THE COUNTY AGRICULTURAL AGENT 483 



1914 the Smith-Lever Bill was enacted into law and this 

 made federal aid available for every state in the Union, be- 

 ginning July 1, 1914. The entire amount appropriated for 

 the first year was four hundred and eighty thousand dol- 

 lars, to be divided equally among the forty-eight states. 

 The appropriation is gradually to increase until the federal 

 government is contributing some four and one-half million 

 dollars annually for the encouragement of demonstration 

 extension work in agriculture. 



The Smith-Lever Law contemplates that the greater part 

 of this immense fund shall be spent in supporting county 

 agricultural agents, state and district leaders of boys' and 

 girls' club work, demonstration work in home economics, 

 and specialists who will help in shaping and building up 

 agricultural interests throughout the nation. The agricul- 

 tural colleges through their extension divisions and the 

 United States Department of Agriculture through the 

 States' Relations Service are to cooperate in carrying out 

 fully the provisions of the act. 



Steps to be taken in securing a county agent. The 

 matter of securing an agent for a county should first be 

 taken up with the state leaders, whose headquarters are 

 with the agricultural college of each state. He is in a po- 

 sition to assist in planning and conducting the campaign for 

 an agent and can give information in regard to available 

 sources of county, state and federal funds, and the amount 

 of funds necessary properly to finance the movement. When 

 the county is ready for the appointment of an agent, the 

 state leader may be able to recommend a man qualified for 

 the work. 



3. The County Agent and the School 



The county agents seek not only to help the farmers 

 in their immediate problems, but also to advance agricul- 

 tural education in every possible way. 



