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Show 1 1 ' -Xivestpclcl i-j-SitU-QitiOJX. The lure of the city, with its apparent ap-parent opportunities, conveniences and entertainment has always proven to be a serious problem to the farmer farm-er and stock men, about as far back as time goes. But it looks as though the modern school system has gone a long way towards solving that problem. prob-lem. It is getting to be an easier matter to keep the young folks on the farm or ranch, because tLe farm has been made more attractive, both in a financial way and in more pleasant surroundings. Credit for the changing condition of affairs must be given, in large measure, to our agricultural colleges and the vocational agricultural departments de-partments which now constitute an important part of every high school in agricultural or semi-agricultural districts. Competent instructors, aided by far sighted farmers and stockmen, are now teaching the young folks ways and means of making mak-ing farming and stockraising interesting inter-esting and profitable. The students have the benefit of the very best "booklearnin" and the both interesting and proltable. Live stock judging contests are held regularly. The element of rivalry between each other and between be-tween different schools is encouraged and the school live stock judging team which' wins honors at the sectional, sec-tional, state and national contests shares publicity honors with the boys who make the football team, the baseball base-ball nine or other' school activities. In these contests, as at all other times, the boys are constantly thrown into contact with highly bred stock in a practical way, so that when they become live stock breeders themselves, them-selves, the best bred stock is raisetl by them, as a matter of course. The vocational departments of the schools also give practical training in other activities that come in very handy on the farm. They are taught to repair their own automobiles, pumps, radios and farm machinery. They know how to weld a broken axle. They learn the elements of carpenter work so that little odd jobs around the farm can be done by themselves, Without the necessity of hiring expensive labor. opportunity of studying the best flocks and herds or pure bred live i stock aa well. Many of the students are encouraged to raise a few animals ani-mals of their own, being financed either directly by their parents or through their local bankers, The start of some very profitable herds has been ma'de by many students as a direct result of foundation animals purchased while high school students. Practical breeds of dairy and beef cattle, swine and sheep are purchased and the youngsters are encouraged in their work to such an extent that many students have a good paying proposition during their school years. Their practical work is a part of the school course. Needless to say, the young fellow who gets the right kind of a start so that he is making good money while still iu school will j make the best kind of a farmer, be-! cause lie is engaged in somerhinK With this practical training ana Hie higher education in the regular school course, we are rearing a crop of better farmers for this country. Now that running water, electric power and the thousand and one other conveniences, there is real attraction at-traction in living on the farm. The farm boy of today isn't the "hayseed" of earlier generations. He is well educated, polished and is being tained in work which is profitable, for farming and stock raising from the very basis of our national prosperity. pros-perity. We're learning to keep the boys and girls on the farm. It is interesting inter-esting to note that S2 per cent of the boys who have graduated from the agricultural departments of the hign schools operating under the Smith-Hughes Smith-Hughes Act have stayed on the farm and are now engaged in farming or; stock raising. j |
