448 A STUDY OF FARM ANIMALS 



write Messrs. Smith and Farrell, have been introduced as a 

 result of the club work with baby beeves, dairy animals, 

 sheep, and swine. Some 33,000 club members are now en- 

 gaged in such work in the northern and western states. Of 

 174 entries by club members at the Iowa State Fair in the 

 baby beef class, 121 were sold at auction and 2 by private 

 sale. The 123 calves weighed 124,220 pounds and sold at 

 an average price of $18.30 per hundred weight. Iowa State 

 College purchased two of the calves for $650. During the 

 year 1918 an appeal was made to increase our meat stocks. 

 A special appeal was made to urban boys and girls to assist 

 in this work,* because of the ease with which such clubs 

 could be carried on under city conditions. As a result of 

 this work, 26,322 rabbits and 331,072 chicks were raised, 

 and club members reported gathering 133,564 dozens of 

 eggs. The total estimated value of the food produced by 

 the 37,723 members of 2,171 clubs raising rabbits and chick- 

 ens was $402,238, a really remarkable showing. 



One fine feature of the club work is the development of 

 community spirit and leadership among the boys and girls. 

 Without question they are contributing much to the uplift 

 of rural life which is now taking place. Club work also pro- 

 motes co-operation in the best sense. Where young people 

 thus co-operate, older ones are also influenced in the same 

 direction. This result all comes through well directed, gen- 

 erous leadership. In 1918 there were about 14,000 volunteer 

 leaders who devoted themselves to promoting community 

 welfare through these boys' and girls' clubs. Another im- 

 portant result of club membership is that, in assuming per- 

 sonal responsibility for things worth while, the boy or the 

 girl obtains the reward that comes for things well done. 

 To feed and care for an animal, and watch its growth and 

 development, is a most beneficial sort of education. But if 

 one is able to win a prize at the live-stock show, as a re- 

 sult of this feed and care, the reward is even greater 



*Boys' and Girls' Club Work, 1918. Circular 66, U. S. Dept. of Agr 



