The Bozeman courier., 1927-06-10
(By Blanche L. Lee, State Home Demon
stratiOn Agent)

HE development and spread Of ex-
tension work for rural women has
become one of the outstanding fea-
lures of our governments work
along agricultural lines.
In Montana we have one extension
service; that is, work for the improve
ment of agricultural practices is not set
apart from that which is done to better
rural homes. Any material increase in
the income of the farm family is bound
to be utilized to increase standards of
living and to improve household equip
ment, consequently it is quite as much
to the interests Of the farm home that
profits from agriculture be increased as
that farm women learn more about the
wise spending of money. Conversely, the
character of the farm home has its bear
ing on farming. The farm business can
not be detached from the farm home
Members Of the farm family work to-
gether, and usually a farmers wife
knows quite as much about the farm
business in its major aspects as does the
farmer himself. When times are bad and
the farm income is lowered, the home
maker is apt to be the shock absorber
Taxes and grocery bills must be paid but
the household can spend less for cloth
ing and ready-to-eat food, and get along
with less equipment for housekeeping.
Home demonstration" is the term we
have used to apply to the work done
with farm women and girls. 1t does not
CAACL4y CO4LClQ6 Win t1lS uelQ OF nome
economies Farm women contribute a
large proportion to family living and
sometimes TO the cash income through
such enterprises as poultry raising, gar
dening, and the sale of homemade but
ter and cheese. Since home demonstra-
ton work aims to meet the needs Of the
farm family, naturally its field varies in
different parts Of the country and varies
from year to year with economic condi-
tions. Briefly, the aims of home demon
stration work in Montana are:
The Aims
1. To lessen the labor and time that
the farm woman spends on 'housekeep-
ing" and to give her. more time for in
teuigent "homemaking.
2. To add to the efficiency, comfort
and happiness of the farm family by
demonstrating that it is possible, at little
or no extra COST to have many physical
comforts and modern home conveniences
in the farm home.
8. To create and maintain a definite
leadership of farm women among farm
women.
4. To improve the farme home con-
ditions by definite projects" and not by
a hit-and-miss program that would seek
to cover all apparent needs.
Our unit Of field organization is the
rural community and our representative
there is the project leader. If the wom.
en- express desire to learn improved
nOLle sewing meCnOQS, Cney-. chOOSe
clothing leader. If their interests ruI
along the lines Of better selection O.
family meals, they will undertake tht
activity under the direction Of a nutri
ton leader. Or if they are interested il
kitchen arrangement or house furnish
ing, they choose a home management
leader.
In working with adults it is not al
ways possible to do the most importan
thing hrst. 1t is necessary that peopl
be conscious Of need before they viii
work to meet it. Our program, there
fore, is two-fold, that of helping Womel
to meet the needs Of which they are con
Scious, and of helping them to definit
ideals Of living. Our aim is to max
permanent improvements in home max
ing practices.
Study of Food
) The extension program reflects socis
5 and economic changes which affect tn
farm business or the farm family. HON
! demonstration programs change as eco
nomic conditions change. During tn
{ past few years the Montana home demon
I stration program has been planned def
nitely to meet problems which must b
met by the rural woman when the famil
. income is low. Through the foods an
nutrition project the rural home make
is being taught, through a study Of foo
values and proper preparation and com
I blnaC1OnS, the use OF such products {
! : can be produced on the farm to tax
the place Of products which under MOI
favorable economic conditions might (
purchased to provide an adequate famil
diet.
. This foods and nutrition project j
a Montana aims consciously and direct
: at developing sturdy rural populatio
: with higher resistance to disease, il
b creased physical and mental eff1cienc
oeCter earning power, and a sense
greater well-being. 1t brings about d
4 rect financial saving through:
r l. Directing a more intelligent e,
A Ipenditure for food.
: 2. Developing a more adequate ar
o economical food supply on the farm, ar
8. Lessening physical disability al
expenditures for medicines and medic
d services.
'e 1t may contribute directly to the il
It come Of the farm family through MAJ
u phases Of food production, preparatiC
n and preservation capable Of expansiC
= beyond the needs Of the family or Il
local community.
Through clothing projects the rur
T. homemaker is given help not only wi
~ clothing construction, but with clothil
II care and selection. The rural hom
l. maker does not prefer to do her ov
t. dressmaking, but home dressmaking
lie one Of the means Of cutting down t
~ cost Of living" Women in Is MOntal
counties were enrolled in the cloth,
project last year. The aim of the clot
We ing project work as conducted in Mo
D. tana is as follows:
p. 1. To teach positive health by proL
al clothing.
b. 2. To teach better standards of sele
or ton and workmanship with more care1
Of expenditure of money, and
8. To teach quicker and more efficie
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