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Young Farmers' Clubs. 



[Mar., 



YOUNG FARMERS' CLUBS. 



F. E. Bussy, 

 Director, Associated Newspapers, Ltd. 



Increased interest is being taken by both agriculturists and 

 the general public in the Young Farmers' Club movement, which 

 is being vigorously promoted by The Daily Mail and several 

 big industrial concerns in the country. 



It is the purpose of this article briefly to explain what the Young 

 Farmers' Club is and does, and the results which have been 

 -attained in England and also in the United States of America, 

 from which country the movement hails. 



Given some public-spirited local resident who will bear the very 

 small financial burden which the establishment of a Club imposes, 

 and two or three energetic helpers (who will act in the capacity 

 of Advisory Committee), the formation of a Club is a very easy 

 matter. Having decided what kind of stock or produce can most 

 advantageously be raised, having regard to local conditions, the 

 following is the line of action taken : — 



The Advisory Committee call together the children and parents 

 in the district where the Club is to be formed (and it is desirable 

 that the children should not be drawn from a very wide area), 

 and outline the scheme to them. Having interested from ten to 

 twentv children, ranging between 10 and IS years, as Club 

 members, they are instructed to appoint their own officers, i.e., 

 Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer. The duties 

 of these officers are explained to them by the Advisory Com- 

 mittee, and from this point the Club is left to conduct its own 

 business and carry on its own meetings. 



Associate members, for whom there is no age limit, are elected 

 on passing ballot of the Club members. This entitles them to 

 attend lectures and take part in discussions, but gives them no 

 power to vote or enter for competitions. Associate members 

 pay a subscription determined by the Club members. In prac- 

 tice, it usually happens that parents desire to become associate 

 members, and the Club funds benefit accordingly. 



The children meet once weekly or fortnightly, and are given 

 a lecture or hold a discussion on the particular project in which 

 they are interested. Lecturers can readily be obtained for this 

 purpose. The Ministry of Agriculture has promised that its 

 local officers and those of Agricultural Universities and Colleges 

 will be available for giving such lectures, while the most 



