The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1922-12-29
WHAT THE COUNTY AGENTS
MAY DO

WHAT THE COIINTy AcENTs
NV ~
WA IN
Secretary Wallace OF the Depart
ment OF Agriculture, has formulated
o statement defining the relationship
OF county agents and other members
OF the cooperative extension force to
agricultural organizations. This state
ment is reiteration Of existing poll
cy rather than establishment Of new
one. In fact, 1t is based on section 2,
OF the original act which established
cooperative agricultural extension. He
quotes this section Of the act as his
text.
section 2. That cooperative agri-
cultural extension work shall consist OF
the giving Of instruction and practical
demonstrations In agriculture and home
economics TO persons not attending or
resident In said colleges In the several
communities, and imparting TO such
persons information on said subjects
through field demonstrations, pub
locations, and otherwise; and this
work shall be carried on In such man.
nor az may be mutually agreed upon
by the Secretary Of Agriculture andthe
State agricultural college or colleges
receiving the benefits Of this act"
at IN thus made clear" continues
the secretary, "that the work Of the
cooperative extension employees,
whether county agents, home demon
stration agents, bows and Rirls' club
agents, or other cooperative extension
workers, IL educational. These extern
sion workers are public teachers, paid
with money largely raised from all
Of the people by taxation, and are
charged with giving instruction and
practical demonstrations In agriculture
and home economies. Their work GOV.
ers the entire rural field, which In
.clndes economic production, economic
marketing and the development Of bet
ter home, community and social condi-
tions.
"As they are public teachers II IL
not part Of the official duties OF ex-
tension agents 10 perform for individu-
al farmers or for organizations the ac-
tual operations Of production, mar
keting, or the various activities nee
essary to the proper conduct Of bust
ness or social organizations. They
may not properly act M organizers for
farmers associations, conduct member
ship campaigns; solicit membership,
edit organization publication; manage
cooperative business enterprises; en-
gnge In commercial activities; act as
financial or business agents; nor take
part In any Of the work OF farmers
organizations or Of an individual farm
en-, which is outside Of their duties
az defined by the law and by the
approved projects governing their
work. They are expected, however, to
make available to organizations such
information an will be helpful TO them
and contribute TO the success Of their
work.
1.-THE various Federal laws provide
that cooperative extension work shall
be conducted In such manner M shall
be mutually agreed upon by the Secre-
tary Of Agriculture and the state agri-
cultural colleges. BY an agreement
between these agencies an extension
director located In each State Is tho
representative Of both the college and
the department. He submits projects
for extension work 10 the secretary for
approval.
an carrying out these projects the
law provides that no Federal Smith
Lever money. except $4,000 per State
shall be paid to the states for cooper
alive extension work until
an equal sum has been ap-
propriated for that year by the legi-
stature Of such State, or provided by
State, county, college, local authority,
or individual contributions from within
the State, for the maintenance Of the
cooperative agricultural extension
work provided for In this act