Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1956-11-09
Career Guidance
By Ford Motors


Too many farm boys underrate
their farm background and train
ing as a personal business asset
said a Ford Motor Company Off
cial i'm announcing new career
guidance program in the field Of
agricultural selling.
'Salesmanship and agriculture
could be extremely good for each
other, said Merritt d. Hill, one
of the founders of the Detroit Sales
Executives Club and its first presi-
dept. as he explained the purposes
Of the career guidance program to
approximately 900 instructors of
vocational agriculture who attended
a Ford Motor Company dinner at
the Hotel Muehlebach here. The
event is held in connection with
the National Convention of the Flu
ture Farmers OF America.
The program is being developed
by committee of sales executives
from organizations allied with agri-
culture. Representative of the
United States Office of Education
and the Federal Extension Service
are serving as consultants. The
program will be conducted under
the auspices of the National Sales
Executives Clubs.
Before embarking on the pro.
gram, survey was taken from a
cross-section of 100 vocational
agriculture teachers. From this
survey, Mr.. Hill said. three signifi-
cant points were learned:
First, that farm boys are leav-
ing agriculture at a rate which
points to an urgent need for pro-
grams which will inform them of
career opportunities in which they
can use their farm background and
training.
Second. that vO-ag teachers not
only will welcome any construc-
tive programs which meets this
need, but that most of them will
cooperate intellectually in carry
ing out such program.
Third, teachers are convinced
that many of their students could
serve themselves and agriculture
very capably by using their farm
knowledge in occupations which
support and augment agriculture. ;"
Mr. Hill emphasized that the pro-
gram is not designed to take bows
off the farm. Every member of this
committee has a personal interest
in prosperous agriculture and
will do nothing to hinder such
prosperity he said. Application of
craftsmanship to many phases Of
agriculture. however. "can be a
healthy thing" he noted
If our farm SURPRISES are due
in large part to improper distri-
button, the Introduction of more
craftsmanship into our marketing
system for farm produce may serve
to open new markets. Likewise, we
need more salesmen who under
stand the needs and problems of
the farmer to service him efficient
ly with new methods, new ma
terials and new equipment if he is
to maintain his rate Of improved
productivity"
Telling of some of the comments
made by vo-ag teachers in support
of this program, Mr.. Hill said that
"the teachers believe that fully Is
per cent of the students in their
classes have some potential for a
career in selling."
Admitting there are many other
fields related to agriculture in
which career guidance is needed,
he explained that "the field of
career guidance is so broad that
we believe we can be of greater
service if we do a 'rifle-shot' ra-
Their than a 'scatter-gun' job.
The international sales execu-
tives organization with 208 clubs
and membership of $4,000 sales
executives who direct three million
statesmen is expected to provide the
nucleus for getting the guidance
program into the field. "We are
confident that many other groups
and organizations will be glad to
join US once the value and practi-
cality of the program is demon
strated" he added
Mr.. Hill is assistant general man
ager of the Ford Tractor and I'M
plement Division.