The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-05-15
CCC TO TRAIN
YOUNG FARMERS


farm-training program the greatest of
it's kind in scope, ever to be offered,
and devised to provide impetus for a
"back to the farm" movement among
Civilian Conservation Corps enro1lees,
has been announced by Lieut. Col Earl
Landreth, commanding officer of the
Fort Missoula district of the CCC.
Purpose of the new objective is to
give training in farm methods and
farm finances to selected enrollees of
proved aptitude, who upon completion
of training, will be placed on and as
sisted to ownership of small farm
tracts.
1t has been found that the primary
interest of a large group of CCC
youths is in agricultural pursuits, and
it is to give training that will be of
permanent value in assisting these
boys to make an adequate livelihood
that the new objective has been
planned, Colonel Landreth explained.
Application for the farm training
course is made through the office of
the district educational adviser at
Fort Missoula. Interest has already
been evinced to an encouraging de-
gree, application having been made by
II enrollees. One applicant has al
ready selected his land and made the
initial payment. The tract is being
will be occupied next season by the
young owner, who will take possession
upon completion of his course.
Groundwork for launching this new
CCC experiment has involved much
research in locating of available, suit
able land in various parts of the state.
It has been established that all land
that will be acquired by enrollees is
arabic and that irrigation facilities are
adequate. Farms will approximate 40
acres to the tract. Purchase of the
and will be made in an initial pay
ment and in certain stated payments
thereafter. Long term loans may be
when necessary. Trainees
must have saved 5000 to defray their
'irst expenses before they will be per-
nitted to enroll in the course This
s the smallest sum that will allow
feasible financing of the projects and
S also an earnest of good faith on
he part of the selectees, Colonel Lam
lreth stated.
Three farms will be operated as
district to accommodate the applicants
# the three Corps Areas represented
second Corps enrollees will be trained
It Company 258 at Malta; Fifth Corps
men at Company 2503 at Ballantine |
nd Ninth Corps selectees at Company
962 at Alberton. Practicability of |
he project has already been demon
trated at the Company 2503 farm,
which yielded $1,000 worth of veget-
bles for the camp mess last season. |
Officials of the Reclamation bureau, |
J. S. Forest Service and other gov
rnment agencies have promised the |
ullest cooperation with the program,
,olonel Landreth said, explaining that
hey feel that such program ties in
nth the work of their own organiza-
ions and provides laboratory for
uture activities along the same lines
f experimental farming.
"This project is unique in CCC
aiming and represents a distinct in
ovation in that it trains the enrollee
D make a living and provides a job
Dr. him upon completion of his train
lg. Like all new ideas, it has re-
uired much original effort on the
art of those in charge" Colonel Lam
reth declared. He added that it is
is opinion that the project is one of |
reat implications and possibilities in
lie restoration of much of the nations {
md, which is now considered as {
aste and in giving opportunity to !
ANY to return to the soil, where they ]
eel that they belong. (
Expert instruction will be given to [
lose who are selected to take the {
lrm training course. Training will
2 given in farm methods, irrigation, II
'op planting, rotation of corps, care {
farm tools and machinery, farm Z
and farm financing. APP /
ication to enroll for the course is /
ade through District Educational Ad-.
ser Leslie E. Stephens, Fort Mis-
,ula, Mont. /
GAS the purpose of this activity be- G
,mes more clearly comprehended and c