20,20S pints
of canned goods, 13,347 articles. cook
ed; II, $50 hours Of housekeeping, and
good many mothers will bear wit
ness to the help that it has meant to
them: 49, 1903 bushels Of potatoes and
$SS97.57 worth of garden truck were
raised this year by the club boys and
girls of Maine. ,.-
From the records of 146 boys and
girls who reported in the poultry pro-
ject we find that they raised $4943.73
worth Of chickens this year at net
profit OF $25O3 or more than $17 per
member in addition to Is cents per
hour for every hour they worked.
Because Of these and other figures
which show the value and profitable
ness of the poultry industry in the
State, an all-year poultry manage
ment project for the boys and girls
has Been arranged. The minimum
requirements Of this project are that
each member shall keep at least 10
hens for one year, set five settings OF
eggs, keep record Of receipts and ex-
penditures and write a story OF the
years work, the year to end Oct. L,
which date marks the beginning of
the county contest. Fifteen county
contests were held in the State this
year. in fact a club contest for every
Farm Bureau organization in the
State. This is the second year that
the Twin County Farm Bureau has
had two contests. one at Auburn, and
tie other at Bath.
During the Spring letters were sent
by several Of the county project lead
ers asking the different oranges in
their counties to arrange for spe-
cial club program at one OF their
meetings. AS an, example Of the
helpful cooperation received the
grange at Canaan. in Somerset coun-
ty, arranged such program. Two
grangers volunteered to act as local
leaders; two clubs VIE organized.
one for the boys and one for the girls
and both clubs finished their job. AL
though several attempts had been
made in the past, this is the first time
that, successful club work has been
carried on in that town. .
From up in Aroostook comes the
following report: Mrs. Stevens OF,
Portage was invited to bring her girls
to meeting Of the. Ashland Grange
to give demonstration as part OF
the program. A few days later
canning. club was organized with
Mrs. Cobufn. a prominent grange
member, AZ. leader This club. the
first in Ashland, finished 100 per cent.
and received standard club charter.
Several Of the Pomona Oranges
have given over a good part of their
program to boys and girls club
work Among these are Penobscot'
and Kennebec Pornonas.
At the Manchester meeting 1t was
voted to give a special prize Of $25
to the club boy or girl who received
the highest rank for story, record
and exhibit. At the Kennebec comfy
contest. Nj. Washburn. master.
awarded this prize to Miss Rebecca
Reed Of Winslow who was county
champion in the poultry project.
In all parts Of the State We fnd
the oranges giving the use OF their
halls for club meetings and this co..
operation IL certainly appreciated.
County Agent Gray Of York county
in his annual report In discussing
this matter is very pronounced in his
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