There is apt to be a cooling of enthusiasm when it is learned that the program is no handout, that it requires something more than visiting the county seat and picking up a check or supplies. It is then that the real test of editors and their newspapers develops. Can they be lured, enticed, prodded or dragged to the point where they are willing to cooperate. The early stirrings of interest generally evolve around the church or school; then community efforts which bring groups together for mutual discussion and understanding. Once they become acquainted (that is the word), they are willing to work cooperatively. There is a pathetic desire on the part of these people for recognition in community effort--and when it comes to work the one with the least most often gives the most. These are things that the local newspaper can foster. The reporter who surveyed the program's operation in Hardin County was not half as much impressed by the physical changes that had been made--repaired and repainted churches, new community houses, standard mail boxes, improved home conditions and the like, as he was in the obvious pride of accomplishment that had developed. The whole program is based upon the line of communications between the top level and the participants. Every means of communication, newspapers, television and radio, have a place in the effort. First, participants must be informed of what the program is; then they must be encouraged to participate, and, once they are participating must be given the recognition they want so badly. Recognition is the great incentive. Press, radio and television can dramatize it for the encouragement of all. This meeting today demonstrates the awareness of the need. Let us all address ourselves to the enlistment of the agencies that can bring it to those willing and ready to follow demonstrated methods of accomplishment. The Tippah County, Mississippi, Rural W. H. Anderson, Attorney, Ripley, Miss. It is indeed an honor for me to be requested to appear on the program of this Conference on the national Rural Development Program. I am particularly glad of the opportunity to tell you something about the results of this program in my home county. Although much work had already been done prior to November 1955, a Rural Development Program was formally inaugurated in Tippah County, Miss., on that date. This followed the selection of Tippah as one of the 49 pilot counties in the United States, and one of the 3 in Mississippi. Three additional workers were added to the staff of the Extension Department--2 associate men agents and 1 associate woman agent. The Tippah County Rural Development Committee was set up, consisting of representatives of all agricultural agencies of the county and of civic, educational, municipal and business interests in the county. This committee functions perfectly, with an excellent attendance at each monthly meeting. The committee was very helpful in selecting the farms which were to be included in the balanced planning program. Much care was exercised in the selection of 106 farm families to be included in this special program, and most of these families cooperated to the fullest extent with the extension department workers. All of the soil on the farms was tested, an annual cropping plan was worked out and the agents sat down with the entire family and worked out a general 5-year work plan for the farm unit. By utilizing the proper soil for proper crops and with the expert assistance of associate agents of the extension department, there was a tremendous increase in crop and livestock production. The entire plan was based to a large extent upon the intelligent diversification and utilization of the land to the best advantage. An outstanding accomplishment was the improved appearance and comfort of the farm homes, as a result of remodeling and repairing buildings and the improvement and beautification of the entire premises. One of the most important and far-reaching results of this program was that many neighboring farm families were impressed by what was being done on those selected farms and took steps to improve their own situation. Those individual families participating in this Rural Development Program became better citizens and more active in community affairs. Many of them were active in the organization of the rural community development clubs throughout the county which have become a great force in the development of the individual communities and in the county as a whole. There are now 13 organized rural community development clubs in the county. The regular extension department agents and the associate agents have worked closely with these community clubs, which have become a great source of pride to the entire county. Some of the main projects of the community clubs have been: Keeping the church and school buildings of the communities in proper repair; looking after the rural cemeteries; providing uniform rural mail box stands; providing roadside parks and doing other general community improvement. Most of them observe monthly work days. An individual farm is selected by lottery each month and the people in the entire community go and work a day on that particular farm, doing anything that needs to be done. In case of disaster in any farm family, such as death or serious illness, the members of the entire club go and help all they can, sometimes planning and working out an entire crop. The community clubs have regular monthly meetings at which interesting and informative programs are provided and which are well attended. Some of them have their own buildings in which to meet. Closely coordinated with the Rural Development Program is an annual agricultural contest for community clubs and individual farmers for which about $2,000 is provided annually by business interests of the county for prizes. This annual contest causes much friendly rivalry and much accomplishment, both on the part of the clubs and of the individual farmers. Realizing the need for additional agricultural income and having an opportunity to secure the location of a milk-receiving plant in Ripley if sufficient funds could be raised to pay for the construction of the building and for the equipment, the extension department workers and the members of the Rural Development Program committee assisted in seeing that the necessary funds were raised, which money was repaid by the company when a reasonable volume of milk was received. They have cooperated in building up the volume of milk to 50,000 pounds per day at the present time. There are also milk routes carrying milk to the farms in this county and to plants in adjoining counties. The total amount of milk being produced in the county is large and is providing a large source of additional farm income. In order to accomplish this, much emphasis has been put on dairy, and there are now 50 modern milk parlors in the county and 200 new producers sending milk to the local plant. An artificial breeders' association has been formed in the county, which is proving highly successful. Better pastures are being provided, more feed crops planted and many farmers are carrying their feed to local mills in the county for processing. For more than two years a registered Jersey heifer has been given away in Ripley on each first Monday, which is "trades" day, as a part of the program for developing a dairying industry in the county. Although much attention has been paid recently to the dairying industry in the county, the production of beef cattle also brings in a rather large amount to the farmers of the county. The need for additional sources of farm income in the county other than the regular row crops is clearly indicated when it is realized that there are 2590 farm units in the county and that their average size is 96 acres. On 710 farms in the county, the cotton allotment is less than 4 acres each. The program of developing truck crops in the county is under way but is in its infancy. However, 19 farms are setting strawberries for the first time this year, 12 are setting tomatoes and there is a prospect for much additional development along this line. Another development for which there might be a bright future is the poultry industry. Several large laying houses are now under construction and some are already in operation. Much progress has been made in the county in tree planting--and timber stand improved--which is an important phase of a balanced farm program and of a well-rounded Rural Development Program. The extension department and the Rural Development committee have cooperated fully with this program. The Rural Development committee has also worked closely with industry as their idea is that a well-developed economy is brought about when agriculture and industry are balanced and when one or more members of the farm family can work in industry, supplementing the family income without interrupting the agricultural production program. The committee assisted in securing a garment industry at Walnut and a new and enlarged factory building for the garment industry in Ripley. A special project which all those connected with the Rural Development Program enjoyed very much was entertaining representatives from 27 States who came to observe our program while on a tour through this section. All of the work of the community development program in Tippah has been coordinated with the normal and regular work of the extension service staff and with the full cooperation of the Rural Development committee and various organizations and business interests of the county. The thought which has been kept uppermost in mind at all times has been a development of the attitude of cooperation among all the people. First, among the people of the local community, then the whole county and the rural and urban people of the county working together as a unit. Just how well the job has been done is best illustrated by the fact that recently the Tippah County extension staff was selected as 1 of 2 counties in the entire nation to receive the Superior Service Award of the U. S. Department of Agriculture. At a banquet held at Ripley last Wednesday, a representative of the U. S. Department of Agriculture presented to the Tippah County Extension Staff a plaque on which was engraved these words, "for application of effective extension teaching and methods resulting in new agricultural markets, increased farm income, better living and greater opportunity for non-farm employment." Those who have observed this program in Tippah County, Miss., are firmly convinced that much good has been accomplished and that much progress has been made. The progress in Tippah County has been in keeping with the major objectives of the national Rural Development Program. DISCUSSION GROUP REPORTS GROUP I: EDUCATION BEYOND THE HIGH SCHOOL-- Chairman: Dr. Robert R. Hudelson, Dean Emeritus, University of Committee on Education Beyond the High School In opening the discussion, Dr. Hudelson submitted the following outline: I. Educated competent people are the indispensable resource for a productive community, state or Nation. II. 1. Standard of living depends on individual productivity. Only by charity or thievery can any people consume more than they produce. 2. Productivity increases with education because true education brings competence of mind and body. 3. Industry is attracted to or developed by competent people. Education can be had by any American community if the desire is strong enough and leadership is available. 1. The prime mover is a sustained, intense desire for education. Successful schools have been developed from very meager resources, and thousands of young Americans have climbed to the educational heights under their own power. 2. 3. 4. Too often people think wealth must come before education, but historically and logically education comes first. The road to post-high school education is by way of the home, elementary school and the high school. Many more will climb the higher, steeper grades if the approaches are safe and guideposts point in the right direction. The desire and power to climb must be gained on the lower slopes. Parents, teachers and neighbors must point the way with the enthusiasm which this service justifies. Much criticism has been hurled at the American public schools, but they are available to all and improvement is much easier than creating |