DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 81 



lar agricultural program of the county, and at the June conference of 

 the agents a policy to this effect was formulated by a committee of the 

 agents and adopted by the conference. The Institutes and Schools fur- 

 nish the best opportunity for a careful study of the methods and results 

 of the demonstrational work; also the best opportunity for deliberation 

 upon the projects to be adopted for the new year. The significance of 

 these meetings in the agricultural development of a county is greatly 

 enhanced when they are made to contribute directly to the agricultural 

 program of the county and to certain definite projects Continuing 

 through the year or until satisfactory results are obtained. 



CONFERENCES. 



During the year three conferences of the agents were held at the Col- 

 lege and two district conferences in the Upper Peninsula. These con- 

 ferences afford an excellent opportunity for exchange of ideas and ex- 

 jmriences and for consideration of the leading projects and methods. At 

 one of the conferences this year attention was concentrated largely upon 

 methods of controlling animal diseases, and at another upon the prob- 

 lems of marketing farm products. One of the meetings of the agents 

 was held at the time of the Fourth Annual Country Life Conference. 

 The program of this conference dealt with social and economic problems 

 of rural life with which the agents are concerned. 



FIELD WORK OF ASSISTANT STATE LEADER AND STATE LEADER. 



An ai)pointment which promises much for the development of the 

 work in Michigan and which supplies an urgent need that had existed 

 for some time, was that of Mr. Charles B. Cook to the position of Assist- 

 ant State Leader. Mr. Cook closed his work as County Agricultural 

 Agent in Allegan County, March 11, and assumed the duties of the new 

 office March 20. 



The field work of both the State Leader and Assistant State Leader 

 has been chiefly as follows: 



a. Explanation of County Agricultural Agent work in counties not 

 liaving agents. 



b. Assistance in organizing new counties and in selecting agents. 



c. Helping to strengthen organizations in counties already organized. 

 (1. Consultation with Farm Bureau officers and committees, and ag- 

 ricultural agents in regard to projects and methods. 



e. Attending and addressing meetings in the counties for the pur- 

 pose of forwarding some definite project. 



f. Study of methods and results of work connected with the various 

 phases of the County Agricultural Agent movement. 



The Assistant State Leader has given most of his time to work in the 

 field. Twenty-nine visits have been made to the county agents; this has 

 included trips to twenty-six demonstration farms for inspection and 

 study of that work; it also included -assistance in counties starting the 

 work. He has attended 23 meetings totalling 1,280 people and has ad- 

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