Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-09-16
AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION
~ DR.. ANDREW NJ SOULE

basis, 1t has been possible to inter-
est at least rs per cent Of the people
of the county in fair work. This
could never have been done had we
attempted to work with the indivtd-
uals. The work has, therefore, fos-
tered a community pride, and has
been the means Of starting co-opera
tive projects Of other kinds, and has
really been one of the main factors
in developing the communities.
Back Of all this, it has reached tho
individual farmer and has been Of
great educational value to him. It
has been the means Of encouraging
him to produce better live stock and
better agricultural products. 1t has
encouraged the farmers wife to put
up better packs of canned goods and
improve in the manufacture of other
domestic products.
The fair has been one of the best
aids the county agents have had in
their fight for safe and sane sys-
tenn Of farming. 1t has been of I'M
told value to the home economics
agent in her work in the home. BY
working on this community basis,
the agents have been able to get in
closer touch with a larger per cent
of their farmers and farmers wives
than they could with their regular
farmers organizations. However,
the fair has been one of the most
important factors in the establish
ment of the farm bureau organiza-
| ton in Muscogee county. In other
words, the fair work has already
created community leaders which
made it possible for us to get our
| organization started easier.
In club work the fair has also
been Of inestimable value to the
agents. Their premium lists have
relieved the agents of the thankless
| task of begging premiums for their
club work with boys.
No doubt the Chattahoochee Val
ley Fair association has been one of
the most successful organizations of
its kind in the state. Not so much
so in a financial way, but in the
good work done for the farmers of
this locality. The county and home
economics agents have had their
part to play in this development.
The work of organizing these COM
munity groups has fallen on them.
They have also given advice to the
individual farmers and their wives
on the preparation and the selection
of these exhibits, this week starting
with the planting of proper seed.
Although the fair has been of in
estimable value to the farmers and
has operated successfully year after
year, there have been times when
it has had rough Shedding. During
the past two years a largo per cent
Of the associations directors have
voiced their opinion against holding
a fair because of financial condi-
tons existing throughout the south.
Our community councils have in
each case asked a continuance, of
the fair, for they have seen that un-
der such trying conditions as we
have been forced to meet, the farmer
has really needed more encourage
ment than in normal or prosperous
times. They have on these two oc-
casions had representatives to meet
with the fair directors and ask that
the fair be discontinued, and the
fair directors have followed their
suggestions.
The success of the fair as an aid
~ coA ASo'tuA al SO1luAIlOilS CELL UeSL
he measured by the interest mani
tested by the farmers, by The in
crease in the number of exhibits
from year to year and the improve
ment in quality of same. AS has
been previously stated, the number
of community exhibits of Muscogee
county have increased from two in
1917 70 eight in 1921. In other
words. in 1921 we went 100 per cent
strong in the number Of exhibits,
there being only eight schools ir
the county. Along with this in
| crease in community exhibits there
has been a much greater increase in
the number of exhibitors, as well as
mai al i'm nrnNenlnnt in the n11alit1n