Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1921-02-20
County Agent Benton Solves Hard
Problems of Potter-O Oldham Farms
By JOE l.. POPE.

~ this time. when many ~ the less
advanced counties I'm this az well az
other states are debating the desira.
billty ar the lack OF such quality ~ a
county agent. Potter and Oldham coun.
ties have In their employ one ~ the
nblcst men IN the United States IN farm
advisory capacity, In the person Of
Harmon Benton.
II may bc well AZ this point Ia say
something regarding MIR. Benton: lie In
q member 81 an old Alabama family.
and after graduating from the rural
high school OF his home community.
spent four busy years as student In
the Alabama Agricultural and Mechan.
ical College AT Auburn. being gradual.
ed with honors In 1898.
Desiring broader and more finish.
I'd equipment for his chosen life work
as an agricultural expert. MIR. Benton
took n post graduate course in Cornell
University. specializing In agronomy.
horticulture. economic entomology and
economic botany.
Following this special work he he.
came superintendent II Department Of
Agriculture substniion Of Union coun.
~. Alabama. From this place he be.
came connected with the Central IL
Georgia Railroad a. agriculturist which
place he occupied with distinction two
years Leaving the railroad work. Mr..
Benton was rendered the professionally
OF agronomy Of the Clemson College. In
Clemson. South Carolina. and remained
In this connection two years.
Seeking to enlarge his sphere ~
knowledge and range OF experience. Mr..
Benton became assistant aericulturist
with the United States Department Of
Agriculture. having his headquarters In
Washington for two years. Terminating
his connection In the national capital.
Mr.. Benton became chief OF the agro.
noy division ~ the United States cxper
ment station In Santiago. Cuba.
After his connection In Cuba was end.
I'd Mr. Benton decided to try CONNER.
clal work. dropping out ~ the govern.
ment connection. and becoming assist.
ant manager Of great citrus orchard
proposition In Florida. continuing this
connection three years.
but the call 81 the cotton. corn. to.
tacco and the other general and spc.
cial Southern farm crops were In his
blood. and soon thereafter hc IL found
installed as county agent In Dallas
county. Alabama. Having visioned the
allurcmcnts d the west" from the
southeastern section II the "old south"
Mr.. Benton finds himself next con.
nected as principal OF the Extension
short Course work of tho oklahoma Az.
ricultural and Mechanical College NJ
saltwater.
Leaving Oklahoma responsive to the
urgency of knowing something more ~
the Great Plains of Texas. Mr.. Benton
came % Amarillo. ana WIS soon install.
cd NJ county agent Tor Potter. oldham.
Armstrong and Randall counties. which
connection he continued until called
into the service Of the Texas Agricul.
turai and Mechanical College extension
division nj College Station.
But having once lived In the Plains
Country 81 the Lone Star State Mr..
Benton. like the cat. "camc hack" and
rc.csiahllshed his connection. hut on
the latter OCCASION narrowing his juris.
diction to Potter and oldham counties,
and dropping the other two.
This latter arrangement WIS most
for the two counties being served. for
u gives them closer and more attention
at the hands II the agent Under the
advice and general assistance OF Mr.
Benton. n may b. observed that during
his incumbcncy the cultivated areas at
the counties In which he has lahorcd
have b-cn approximately doubled Many
gates interviewed themselves in Mr.. Rem
toms preliminary farm survey. where
now an uninterrupted drive Ia possible
another evidence of Advancement.
Attention haa been given Nv Mr. n"n
ton, not alone 90 extending the cultl.