Armstrong High School - Resume Yearbook (Armstrong, IL)

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E-fuiu n u T agurpj, ,mn 45,45 VII u u u -TH trol of plant and animal diseases, better methods of feeding, improved means of maintaining and building up the fertility of the soil, etc. A second is the study of the farms-soils, crops, live-stock and build- ings of the different farms in the neighborhood, both good and poorg noticing especially why some farms and farmers are more successful than others. In our visits to various farms as a part of our class work we request the suggestions and opinions of the farmer himself as to what he considers best in the different breeds of stock, varities and methods of raising crops, as well as general points of management. A third line of study which is not entirely separate from the two just explained but which, in part, is to a certain extent a summary of the above mentfoned points is Farm Management. This is a comparitively new sub- ject, but is rapidly gaining in importance. There are two main divisions of this subject. The first is the study of more economical methods of production of crops and raising of live- stockg and in this connection making better use of man, horse and tractor labor. This is studied in the same manner as the points previously men- tionedg namely, the reslgts of Experiment Stations, articles in Farm papcrs, and the different practices common in this community. As an illustration of this point, the class in Farm Management during the pres- ent school year made a detailed study of Illinois Bulletin 231, The Horse and the Tractor, which is a study of horse and tractor labor on 112 typi- cal cornbelt of Illinois. A second illustration is that of the project records which are required of every student taking Hgh School Agriculture. In the project the boys keep exact record of cost of production of a field of wheat, oats or corng or of the costs and returns of several sows, cows, chickens, etc. These project records show for example, that where the yield is low per acre, as in wheat, the cost of production is 5.80 to 51.00 per bushel. But where the yield is good-from 25 to 30 bushels per acre-the cost is usual- ly 5.65 to 5.80. The second 'mportant division 07 the work in Farm Management is the study of Farm Marketing. We feel that the Agricultural High Schools can and should furnish a real help in this regard for the farmers of this country. In the past the knowledge of marketing factors and the information available as to the influences affecting the rise and fall in prices as regulated by Supply and Demand and other economic conditions l' 1 u,- u +I!-lr-'Q 1 9 2 4 Qin n u u IE -lil

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Q 5 H H H ll Q isufpieimnceuin Q H H H H F who are engaged in teaching commercial work. Let me say this to the : parents, see that your children take commercial work while in high school and let them get that commercial education which you were not able to secure, thereby fitting your sons and daughters for better citizen- : ship in this business world of which we all must take a part. 2 THE VALUE UF AN AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION By Albert l.au,rence From its earliest beginning, Agricultural Education has been ridi- E culed by a class of people who do not believe in anything progressive, or showing improvement. The easiest thing in the world to do is to criti- cize. Anyone can always point out flaws in every move or action, no : matter how useful or praiseworthy it may be. It is a significant fact that in the majority of cases in every commun- : ity, it is the children of the most progressive farmers who attend High School and take Agricultural as well as other subjectsg while those young people from the farm who do not attend High School are more commonly : the children of farmers who are satisfied with the customs and practices that have been common for a generation or twog and do not care to change their mode of farming until compelled to by force of circumstances. As : Agricultural Education becomes more common and well fixed, this opposi- tion is rapidly disappearing. ' : Agricultural Science has done much to change the farmer's prac- tices many of which ideas are laughed at until their values are proved. The inoculation of alfalfa and soybean seed is an example. The idea of : coating the seed with soil from a field where the crop has been grown successfully was considered ridiculous at first. But no progressive far- mer today doubts the soundness of the practice on fields where the crop has not been grown previously. r In our Agricultural Courses we take up three main lines of study. 2 One is the work of Agricultural investigators and Experiment Stations in their efforts to improve farm practices by better seed, better stock, con- Tltlr n ll'- 'lF-'-'1I Q 1 92 4 Gill'-4-II u --u- nj

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ll l ll Il Il Q is Q ll ll ll ll In 71 A3 LPM -Tm nrple ami! 055121 in V V Y 3 has been very limited. There is no doubt but that a man with scarcely any schooling can plant and harvest average crops by observing and Watching carefully what to do and what happens both on his farm and also on his neighbors. Yet we believe that he can do this much better, more efficiently and intelligently, if his farm experience has been topped off by an Agricultural Education. But when it comes to markets andnrnarketing probably not 5 per cent of the farmers know the influences affecting pricesg such as Labor con- ditions in this countryjg the buying ability of our customers in Europe the effect of harvests in Argentine, India, Australia and other parts of the world on our pricesg laws affecting farmers in the past, up for pas- sage at presentg the status and force of the Cooperative movement, etc. Our aim is to get these factors affecting prices and markets before the boys so they will see the complexity of the farming businessg and after' they get out of school will continue to study the conditions affecting the success of farming. T L p U One reason why other lines of industry, including the professions, business world, transportation and labor have been able to get such uni,- formly high prices for their merchandise, labor or other service is be- cause of organization and a' certain amount of agreement as to prices. The professions, business and transportation industries consist of. men and women uniformly educated, trainedfto study their business in rela- tion to othersg and capable of developing leadership where necessary. If labor organizations do not consist of such generally educated people, their brotherhoods are so strongly dominated by men fighting continually for Labor's interests that their position in all public matters is highly re- spected. The recent vote of Congress on the Immigration bill is con- c'usive prooff e - - The farming industry needs to wake up to the idea that it lacks and needs leadership. Independent acton will accomplish nothing so far as markets and prices go. Neither will constant kicking and grumbling get results. The farming industry requires trained loaders who study world conditions aiecting the farmers' markets and pricesg and who can con- scientiously lead the farmers through organization to their 'place among the industries of the world-men here and there doing actual farmfwork in the different' communities yetlwithisuflicient training and understand- ing to act as leaders for their fellow farmers. Theffarming industry very seriously needs such men and it is the dutyoft the Agricultural High in n u All! it mrzg 1 924 Q, IVIV u i u -ul n lil