Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 76, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 March 1914 — WOULD HELP BOYS [ARTICLE]

WOULD HELP BOYS

Agricultural Scholarship Instead of Washington Trips. U. 8. Department of Agriculture Recommends Former as the More Valuable Prize for Youthful Mem- ' bers of the Farming Clubs. Washington, D. C. —The department of agriculture recommends that in place of a trip to Washington the young- prize-winners of the Corn, Canning and Poultry and other agricultural clubs be given a year’s course in practical training at some agricultural college. In case the young champion’s academic training would not enable him to enter the agricultural college of his state, a more elementary course in a school where agriculture is taught or a course in an agricultural high school is recommended. The department considers that such courses have considerably more lasting value for prize-winners and for the agriculture of their sections than flying trips to the capital. The state and local organizations which have been paying for these trips have been sincerely interested in developing a true appreciation of farming as a business among the boy and girl farmers. Some of these nave already considered this question and have decided on the agricultural course as the more One of the first persons to raise the question as to whether the practical training or the more spectacular trip was preferable, was Willie P. Brown, an Arkansas Corn club prize winner. Given his choice of all the prizes offered by the state, including the trip to Washington, he selected a scholarship giving him a year’s tuitldh in an agricultural school. This gave impetus to the idea in Arkansas, and now the biggest annual prize offered the Corn club boys is a scholarship given by the Bankers’ association. The same association gives a similar scholarship to the girl champion of the canning clubs. Other suggestions regarding prizes have been made from time to time by those who have been most interested in these clubs and understand the needs of the boy and girl farmers. Some of the suggestions are offered herewith for the consideration of others who might cure to profit by them. While a year’s course with all expenses paid is the suggestion of the department for the biggest prize for state’winners, less extensive courses might be offered to county winners. It has been suggested that such (counties as care to give prizes, glvd one or more short courses in thei state agricultural and mechanical colleges to the fortunate county champions. These courses are usually only two weeks long and are held In winter or in summer. The training given is of the most practical son, and the amount of time spent is no gauge of the amount of benefit to be 'btained. These short courses have already been given as prizes by certain counties, and have proved most valuable to the young people. Large cash prizes are not to be encouraged according to those who Lave - worked with the yocng contestants. Better suggestions are as follows: A pair of registered pigs, a pair of full blooded chickens, a fine colt, a registered calf, an up-to-date corn planter, a two-horse wagon, a gold 'watch, books on agriculture, a double-bar-reled shotgun, a first-class bicycle, a ton of good fertilizer, a |5 hat, a fireless cooker (for girl winners). In general it is better to offer many. small prizes than a few large ones. If twenty boys try for a prize and only one is fortunate, some of the nineteen unsuccessful contestants will probably too discouraged to try again. But if five of the boys are rewarded for their efforts, more merit will have received recognition and the remaining fifteen will see more possible opportunities) of success the following year. Some boards of trade and chambers of commerce have also recognized the efforts of the clubs, by giving banquets for the young people and enter-

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taining them with street car and automobile rides. On other occasions clubs have been honored by an invitation to march in parades, where they have attracted deserved attention. From Memphis, Tenn., comes an interesting story which is a sample of what has been done in other states for young prize winners. In the three states (Arkansas, Tennessee and Mississippi), which are annually represented at the Memphis tri-state fair, it was decided to send certain boy prize winners to the fair as a reward for their excellence. A trip to a fair is a more or less spectacular event as is the Washington trip, but it gives the young farmers certain concrete agricultural experience, which they do not receive from excursions to the sights of Washington. At the fair in question the young men were housed on the fair Sounds in tents, two to four in each nt, all in charge of men employed by the state or government to look after their interc The young men had a regular program which kept them busy most of the week of their stay. One day an expert took the young men to view the improved farm Implements on display. The boys were shown the machinery, and its uses were explained. Another day a seed expert showed the boys the exhibits of seeds and gave them practical advice on seed selection. The bo vs were taken in the same manner to view the beef cattle and nther . Jive, stock.