Pausing for refreshments of fhe farm Bureau tent during the 



Illinois State fair were Montgomery Rural Voufhers (left to 



right): Polly Rebhan, Mr. and Mrs. tarl Sorrells, and Olen 



Werntlng. 



Rural Youth in 



ACTION 



By ELLSWORTH D. LYON, Director 



lAA Young Peoples Activities 



ISTHICT Talk IVst and Skilled 

 ;V IJrivor programs arc rapidly 

 3 moving toward a climax. On 



Oct. 17. acti\ities will got under 

 way anil Ik* completed at Gales- 

 Ijurg Nov. 2. Tlie «-lu'(lule with driv- 

 ing in the afternoon and !i|)eofh artivi- 

 ties in the e\eniiig will ho as foHows: 



Oct. 17. Louisville, public school 

 gymnasium; Oct. 1!!. Marion. Carnegie 

 library; Oct. 21. C.arlyle. high school 

 auditorium: Oct. 21-. Hloomington. 

 Farm Bureau auditorium; Oct. 2.5. Jack- 

 sonville. Farm Bureau auditorium: Oct. 

 27. Oregon, high school auditorium: 

 Oct. 2!!. Vorkville, Farm Bureau office: 

 Nov. I. Champaign. Farm Bureau of- 

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

 rc>au 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 

 recpiire practice. Both pro<hice results 

 in the growth of the individual. From 

 the standpoint of public interest. l)Oth 

 programs are of vital importance. The 

 skillful operator of a motor vehicle is 

 a blessing to the motoring public. The 

 high dt>ath record over the Labor Day 

 week-end resulted mostly from reckless 

 opc»ration of automobiles on the high- 

 way. 



Hural Y«utliers taking part in high- 

 way safctv programs of any nature will 

 further the cause of public safety, also 

 our Illinois communities need leaders 

 who can s|>eak well for the factors 

 which make for better community de- 

 velopment. 



Speaking of action programs, pos- 

 siblv Hural Youth groups should be 

 thinking again of livestock tours on a 

 counlv and district basis. \\ illi the new 

 program in the marketinc of livestock, 

 and the continued growth and interc»st 

 in the cooperative locker service, it is 

 possible for Bnral Yonthers to increase 

 their knowledge in the jirodiiclion and 

 processing of meat through a closer 



till 



>le 



The 



(DMlact with ttie whole program. I ne 

 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 interestiniz side of agriculture and 

 homemaking for Rural Youthers. Sug- 

 gestions for launching such a program 

 for iiural ^ outh will be welcome in the 

 office of ^ oung People s .Activities. 



Merle Miller. Star Farmer from De- 

 \^ itt county, believes in positive action 

 for young farmers. Hecently elected 

 Star Farmer, he is highly deserving of 

 the honor as pointed out in the Septem- 

 ber issue of the l\\ RKCORD. 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 onlv part of Merle's 

 program of activity. 



Last year he was rated the l)est talker 

 in the Talk Fest at the annual meeting 



Taking advantage of 

 the play facilities at 

 the Illinois State fair 

 were Gary Bielfetdt 

 (foreground) and 

 Kenny Kietks, both 

 of McLean county. 



of tin- Illinois .Agricultural .Association. 

 .At that time -Mi'fle. at the age of 16. 

 was too young to take part in the na- 

 tional meet held in connection with the 

 animal meeting of the .American Farm 

 Bureau Federation. When he becomes 

 lo years of age he will again be per- 

 mitted to participate in the Talk Fest 

 with the possil)ility of going on to the 

 national meet. It is possible that he 

 would have won the national meet in 

 1918 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. .Abilitv 

 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 liural 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 

 F'armer. 



26 



L A. A. RECORD 



