The Lexington advertiser. [volume] (Lexington, Miss.) 1904-1985, 1961-03-09
Rural Development
Plan Show Results

IIlOVlilS away W SCCh OCttCA W
portunities is no longer the
worry it was a short time ago
to leaders in some counties of
Mississippi.
This is because they have a
definite action program that is
last improving the economic,
,ocial and spiritual life of their
ocalities. 1t is called Rural De-
yelopment, but involves both
,ural and urban people.
The national government be-
gan to encourage the Rural De-
ielopment movement in 1855. A
'~grassroots" kind of program, it
depends upon local leadership
with help as needed from exist
.ng government agencies. Al
though it will benefit any area,
t was particularly intended for
those having many loW-income
families.
Rural Development is team
work in the broadest sense, ex-
planned DR.. Rupert B. Johnston,
eader in agricultural economics
Of the Agricultural Extension
Service. It involves education,
credit, technical assistance, re-
search, business, industry, en-
ployment services, social and
spiritual leadership groups, far
mers and vocational training.
Each county in this program
has a Rural Development COM
mittee of men and women repre-
senting all kinds of local organi-
cations and activities.
County agents and home
demonstration agents of the Elk
tension Service, along with
workers of other government
agencies in the county, advise
the Rural Development commit
tee and help in other ways. The
committee studies many phases
Of life in the county, sets goals,
plans ways to reach these goals
and leads people to do something
about it.
The twelve Mississippi coun-
ties in the Rural Development
program are Amite, Calhoun,
Chickasaw, Copiah, Covington,
Holmes, Lawrence, Newton, Tip
pah, Simpson,, Walthall and
Yazoo.
The success of some of these
counties in strengthening agri-
culture, securing non-farm en-
ployment for rural people and
generally improving living con-
litions has received national at
.ention.
DR.. Johnston reported the fol-
owing highlights Of recent prog
ress:
Amite County successfully at
racted a garment manufacturing
plant that will employ $50 peo-
pie. A $250,0O B. A. w. L.
bond issue was passed to finance
a building for the plant. This
climaxed an intensive effort by
he county Rural Development
committee to secure additional
employment.
"We feel that many farm
families will be able o stay on
their farm and raise their stan
iard of living because they can
find employment close to home.
All pulled together to get it,"
the Amite County committee re-
ported.
Tippah County began Rural
Development in 1856 and has
since made such agricultural and
industrial progress. H a n
values also benefit, leaders there
recently stressed.
Rural Development serves
also to unite the town and farm
people even more closely. Rural
neighbors cooperate and enjoy
fellowship as never before. Many
local leaders of all ages have
been developed" the Tippah re-
port stated.
Calhoun County people have
been working on several Rural
Development projects since mid
1860. They secured a new swim
ming pool at Calhoun City for
the youth of the county. The
new charcoal plant at Bruce pro-
vides an outlet for scrub" hard
wood as well as employment and
income. Plans are underway for
a new county health department
building.
Opportunities for improving
and expanding agriculture as an
industry were not overlooked in
the Calhoun County Rural De-
velopment program. A drive to
make full use of soil testing
shows promise of greatly increas-
ing crops yields and profis.
Leaders established a new out
let for Gamer sweet potatoes.
They are working toward a milk
receiving station. A countrywide
bangs testing and vaccination
program is underway to help
safeguard cattle production.
Many businessmen besides
farmers benefit directly from
AGRICULTURAL development like
those in Calhoun County, DR..
pointed out.