Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 151, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 June 1913 — COUNTY AGENT TO BE HERE JULY 1ST [ARTICLE]

COUNTY AGENT TO BE HERE JULY 1ST

Board of Education Accepted O. G. Barrett, Who # Waa Recom- ‘ mended by Pnrdne. * O. G. formerly of Michigan, where he attended the agricultural college for two years, later graduating frqm Illinois university and then taknig a year’s special work at the Missouri University at Columbia, Mo., will be the agricultural agent for Jasper county, the township trustees ratifying’ a recommendation made by Purdue University through its manager of county agents, T. A. Coleman, of Rushville.

Mr. Coleman addressed at some length-the members of the board of trustees, all but three of whom were present, the absentees being Karoh, of Walker; Porker, of Hanging Grove; and Keen, of Wheatfield. Mr. Coleman said that Mr. Barrett was a very able man and ihad six years practical farm experience be sides his education^in three colleges. He Is a married man and will move to Rensselaer and begin his labors by the first of July. He will re eeive a salary of $2,000 a year and will be required to have an automobile or other conveyance for travel about the county. He will go wherever called to advise and instruct in agricultural subjects. The selection is made for. a period of one year and at the end of that time a new man may be chosen provided it is decided to.continue the plan of hiring an expert “farmer” for the county, Mr. Coleman stated that Mr. Barrett had engaged in research work and was particularly able in farm management, while this thesis at graduation was “Work Stock Management” He will maintain an office and Superintendent Lamson stated that one would be provided in the court house. Here he can be called by farmers who want his expert opinion or instruction. If he is not able to give the advice desired he will write to Purdue and get ideas from there.

Jasper is the tenth county In the state to adopt the county agent plan as provided by the last legislature. The total amount available is $3,000. Of this amount SSOO was salsed by subscription, $1,500 was appropriated 'by the county council and SI,OOO romes from the state. After the salary is paid there still remains SI,OOO. After the first year the subscription is not taken but the council is required to appropriate $1,500 and the state SI,OOO for each county. The argument that was used in passing the law providing for the county agents was that there is a big waste on the farm and that a man should be handy to give assistance in a scientific way to guard against the waists, the neglect, etc., on the farms. Mr. Barrett should be able to tell our farmers what feed to uee-to get the best results in fattening cattle, -how to guard against disease, how to treat hog cholera, how to rotate crops, how to select seed corn, how to raise alfalfa and a thousand and one things that many farmers have been negligent about in the past. He should be able to tell how to make the farm pay better than you have been making it pay. While at first The Republican had its doubts about the wisdom of the experiment, we now believe that there are great possibilities in the development of the agricultural interests of the country and we hope to be able to co-operate with Mr. Barrett in many ways. The columns of this paper will be free for him to discuss any topic he deems to be of value to the fanners. The county board of education has been called to meet again the first Tuesday in July to make the acquaintance of Mr. Barrett.