FARMERS* INSTITUTE AND EXTENSION WORK, 1913. 7 
The statement made before the Country Life Commission of Wis- 
consin in 1911 by Mr, E. L. Morgan is unquestionably true that 
" after all the only forces that can deal constructively with rural life 
are the local forces developed." When this comes to be generally 
realized and appreciated by extension directors as a fundamental 
truth, efforts will be made to organize and foster societies for rural 
betterment in every community in every State. 
ASSOCIATION OF FARMERS' INSTITUTE WORKERS. 
The eighteenth annual meeting of the American Association of 
Farmers' Institute Workers was held at Washington, D. C, Novem- 
ber 10-12, 1913. Representatives were present from 32 States, 3 
of the Provinces of Canada, the District of Columbia, and the islands 
of Porto Rico and Hawaii. 
Reports upon the progress of the work were received from 39 
States and Provinces. These showed increased attendance during 
the year and general interest in the work. Reports from the various 
standing committees were presented upon the following topics: 
Institute organization and methods, institute lecturers, cooperation 
with other educational agencies, movable schools of agriculture, 
young people's institutes, and women's institutes. Each year the 
reports of the standing committees become more helpful in solving 
the difficulties that institute directors and lecturers encounter in the 
prosecution of their work. This year the committee on organization 
and methods called attention specially to the extreme importance of 
having in each unit or district a strong local organization. This was 
regarded as essential if the institute movement was to become most 
highly beneficial to the great body of agricultural people. 
The value of demonstration as a method of conveying information 
was also emphasized. 
In an extended investigation by the committee on institute lec- 
turers it was found that the average number of lecturers present at 
each institute throughout the country was 3. Fifteen States re- 
ported laboratory exercises in stock judging and household art. 
Movable schools averaged 5 days in duration with from 4 to 12 
teachers for each, the average number of teachers being 5.7. From 
20 to 25 per cent of the lecturers are employed by the year. The 
average age of greatest usefulness in an institute lecturer is between 
40 and 50 years, and it was held by all of those reporting that he 
should have had farm experience. 
The committee on cooperation with other agencies recommended 
that a local or district agricultural council should be organized to 
direct extension activities in each district, so as to coordinate the 
work and prevent overlapping. 
