The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1922-01-26
EXTENSION WORK
VERY IMPORTANT
Reports Of County Agent and Club
Leader Show Results that JUS
tify Expense
HAVE GREATLY AIDED FARMER
Activities Have Direct Effect on Pros
perity of Commonwealth

Activities Have Direct Effect on Pros
perity of Commonwealth
The growth of county agent and ex-
tension work in Dickey county is a
monument to the foresightedness Of
those who signed the first petition au-
thorizing the commissioners to ap-
point w. B. Richards to that position
seven years ago.
1t is now almost an impossibility to
place value on the work done by Mr..
Richards and those following him.
Many farmers have built up business
founded on good live stock and diver
sified farming who owe their first in
terest to some of the demonstrations
conducted in these early days. Later
a large number of farmers became
interested in the raising of alfalfa,
sweet clover, potatoes, rust-resistant
wheat and many other crops that
brought a steady income to them.
OF late years these extension work
ers have taken an active interest in
the field of marketing. 1t has always
been their policy to serve both the
farmers and the local merchants by
bringing to them information as to
the advantages and disadvantages Of
al cooperative marketing organiza-
tions. The live stock shipping associa-
tions, the potato exchange and the
county wool pool are few examples
Of the farmers marketing organixa-
tions that they have helped in form
ing into workable machinery that now
plays large part in marketing the
farm products Of this county.
Much work still remains unfinished
along this line as well as in the field
Of production. Problems are daily
arising regarding these organizations
and new farming practices which re-
quire correct information and the ad-
vice of trained men. The field is a
large one and fundamental one to
the prosperity of our farmers. .t
Two men are now employed by the
county at total expenditure Of $4,-
1000 year, which amounts to less
than z of a cent per acre, or about
$1.10 per quarter. One of these men
works with the men and women on
the farms and is known as the county
agricultural agent. The other works
with the farm boys and girls and is
called the county club leader. Some
definite figures showing the value Of
their work can be CLEANED from their
annual reports. ttt
Mr.. Adams reports for eight months
including 108 days in the field and 80
days in the Office, that 407 farm visits
were made, 451 Office consultations
were held, 40 meetings conducted with
total attendance Of 1870, 81 other
agricultural meetings were attended,
107 articles were published in local
papers, 592 personal letters were writ
ten and 5,805 circular letters were
mailed from his Office.
Perhaps the greatest apparent saw
ing to the county was through the
labor activities during harvest and
threshing. BY furnishing the farmers
with information as to wages for tran
sient labor and directing as many men
as possible to the farmers who needed
them, it is safe to say that the wages
for this labor was kept below what it
would have been if left to the exploi-
tation Of l. w. w. organizers. It Is
estimated that the total saving on
this one item will amount to $34, $50
for the thirty days of the threshing
season, or about $3.50 quarter sec
tion. II
Mr.. Penn, county club agent, reports
that 299 boys and girls enrolled in
club work produced $12,489.12 worth
of products at profit Of $6,008.37 to
the county.
A few figures like the above show
that the benefits Of extension work
far exceed the small cost to the county.