THE COUNTY AGENT'S JOB AND OPPORTUNITY 133 



(4) In addition to these technical requirements the can- 

 didate must be otherwise acceptable and fit for the responsi- 

 bilities of a county agent. 



These qualifications are ideals worthy of emulation by 

 all the states. Unfortunately they are not always prac- 

 tically attainable. The supply of men with these quali- 

 fications is limited. The demand for well trained and 

 well experienced persons in other lines, particularly in 

 commercial concerns dealing with agricultural supplies, of 

 cooperatives for managers and executives at higher sal- 

 aries than can be paid for agents is a competition some- 

 times hard to meet. County committees are often con- 

 fronted with the choice of accepting an agent below this 

 standard either in training or experience or going without 

 one. This standard should, however, be maintained wher- 

 ever possible. It is likely to be raised rather than lowered, 

 as the standards of intelligence and education among farm 

 people increase and as the supply of trained men from the 

 colleges becomes sufficient to meet the demands. 



ADVANTAGES 



The greatest appeal of the county agent's job to ambi- 

 tious young men is the wonderful opportunity which it 

 presents for service to agriculture. To be placed in so 

 large an area as a county, with the active backing and help 

 of a body of its best and most progressive farmer citizens 

 and with the support and cooperation of the state college 

 of agriculture and of the United States Department of 

 Agriculture, equipped with all the necessary facilities for 

 office and field work and with large freedom to exert one's 

 personal influence and ability and to apply them in carry- 

 ing out his ideals of service, is an opportunity such as 



