Evening star., 1940-05-12

lAIlO lATm women CkOScr unQefs
standing Of what their State uni
versity could do for them and to
show them first hand, how to make
use Of the various educational IA
cilities and opportunities which 1t
offers. Our second aim was to teach
them through group contacts and
actual demonstrations. many Of the
things which make for better homes
and communities"
Mental horizons this session will
be broadened by 81 professors and
speakers and definite classroom in
struction in improved English, pub
lie speaking. parliamentary law,
foods and nutrition, clothing, home-
making, management and furnish
ing, landscape gardening, family liv-
ing, music appreciation, recreation
and poultry.
A glimpse at Miss Kellar's records
indicates that 80 per cent of the
farm women take the improved
English course, with the simple
statement, MY son or my daughter
is at the university now, I ought to
improve myself, too" Approximate
ly 80 per cent elect courses in pub
lie speaking Ito be more Of a credit
to my missionary society,"" or some
similar local organization.
Appreciation Expressed.
Prosaic files yield such letters in
appreciation Of benefits received as
this one, II can never tell you of
the inspiration I have received from
this short week. 1t Is like a pic
ture to be taken out and looked
at again and again in memory"
These rural women students are
now divided into first, second, third
and fourth year classes, those who
have attended the sessions for four
years being awarded a certificate
by President Harry c. Byrd. Among
the TOO in attendance there is always
a group Of from 275 to 800 who have
attended the sessions over a period
of years. Special classes are pro-
vided for them, and they have re-
Gently organized themselves into a
special group having as their goal
the building OF a clubhouse on the
campus to be dedicated to Mary
lands rural women.
Miss Kellar is proud that her
general program for the rural short
course moves" on scheduled time,
just as she has satisfaction in the
fact that speakers awaiting their
turn derive inspiration from the
general assembly singing. which is
interspersed between each number
on 1t. This is participated in by
all those attending the course, re-
gardless Of their previous lack Of
chorus experience.
Was Born on Farm.
Miss Kellar not only was born on
farm in Nebraska, but was country
bred In the strictest sense of the
word. Not only did she 60 to a
country school, but she had her
share Of the household and farm
tasks after her days work at school
was done.
After a teaching experience in a
preparatory school in Richmond,
Mo-, she was one Of the early college
women to pioneer in farm extension
work, becoming the first State farm
leader in South Dakota under the
Smith-Lever Congressional Act au-
.horizing home demonstration work.
Graduate work followed at the
University of Nebraska and at CO.
lumbia University and an oppor-
tunity to become the home demon
stration agent for Dorchester
County, Md, a far-fiung orbit
from her Western background. Miss
Kellar, however, was only following
her forebears back to their Eastern
heritage, for her grandmother Kel-
lar was first cousin of President
Monroe, and her mothers people,
the Sayres, had moved West from
Phillip, w. Va.
Took Present Job in 1897.
A six months sojourn in Maryland
made Miss Kellar decide to cast her
lot with farm extension service for
women nthis State. In succession
she became assistant to the State
leader, acting State leader, State
leader and finally in 1887 assistant
director of extension service for the
State of Maryland and its univer-
sity. Planning the course programs
has now become year-round Job
In itself for Miss Kellar. In between
times she manages to travel all over
the State, visit in the homes of its
farm women, attend their club
meetings and achievement days"
and generally follow up her students
and graduates.
Rural women's homemaker's
clubs" she says, reach between IL
and Is thousand farm women every
year with their extension programs" !"
mi