The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1930-06-04
The County Farm Agency

IL OOu1lCy i 0ll1l l1SNANJ
The resignation of A. r. Miesen as county agent will
take from Burlcigh county possibly the hardest working
public servant that it has had on its rolls.
The value of a good county farm agent Is not always
realized by those whom he serves. He is to be appraised
by such instances of service as the campaign for in
creased sheep bands in Burleigh which Agent Miesen has
conducted for several years, with the result that about
10000 head were added to the flocks. 1t is estimated
that about 100000 was brought into the county in addi-
tional farm revenues by that policy alone.
Without a leader to engineer this program it is doubt
full whether such a Development in animal husbandry
would have taken place here. BY individual thinking
lacking a general program, farmers get nowhere. The
nature of their life and of their vocation Is such that
they founder in Improbable drudgery when not CO.
operating. 1t requires a leader to direct agricultural CO.
operation. Agent Miescn was of this character of lead
crship.
Mr.. Miesen was here four years last April and. by
bringing in this additional 100000 revenue as a result
of his advice and leadership, he repaid Burleigh county
many times over the salary he was paid. He benefited
the county, in fact, a lifetime of the pay he received,
instead Of a few years.
Sheep and wool were but two of the activities he went
into with benefit to the county. He encouraged hog
raising, cattle and poultry, with results that were just
beginning to show.
The big thing in his leadership was the foundation of
clubs among the adult and juvenile population. Where
there had been no Juniors in 1926, there are now 40 clubs
with more than 400 members and the Rotary CLUB mas
seen fit to establish an annual achievement evening for
them, such is the prestige they have attained. There
are IA Homemaker clubs among the tarmwives. also with
more than 400 members, all working to a higher STAN
dard of life in the farm homes.
There is a great moral and social gain for the county
in all this. It means uplift and confers on rural life
something in the nature of attractiveness that was not
there before.
That Mr.. Miesen was a good county agent is proved by
the fact that the Northern Pacific has picked him up.
The railroads of the Northwest often take q bigger inter-
est in its agricultural industry than do the counties. wit
ness of which is attested in the number Of counties which
have not taken on agents. Whenever one of these coun-
ty farm advisers shows he has the keenness to accom-
pish betterments in agriculture, 1t has been the policy
of the various roads to hire him away, sometimes to
larger opportunities for good. The roads need that type
of men. 1t is business with them to have such workers In
their territory to guide farming movements that will in
crease crops and livestock interests and thus prosper the
traffic OF the lines. Why shouldn't the counties have a
greater interest in farm leadership?
The county commissioners will do Burleigh county no
kindness by delaying choice of a successor to Mr.. Miesen.
They should remember that he was a good man In the
position and they should try to find another like him.
Burleigh county agriculture was getting finely organized
under the Miesen regime, and national farm relief plans
only increase the need of such a leader in farm activities
here, If success in the national system Of agricultural co..
operation is to be contributed to by policies in this county.