138 THE COUNTY AGENTS SERVICES 



worker, especially when he is supported by a strong county 

 organization. He will have many facilities and much ma- 

 chinery to use in his work. His first job, therefore, should 

 be to familiarize himself with these. He needs to know the 

 office personnel and their fitness and adaptability for 

 various tasks, his files, his library references, his office 

 equipment and general facilities. This will require only 

 a few days. 



The next and equally important step is acquaintance 

 with the field organization and personnel. This calls for 

 visits to community committeemen and other local leaders 

 in their homes and on their farms in order to know them 

 personally and in their own environment, to be known by 

 them and to plan local work with them. Such personal 

 acquaintance is vital. Many new agents make mistakes in 

 underestimating its value or in delaying it. Little prog- 

 ress can be made in any locality without that personal 

 knowledge which affords some .basis for mutual confidence 

 and respect. An agent comes to mind who was obliged 

 to resign after six months in his county, chiefly because he 

 had failed to make contacts with local committeemen and 

 could not therefore get active local cooperation. This will 

 require more time a month or two. Meetings and dem- 

 onstrations are good helps to this end. 



A third step which should be begun simultaneously with 

 the others is the study of the county's agriculture and its 

 problems. Every possible means should be used for this. 

 In the office census figures, old reports and records and all 

 other available data should be studied. Especially should 

 a new agent familiarize himself with great care with what 

 has been done in the county by his predecessors. All such 

 information needs to be checked by his own observation in 

 the county and with committeemen and farmers generally. 

 From all possible sources the county agent should inform 



