DEVELOPMENT OF THE FARM DEMONSTRATION AGENCY 



this new worker an agent. He knew that this man would have 

 influence and power if he should become the representative of 

 the best farmers, the best business men and the leading edu- 

 cators of his county. These are backed by institutions of 

 prestige and usefulness in his state and nation. 



Some prejudices is attached to the word agent because of 

 the work of book agents, sewing machine agents, automobile 

 agents and other men whose business it is to sell and deliver 

 such goods. It must be realized that many of these agents 

 are hustlers of a high order. They get results, or quit. A 

 demonstration agent must do likewise, but an expert or an 

 adviser may simply lecture or talk and then blame someone 

 else for failure. Recent thought seems to be tending more 

 and more to this interpretation of the real significance of the 

 title. Editors and thinkers generally are now seeing and ex- 

 pressing what the founder of the Demonstration Work taught 

 in the beginning. The following language is taken from 

 Hoard's Dairyman, of January 17, 1919 : 



"We like the word ^agent.' It carries in its meaning the duties 

 of a county leader, a supervisor, as he is sometimes termed. Agent 

 means one who exerts power, or has the power to act; one who acts 

 for or in place of another by authority from him; one trusted with 

 the business of another.' " 



This extract from the Kansas Farmer, of March 4, 1916, 

 gives a very vital point which is fundamental for all who have 

 responsibility in promoting extension activities: 



"Being spoken of as the ^county expert' or 'county adviser' 

 is the most serious handicap to the work of the county agricultural 

 agent. It seems necessary again and again to correct the impression 

 that the county agent is some young fellow who is being sent 

 around to give experienced farmers advice on how to run their 

 business. The real facts are that nothing exists that cannot be 

 improved. Every community has its problems. There is a best way 

 and a best time to do things on the farm, and the combined experience 



[III] 



