SEVENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART X. 549 



Finally, if from the point of view of the farmer and artisan, there be 

 any necessary education in the modern state, the education the agri- 

 cultural college is of that sort and our legislature shall fall short of its 

 duty to the taxpayer if it uoes not give the state college at Ames a 

 liberal support. 



THE VALUE OF AN AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION TO THE 

 FARMER BOY. 



I. 11'. Hutchins, Before Kossuth County Farmers' Institute. . 



This is the first time that I have ever attended one of our Farmers' 

 Institutes. 



I feel somewhat as did the gentleman who was visiting the peniten- 

 tiary for the first time. He was asked to address the inmates. Being 

 at a loss as just how best to open his remarks he began by saying, "I am 

 very glad to see so many of you here." 



We commenced as a people by winning our independence, and when 

 we came to examine the article of liberty secured, the picture was found 

 too large for its constitutional frame. As a nation we were held to- 

 gether for a time, but never united. It required the civil war to en- 

 large the setting of the jewel of. liberty and this war taxed every iota of 

 our resources in order to preserve the union of the states. After the war 

 we started out to develop our country. So much virgin soil was ready 

 for the farmer, such great opportunities lay waiting for the manufacturer 

 and science gathered up the tears a nation was shedding for her heroic 

 dead, and converted them into steam that turned the tireless bands, the 

 countless wheels of toil. During the past generation no nation or times 

 have seen such wealth producing periods. The one great idea has been 

 "get rich quick." 



Great cities have sprung up with greater opportunities for acquiring 

 wealth. Labor saving machinery displaced nine out of every ten farm 

 laborers and the feverish spectacular life of the city said "Come" and 

 the country boys and girls flocked to the city, leaving the simple isolated 

 life of the country. 



But the ebbtide is setting back from the city to the country. Never 

 before has there been such interest manifested in agricultural pursuits. 

 Forces are at work today that will make farming a business that must 

 be conducted in a business-like way, a profession, if you please, and he 

 who would follow it must, if he is to be successful, prepare himself for 

 this work. 



We readily concede that the business man, the lawyer, or the doctor 

 should be especially educated for his chosen pursuit. Invariably we pat- 

 ronize the man who is the best prepared for his calling. Wby should 

 not the farmer receive instruction relative to his pursuit as well as 

 these? There is no other calling wherein one could use a great diversity 

 of knowledge to so good advantage as can the agriculturalist. He comes 

 in contact with all of the other professions and in addition is especially 

 concerned Tvith the forces and laws of nature with which he must deal. 

 Congressman H. C. Adams is quoted as saying: "If any young fellow asks 



