72 THE COUNTY AGENT'S SERVICES 



one must grow up and live for some time in a rural situa- 

 tion and among rural people to gain sympathy with and 

 to completely understand their problems and points of 

 view. A local leader must fully understand and respect 

 even if he cannot fully accept the problems and points of 

 view of those he would serve. Without such sympathy and 

 understanding, leadership may be either unfruitful or even 

 dangerous. 



The practical ability to put knowledge and sound theory 

 into practice, as evidenced by actually doing it, is im- 

 portant. This applies in the broader community as well 

 as in the individual activities. This success in the man- 

 agement of affairs, whether personal or public, takes time 

 and is difficult to acquire. It cannot be dispensed with. 

 Few young men are sufficiently experienced to undertake 

 either the responsibility of a county agent or of community 

 leadership until they have been, at least, from three to five 

 years out of college. They are, however, often called upon 

 sooner than this. 



Even though one may have all the qualifications just 

 enumerated, if he lacks initiative, organizing ability, per- 

 sonality and other intangible personal factors, failure may 

 be his reward. Some of these qualifications are difficult to 

 define. Some are natural and inherited. Others are ac- 

 quired. Few men possess them all, but every one more or 

 less limits the success of leadership. 



The rural characteristics which are strongest are indi- 

 vidualism and independence, especially in business affairs. 

 This leads to a feeling of individual sufficiency and often 

 makes leadership difficult. Religious leadership is inherited 

 and developed by the churches and their pastors. Educa- 

 tional leadership is provided by law and by the organiza- 

 tion of schools. It is inherent in the situation. Agricul- 

 tural leadership is now being developed as never before. 



