DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 71 



REPORT OF COUNTY AGRICULTURAL AGENT WORK. 



BY UR. EBEN MUMFORD. 

 INTRODUCTION. 



In reporting the work of the County Agricultural Agents for the first 

 three years a rather extensive description of the various activities un- 

 dertaken was given. The work has been continued as outlined in former 

 reports and therefore it seems better to confine this report principally 

 to a statement of progress made and results accomplished. 



The development that has taken place in the county agricultural move- 

 ment in Michigan tliis fiscal j'ear can be measured in some of its phases 

 while in others only descrijjtion can be used. While some results can 

 be stated statistically, other features and results do not lend themselves 

 to the statistical method. There are several standards by which county 

 agricultural agent work may be measured or terms in which it may be 

 described. Some of the standards which may be noted are: counties that 

 have organized and are taking the usual preliminary stejjs to secure an 

 agent ; increase in membership and interest, in the organizations through 

 which the work can be carried on most eft'ectively; improvement in the 

 financial support of the movement; increase in the results on the differ- 

 ent projects adopted. 



COUNTIES BEGINNING AGRICULTURAL AGENT WORK THIS YEAR. 



There are now twenty-six counties having county agricultural agents. 

 Thirteen liave begun work this year. This means that within the year the 

 number of counties having agricultural agents has l»een doubled. To 

 create a sentiment favorable enough to warrant beginning this work and 

 to secure the funds required of the county to support it, are in them- 

 selves not easy matters and the fact that this has been done in thirteen 

 counties in one year demonstrates that the work has ])roved its value 

 and justified its existence, and that the people of the counties have taken 

 a deep interest in this movement. 



