132 THE COUNTY AGENT'S SERVICES 



lowed, they may be in vain. That vague and not easily 

 definable quality called "personality" is equally essential. 

 It must attract, inspire confidence and be able to arouse 

 enthusiasm. And it must have native ability and energy 

 to begin with. 



There is great variation in the different states in the 

 exact requirements to make a candidate acceptable as a 

 county agent. As is pointed out in Chapter VIII, expe- 

 rience and knowledge of local conditions has been empha- 

 sized in the Southern states rather than special training 

 in the colleges. In the Northern and Western states the 

 emphasis has been put upon technical training. In the 

 South agents are as a rule older and more experienced 

 but not so definitely trained for their jobs as in the other 

 states. Only in isolated instances has political power or 

 other local influence been allowed to name the agents. As 

 a group county agents stand out as men of unusually good 

 personalities, energy and leadership. They are doers of 

 things and real leaders in their counties as a rule. No one 

 who has attended state conferences of county agents can 

 have failed to note the characteristic energetic ability of the 

 young men usually found there. 



One of the states which has from the beginning set a 

 high standard of qualifications for county agents is Illinois. 

 The qualifications deemed necessary there for college ap- 

 proval of a county agent are : 



(1) Graduation from a good agricultural college or the 

 equivalent in educational training. 



(2) At least five years' actual residence and practical 

 experience on a farm. 



(3) At least five years' successful experience in some 

 line of agricultural work after attaining the required edu- 

 cational training. 



