Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1960-08-06
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higher crop yields, better breeds
of livestock, more efficient. use of
farm machinery, more attractive
homes, new and freshly renovated
churches, we'll planned community
centers, and neat cemeteries.
However, all the problems of
small farmers are not being solv-
ed. Tenants are still having diff
ficulty finding land to buy. Young
people are still moving out Of
agriculture, leaving their parents
behind without sufficient labor to
handle the crops. And parents
who are too old to chop and pick
cotton are shifting to pastures,
grain, and livestock, and thinking
of quitting altogether and renting
their land out. j..
But group action seems to be one
of the best answers developed so
far to help ensure improved farm
ing methods and better living. One
of the most outstanding examples
of group action I saw was in the
Vicksburg, Miss, area. There in
Warren County, community de-
velopment program embracing five
communities is a going concern.
Having graduated from Chamber
of Commerce direction, the rural
people are providing their own
leadership for the program.
As we drove through parts Of
the five communities, the Exten.
sion agents, w. S. DENNY and Miss
Malinda Robinson, pointed out
some Of the achievements of the
program: new and remodeled
homes with attractive name-plat-
ed mail bores out front, livestock
grazing in improved pastures,
crops growing on well-fertilized
soil, freshly painted churches with
their names neatly displayed, and
attractive community centers con-
verted from one-room schoolhouses
and abandoned churches.
Each year cash awards are CIV
en- to the communities and indi-
vidual families that achieve til e
highest scores. Points are given
for such accomplishments as vac
cinating livestock, planting certi-
fled cottonseed, developing side
line cash crops, subscribing to
newspapers or magazines, and i'm
proving school facilities.
I sat in on a meeting Of some
leaders of the program. There was
pride in their voices and determi-
nation in their decisions. State
Extension leader w. E. Ammons
told me that similar programs are
being conducted in nine Mississippi
pi counties, and perhaps in more
than 100 counties in the States Of
the region.
Tennessee is one of these. In
that State, the Extension leaders
w. H. Williamson and Miss Bessie
Walton, took me to see a recently
constructed sec, 1000 farm and home
community center in GAINESVILLE.
1t was built by volunteer workers
with materials purchased with
funds raised largely through SELL
ing dinners and conducting picnics,
hayrides, and tours under the lead
ership of the home demonstration
agent, Miss Margaret F. Harlan.
The brick and concrete block
building contains a library, audi
tcrium, complete kitchen, and the
offices of Miss Harlan and her as
sociates. Already the building is
the activities center of Montgom-
! cry County. In it are held many
| demonstrations, and such social
events as teas, dinners, and re-
ceptions. And the influence of the
! center is contributing to better
/ farming and homemaking, in the
! country.
! Less than 200 miles away in
t Madison County, Tenn, 229 white
/ ard colored farmers who live near