Pausing for refresfiments at the farm Bureau tent during the 



llllnolt State fair were Montgomery Rural Yoathert (Ml to 



right): Polly Rebhan, Mr. and Mrs, tart Sorrellt, and Olen 



Werntlng. 



Rural Youth in 



ACTIO 



By ELLSWORTH D. LYON, Director 



lAA Young Peoples Activities 



DISTRICT Talk Fest and Skilled 

 Driver programs are rapidly 

 moving toward a climax. On 

 Oct. 17, activities will get under 

 way and be completed at Gales- 

 burg Nov. 2. The schedule with driv- 

 ing in the afternoon and speech activi- 

 ties in the evening will be as follows: 



Oct. 17, Louisville, public school 

 gymnasium; Oct. 18, Marion, Carnegie 

 library; Oct. 21, Carlyle, high school 

 auditorium; Oct. 24, Bloomington, 

 Farm Bureau auditorium; Oct. 25, Jack- 

 sonville, Farm Bureau auditorium; Oct. 

 27, Oregon, high school auditorium; 

 Oct. 28, Yorkville, Farm Bureau office; 

 Nov. 1, Champaign, Farm Bureau of- 

 fice; and Nov. 2, Galesburg, Farm Bu- 

 reau office. 



Here are two action programs with 

 definite appeal for young people of 

 Rural Youth age. Both are a challenge 

 to the best efforts of participants. Both 

 require practice. Both produce results 

 in the growth of the individual. From 

 the standpoint of public interest, both 

 programs are of vital importance. The 

 skillful operator of a motor vehicle is 

 a blessing to the motoring public. The 

 high death record over the Labor Day 

 week-end resulted mostly from reckless 

 operation of automobiles on the high- 

 way. 



Rural Y«uthers taking part in high- 

 way safety programs of any nature will 

 further the cause of public safety, also 

 our Illinois communities need leaders 

 who can speak well for the factors 

 which make for better community de- 

 velopment. 



Speaking of action programs, pos- 

 sibly Rural Youth groups should be 

 thinking again of livestock tours on a 

 county and district basis. With the new 

 program in the marketing of livestock, 

 and the continued growth and interest 

 in the cooperative locker service, it is 

 possible for Rural Youthers to increase 

 their knowledge in the production and 

 processing of meat through a closer 



contact with the whole program. The 

 tours would be made attractive and 

 helpful for both young men and women 

 from the social and technical sides. 

 Leaders in the field of marketing and 

 cold storage have given assurance of 

 cooperation in furthering this growing 

 and interesting side of agriculture and 

 homemaking for Rural Youthers. Sug- 

 gestions for launching such a program 

 for Rural Youth will be welcome in the 

 office of Young People's Activities. 



Merle Miller, Star Farmer from De- 

 Witt county, believes in positive action 

 for young fanners. Recently elected 

 Star Farmer, he is highly deserving of 

 the honor as pointed out in the Septem- 

 ber issue of the lAA RECORD. The 

 keeping of careful farm records for 

 several years, his partnership arrange- 

 ment with his father, and his coopera- 

 tion with his mother in beautifying 

 home grounds is only part of Merle's 

 program of activity. 



Last year he was rated the best talker 

 in the Talk Fest at the annual meeting 



Taking advantage of 

 the play foctllties at 

 the Illinois Stale fair 

 were Oary Blelfeldt 

 (foreground ) and 

 Kenny RIetks, both 

 of Mclean county. 



of the Illinois Agricultural Association. 

 At that time Merle, at the age of 16, 

 was too young to take part in the na- 

 tional meet held in connection with the 

 annual meeting of the American Farm 

 Bureau Federation. When he becomes 

 18 years of age he will again be per- 

 mitted to participate in the Talk Fest 

 with the possibility of going on to the 

 national meet. It is possible that he 

 would have won the national meet in 

 1948 had the national rules coincided 

 with the rules of his county. Our con- 

 gratulations go to Merle Miller for his 

 outstanding achievements in homebuild- 

 ing, in actual farming, his speech attain- 

 ments, and general ability. Ability 

 alone is not enough. Faithful applica- 

 tion to responsibilities and earnest 

 endeavor in the programs that are in 

 harmony with interests are needed also. 

 Here is a Rural Youther who is not 

 afraid of hard work. His wide range 

 of interest plus participation have made 

 possible his attainments which have 

 brought to him the honor of Star 

 Farmer. i 



26 



L A. A. RECORD 



