210 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



REPORT OF COUNTY AGRICULTURAL AGENT WORK IN MICH- 

 IGAN FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 80, 1017. 



BY EBEN MUMFORD, STATE LEADER. 

 INTRODUCTION. 



Since January, 191G, a report of County Agricultural Agent work in 

 Michigan has been issued each month. These reports have summarized 

 the i^rogress and results of the principal activities of the agents and form 

 tlie basis of this annual report. The monthly reports are based upon the 

 weekly reports which in turn give a report of the field and office work 

 for each day. The monthly reports summarize the work under the lead- 

 ing projects and also give a statistical statement of the office and field 

 work. The order used in the monthly reports, in describing the progress 

 made in the various projects has been followed in this annual report, and 

 a statistical summary of the office and field work for the year, as far as 

 it has been possible to state the results statistically, included. 



At the close of this fiscal year there were thirty-one counties having 

 County Agricultural Agents under the regular Farm Bureau sj^stem, 

 where the cooperating parties are the United States Department of Agri- 

 culture, the Michigan Agricultural College and the county organization. 

 Five counties were added this year as noted in the chronological state- 

 ment of the development of the work. There has been but one change in 

 the personnel of the County Agents. Mr. J. F. Zimmer, County Agent 

 for Wexford county, resigned December 30, 191G, and Mr. George E. 

 Piper was selected to take the place. 



There has been a considerable development in the employment of as- 

 sistants to County Agents. The demands of the work soon become too 

 numerous and too varied for one man to meet and in all counties where 

 the work has become established the time of one or more assistants could 

 be used to great advantage. In Kent county by June 1 there were five 

 assistants: Mr. C. J. Seidel and Mr. Floyd Smith, Assistant County 

 Agents; Mr. L. S. Markley, Assistant in Boys' and Girls' Clnb work; Mr, 

 AVilliam Miirph}^, assistant in Gardening; and Miss Emily Castle, can- 

 ning supervisor. In Marquette county Mr. H. C. Rather was made as- 

 sistant in club work; in Ottawa county, Mr. William Van Buskirk, As- 

 sistant County Agent and Mr. Charles Morrice assistant in club work. 

 In other counties assistants in club work have been employed for the sum- 

 mer and in many counties assistants have been appointed to take charge 

 of the canning demonstrations. 



