The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1938-06-30
Dean Coward Cites Benefits
Of An Agricultural Department
Praises Work OF County Agent
In Ashe. Tells About
Grassy Creek,
By DEAN w. COWARD

\EulIOI nOt6.. AL the request OF
The Post, Mr.. Coward, who recent
~ received his masters degree at
the University of Missouri, wrote
this article last week end while at
home visiting his parents before
leaving for Raleigh where he will
be sent to the Mountain Test Farm,
near Asheville, as manager.)
County Superintendent of Schools,
j. b. Hash, struck a vital point in
the future educational and agricul-
tural progress of Ashe county by
stressing the Importance of depart
ments of vocational agriculture in
high schools.
A significant decrease in number
OF livestock at a time when soil con-
servation and the development and
expansion of livestock program in
the south are receiving emphasis in
vokes further interest in the place
which Ashe county should occupy
in such a program. Viewing the
many acres of mountain land which
grow luxurious grasses in favorable
seasons, such as the current sum-
mer has been, one wonders if the
livestock population should decline
After several years absence from
the county, the effects of the soil
conservation program are apparent
both from observation and stats
tics. An increase in the amount and
quality of clovers and other legumes
noticeable from the road, and re-
ports that $4,000 and $4,000 re-
spectfully have been spent by the
farmers during the first and second
years of the county agents activity
through the soil conservation pro-
gram, are sufficient evidence of the
value of this phase of agricultural
activity. Mention of organizations
such as wool pools, dairymen's Or
CARNATIONS and other activities of
the county agent give further en-
phasis to the value of this work to
the agriculture of Ashe county.
At present there is only one de-
partment of vocational agriculture
in the county and it is supported by
the state of Virginia and serves ap-
proximately AN equal number Of
Virginia and North Carolina young
men. A brief history Of the achieve
ments of this department located at
Virginia Carolina high school gives
evidence of the possibilities in the
county. Since 1925, from Is to, so
high school agricultural students
and many farmers throughout. gtEat
community have worked in coopera-
Etion with the social agriculture in
gstructors annually. During these
years, one boy from this department
was made president of the Future
Farmers of America for the state
of Virginia. Others have rated high
in judging and public speaking. r.
Many projects of supervised agri-
cultural enterprises have been COM
pleted by these young men, and some
of the projects have been used for
general farm improvements and for
paying the general school expenses.
At the present time, Mr.. M. w. Rey-
holds, instructor, has So boys who
are consulting with him for scien-
tific supervision of projects in grow
ing corn, wheat, tobacco, truck
crops, poultry, and all types of live
stock
During the school year 1867 the
boys from this department had an
income of $6,O9171 from their enter
prises of which they actually re-
ceived $3,591.44 for themselves. At
a recent conference of young farm
ers held at Virginia. olytechnical
Institute, in Blacksburg, Virginia,
four young men from this depart
ment were among the SO selected
from the entire state of Virginia to
receive the degree of Estate Farm
err" which is given to 19o of the high
school agriculture students for the
most outstanding enterprises and
achievements in the state.
In addition to his duties as in
structor of class work for these
projects, Mr.. Reynolds has a part
time class of IL boys who do not
attend high school, but who confer
with him for supervision of their
farm work He has an evening class
with membership of 40 adult farm
ers who meet for discussion of their
problems one with another and with
him. Vocational instructors and
county farm agents cooperate in
sponsoring various activities for the
betterment of agriculture in the
community.
These facts concerning a depart
ment serving only small number
of young men of Ashe county viii
be indicative of possibilities in many
other communities in which depart