The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-10-25
The Leaders, Training School

Ever since my trip to Camp Vail
last year, have wished that some
time I could go there again, but l
certainly did not expect that time to
come before few years. 1t was a
great surprise to me, therefore, to re-
ceiye a special delivery letter from
State Club Leader Shibles. telling me
of my appointment as the Maine dele
gate. to the leaders training school
! held in connection with Camp Vail at
the Eastern States Exposition. 1t
was a very happy surprise, however.
and after talking with my parents and
the principal of the academy, | at
once sent a telegram to Mr.. Shibles
saying, 81 can go. Send travelling
directions" This was Tuesday and
the next Saturday morning | was on
my way ito learn" as one OF our in
structors said, "in two weeks at the
leaders training school. what it would
take a whole semester at college to
learn"
am going to divide the work of
the training school into three parts
the field trips, classes, and the week
of service. First, | am going to take
up the field trips and tell, as best
can, the value these trips were to me.
We visited the dairy farms, poultry
farms, market gardening farms, the
orchards and fields of the Massachu-
sets Agricultural College. These
farms were all kept up-to-date. The
owners of the farms were all agricul-
tural leaders in their community.
When we visited the agricultural
college, we heard lecture by Pres.
Butterfeld. in which he told us the
main JOB of the college was to help
farmers apply science to the work of
the farm and the life of the farm COM
munity These farmers were men
who had applied science to their work
by the help of the Agricultural Col
lege and the Extension Service. The
orchard owners knew what kind of
apples grew best in their vicinity, &C
cording to the land, the climatic con-
ditions, and they knew just how 1t
was best to grow them, having bene-
flied from their experimental work.
So 1t was with the rest of the farmers.
While on these trips our instructors
took us to different places that we
might see some of the distinguished
places in the vicinity of Springfield.
We visited Smith College, Mt. Holyoke,
Holyoke, Shaw's and several other
colleges, We were shown thru the
paper mills of A. ]. Moses by Mr..
Moses, and he explained the different
parts of the work to us. We visited
the offices of the Farmers Exchange,
Federal Loan Bank and intermediate
Credit Bank. We learned the great
value of these different organizations
to the farmers, and how the farmers
should 60 about to make use of them.
Each day we had classes at Camp
Vail. In these classes we learned a
great many things to help us in our
club work. Supposing was to start
out this fall to be county club agent.
what did learn there that would help
me? l would have outlines to go by
for starting the work in the county;
making out county program; the
place OF club work In the county ex-
tension program; for starting club
work in the community; for organic
ing club; for securing leaders and
building club program. That work
will be just as useful to me when my
time comes to be county club agent
as it would be now.
am now local leader and hope to
be one again. What did I learn at
the training school which will help
me In this? We had lectures on how
to conduct a club meeting; the local
exhibit; the achievement day; dem
onstration teams; judging work and
about permanent records. On all
these subjects we made complete out
lines which we agreed upon to be the
best, after much discussion among
the members and instructors present.
A lecture given by Miss Warren on
the "Adolescent Mind and Its Rela-
ton to Cooperative Extension Work,
was one which ] will class by itself.
We were given the different traits of
the young people and then were told
what would satisfy these traits. Fol-
lowing are few Of those given us:
Trait, gang spirit, directions, Club
organization; trait, hero worship, di-
rections, good project leader; trait,
emulation, directions, contests; trait,
do as adults, directions, community
program; trait, home making, direc-
tons, home responsibility; trait, crav-
ing experiences, direction, Varied club |
activities.
The second week was the week of
the Eastern States Exposition. The
young people of the training school
were organized with Miss Warren as
our leader. We were given the name
of Estate of Service" or the eleventh
state represented at Camp Vail. This
week we were given special duties for
helping in the management of Camp
Vail.
In conclusion, wish to express my
deep appreciation for the wonderful
opportunities offered to me at lead
ers' training school. I certainly wish
every club leader could have the same
chances as ! have had.
H. VIRGINIA SMITH,
North Arson, Me.
Apple Market Letter