Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-01-09
Farm Bureau Benefits
To Women of Maine

0oWootnndm AT Sd9uuSUOC EOUlouA
held with West Bath Grange. Dec. 80,
"What Benefit has the Farm Bureau
Been to the Women Of Maine?"
Twin County Farm Bureau was or
ganized in 1919 with two members,
one in Livermore and one in Greene.
with a membership of 420 for 1925.
This year there have been requests
for a Farm Bureau in Woolwich and
Minot corner. Greater success Is OBJ
tanned in numbers, therefore an in
crease in membership is desired. The
extension meetings are not for the
members, alone but everyone is well
come for it is through the Farm Bu-
reau that the Home Demonstration
yagent is able to reach the women.
The results of the clothing meetings
may be measured more accurately
than any other project as they can
be reckoned in dollars and cents.
First the women made dress forms.
Much work done now is on patterns
and clothing construction. A founda-
ton waist pattern Is made from each
individual measurement and fitted
and necessary alterations made. From
this type of garment, one piece dress
es, blouses, underslips, ETC., may be
made. This also means that one has
a permanent pattern for all garments
and one that was drafted especially
for your own figure. Commercial
patterns are expensive. There have
been "a foundation patterns drafted
! and a saving of $59.25 and 206 gar
ments have been cut from these pat
terms at a saving Of $500. These
clothing meetings are helpful to every
woman and there is something there
for each one. The agent teaches diff
ferent dress finishes, such as set-in-
pockets, bound buttonholes. etc. Peo-
pie get out of anything exactly what
they put into it and If you put inter-
est, time and enthuhiasm you get your
reward in helpful hints. suggestions
and actual monetary results.
Nine communities have sent 10
women to millinery training schools
and these women have taught 100 adj
ditional women to make hats. AS a
whole there has been 343 hats made
at saving of s1292 North Turner
| alone made 48 hats which was a saw
ing of $151. 1t means lot to wom-
an to be able to make her own hat at
a saving of from 81 to IS also to take
old material clean, dye and steam it
and make hats for other members of
the family.
This year the project of healthful
clothing has been adopted. The ulti-
mate aim is to teach the women that
improper clothing affects the health
of the wearer. There have been >16
meetings held on this subject with an
attendance of 239. Other clothing
meetings are sewing kits. machine at
tachments and dress forms.
Women are beginning to realize the
Importance of well balanced family
meals. Some women say their hus-
bands won't eat this or that but we
know they insist on having balanced
rations for their cattle and why
shouldn't they be as particular about
their own bodies as their animals
There have been other food meetings
such as overweight and underweght
diets, food habits and yeast bread
demonstra tions. There have been %
miscellaneous meetings with an at
tendance of 12S and 50 women car
ried a demonstration on balanced
meals.
One of the biggest responsibilities
for the housewife is to keep trace of
the household account. There must
be a system of expenditure to the
household as we'll as to other bust
ness. The household account solves
all problems and 1t enables the house,
wife to keep an account of all house,
hold expenditures, tell how much is
spent on food. clothing. fuel, etc, so
that if the money has not been wisely
distributed it can be rectified the next
year.
Many fireless cookers have been
made. This is a great fuel saving
device. Other valuable meetings are
chair Gaming, refinishing furniture,
etc. Basketry is not a special pro-
ject but more of a recreation meet
ing. Millinery is the most popular
phase of extension work but reed
work is running a close second. There
have been 224 reed articles made in
Guiding baskets, mats, lamps and
trays.
Another very important side of the
Farm Bureau and of unlimited bene-
fit to our young people are the boys
and girls clubs. 1t is impossible to
estimate the great value and possible
ties this work develops for our young
people, especially as a molder Of
character. 1t satisfies the child's de-
sire to initiate the societies of adults,
as the Grange, etc. 1t gives them a
chance to earn money and by earning
the money they understand the value
of it and are more careful how they
spend it or save it. Club work en-
courages thrift, for the prize money
is generally awarded in the form of
bank books. BY adding to this ac-
count often sum is accumulated
which enables the child to go through
college. for club work often incites
them to see the possibilities derived
from a college education. Club work
interests the boys and girls in the
home and farm and teaches them the
best farm and household practices for
a young mind is more apt and can alb
sorb a thing quicker and more ac-
curately. Again they are busy at
something worth while for children
must work off their superfiuous en-
ergy some way. 1t develops leader
ship which perhaps is one of the
things which is most needed in the
world today. 1t also develops re-
sponsibility, initiative and industry.
These reasons will convince one
that club work is far more valuable
than the average father or mother
realizes. Many of our leading men
and women today were former club
members.
There were % boys and girls clubs
in Twin county for the year 1925:
ASS projects were started: 259 fin
ished. Nearly $4,000 worth of goods
were produced at cost of little
over $4,000. the profit was nearly
$4,000. The labor return per hour
was 21c: s50S in prizes was awarded.
which brought the return per hour
up to over $2.89.
Colantha Pieterje Reets DeKol, one
of the University of Maine foundation