430 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



VA'^ebster tells us briefly' that education is "the act or process of 

 training by a proscribed or customary course of study or discipline." 

 Although I do not alwa3'S agree with Mr. Webster, I presume he is 

 right. The object, however, in discussing this topic at this time is 

 to avoid all technicalities and get right down to the practical. From 

 the very nature of their work farmers not only need the most prac- 

 tical education but they have the best way of obtaining it. They 

 are scientists of the higher order if they are farmers of the first 

 class. They are the only set of men which are following the original 

 occupation given to man by the Creator. The infinite wisdom of 

 Him who gave us this beautiful earth as a birthright would not 

 permit of the withholding of knowledge from those who follow 

 the injunction to replenish it, if that knowledge is diligently sought. 

 The trouble comes in the obstinate nature of man in not trying 

 to obtain the necessary knowledge to enable him to work out the 

 })roblems set before him. The environments of the farmer are 

 favorable for the most practical education. We are leaving out now 

 the meaning of the term as applied to what may be learned in our 

 schools, colleges and universities. It is understood that the more 

 liberal the education, in the common acceptance of the term, the 

 better; but the practical part of it all is in applying it to every sur- 

 rounding and gathering more of it at every opportunity. No class 

 of workers can follow out a line of thought and arrive at as positive 

 conclusions as those whose minds are unobstructed by the views 

 and opinions of others. And right here are where the advantages 

 of the quiet farm life comes. Do you wonder wh v the brightest 

 men of the world come from the farm. I'll tell yon. They learned 

 lo think and act for themselves. They carried their point when 

 they were following the plow or splitting the rails, with none to 

 molest or make them afraid, and when they entered the business 

 circles, the court rooms or our legislative halls, they did the same 

 thing. They were in the habit of doing it, and it is not a bad habit 

 if a man is right. 



A point which should not be overlooked is that great big little 

 thing of heinfj rhjld. It swells us with pride to reflect on the fact 

 that the most of our great men come from the farm. Let us turn 

 the picture over. It may be true that most of our meanest men 

 come from the same source. I have never investigated that part 

 of it. It might be best not to do so. One thing is sure, there are 

 men who came from the fnrm. or are still there, that are neither 

 good or bad, and that is the worst situation of all. God intended 

 every man to be something and that he should do something. Isn't 

 it natural to suppose that He would prefer that a man, made after 

 his own imnge, would do something a little out of the regulai- order 

 rather than do nothing? I do not refer to men who toil with their 



