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Extension Poultry Schools*
EXTENSION POULTRY SCHOOLS* PAUL G. RILEY
* Published with the approval of the Director of the Agricultural Extension tension Department, Purdue University, Lafayette, Indiana. * Read at the annual meeting of the Poultry Science Association held at State College, Pa., August 17-20, 1926. 76
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at NERL on June 1, 2015
During the past two years, the Poultry Extension Division of Purdue University has held 63 two-day Poultry Schools, with an average attendance of 175 people per school. These schools were, all held during December, January and February, since these months are most suitable for the farmers to attend meetings and study their problems. The demand for this type of work is increasing. In some counties, as many as three schools have been lield in successive years with increased attendance each year, and with apparent satisfaction to those attending. At all meetings a study has been made of the size of flock as represented by those present. Twenty per cent of the flocks contained 300 or more mature fowls. Sixty per cent of the flock owners were carrying from 100 to 300, and the remaining twenty per cent carried less than 100 birds. It may be seen from this that our attendance has been made up of commercial poultrymen, semi-commercial farm flock owners, and general farmers. The chief criticism of our Extension work previous to the introduction of these two-day schools was that too much time was spent in personal work and with small groups. The demands for the time of extension men continued to increase beyond the point where funds and time available would permit an expansion of this personal service. This poultrty school work largely removed the criticism and enabled us to reach greatly increased numbers of people in a satisfactory manner. The chief diffieulty encountered in the types of meetings held in the past, where one phase of poultry work was discussed at one season of the year and another at some later period, has been that the entire volume of subject matter was presented in a disjointed manner. When two entire days can be used in discussing the various phases of poultry work, a more complete and organized view of modern poultry practices can be presented than in any other way. This one fact, we believe, has been largely responsible for the continued success of this plan. All
EXTENSION
POULTRY
SCHOOLS
77
Early experience with test schools suggested that the responsibility for their success be placed on the local people, consequently the first réquirenient before any assistance is pledged by the Department, is that 50 persons guarantee to the county agricultural agent in writing that they will attend all sessions. Also no school work is given unless those counties are carrying organized project work in a satisfactory manner. A local committee, representative of poultrj' interest in the county is officially in charge of the arrangements for the school. This includes advertising, arranging for rooms, materials and presiding at the meetings. Our most successful schools have been made possible by the presence on this committee of one or more business men from the town in which the school is to be held. The committee always includes all hatchery interests of the county who make a special effort to insure the presence of the OAvners of their egg producing flocks. The amount of adΛ'ertising has varied in various communities. Word of mouth advertising from poultry leaders in various parts of the county has been a very influential factor. Newspaper publicity and circular letters have been used. In all cases, both the County Agent and the Poultry Committees have made the poultry schools the most important poultry event of the year. Pour instructional periods, of an hour to an hour and fifteen minutes each, are given- each day. Only one Extension man is present at each school. This makes a difficult program, but our men have been able to handle them satisfactorily. One period is given to each of the following subjects : Feeding Laying Hens, Summer Care of Growing Stock, Brooding, Breeding, Marketing, Breed Selection, Diseases, and Housing.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at NERL on June 1, 2015
poultry schools are necessarily followed up during the spring and summer months by group visits to successful farms within the county M'here actual equipment and methods can be observed, and in this manner direct observations of suggested methods in actual operation are tied up with verbal and demonstrational material alreadj^ presented during the winter schools. The greatest benefits from the enthusiasm aroused and information released through the school are lost unless satisfactory methods of follow up demonstrational Avork are used during the next summer and fall.
78
POULTRY
SCIENCE
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at NERL on June 1, 2015
We believe that the following practices have made this type of work desirable. The restriction placed upon securing schools lave made the desire for them greater. These restrictions and suggestions have insured a sufficient number of people present to justify the necessary expenditures. The subject matter available is sufBciently sound that when put into practice the results have proven profitable. Conditions which may be necessary before this type of work shouH be attempted are : Roads capable of travel during bad weather ; moderate density of population ; an already awakened interest in poultry; and a moderate concentration of poultry interest in the community. Probably the most important factor in insuring the success of this type of instruction is the cooperation of all poultry agencies, and a friendly attitude toward the entire Extension program.
* Published with the approval of the Director of the Agricultural Extension tension Department, Purdue University, Lafayette, Indiana. * Read at the annual meeting of the Poultry Science Association held at State College, Pa., August 17-20, 1926. 76
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at NERL on June 1, 2015
During the past two years, the Poultry Extension Division of Purdue University has held 63 two-day Poultry Schools, with an average attendance of 175 people per school. These schools were, all held during December, January and February, since these months are most suitable for the farmers to attend meetings and study their problems. The demand for this type of work is increasing. In some counties, as many as three schools have been lield in successive years with increased attendance each year, and with apparent satisfaction to those attending. At all meetings a study has been made of the size of flock as represented by those present. Twenty per cent of the flocks contained 300 or more mature fowls. Sixty per cent of the flock owners were carrying from 100 to 300, and the remaining twenty per cent carried less than 100 birds. It may be seen from this that our attendance has been made up of commercial poultrymen, semi-commercial farm flock owners, and general farmers. The chief criticism of our Extension work previous to the introduction of these two-day schools was that too much time was spent in personal work and with small groups. The demands for the time of extension men continued to increase beyond the point where funds and time available would permit an expansion of this personal service. This poultrty school work largely removed the criticism and enabled us to reach greatly increased numbers of people in a satisfactory manner. The chief diffieulty encountered in the types of meetings held in the past, where one phase of poultry work was discussed at one season of the year and another at some later period, has been that the entire volume of subject matter was presented in a disjointed manner. When two entire days can be used in discussing the various phases of poultry work, a more complete and organized view of modern poultry practices can be presented than in any other way. This one fact, we believe, has been largely responsible for the continued success of this plan. All
EXTENSION
POULTRY
SCHOOLS
77
Early experience with test schools suggested that the responsibility for their success be placed on the local people, consequently the first réquirenient before any assistance is pledged by the Department, is that 50 persons guarantee to the county agricultural agent in writing that they will attend all sessions. Also no school work is given unless those counties are carrying organized project work in a satisfactory manner. A local committee, representative of poultrj' interest in the county is officially in charge of the arrangements for the school. This includes advertising, arranging for rooms, materials and presiding at the meetings. Our most successful schools have been made possible by the presence on this committee of one or more business men from the town in which the school is to be held. The committee always includes all hatchery interests of the county who make a special effort to insure the presence of the OAvners of their egg producing flocks. The amount of adΛ'ertising has varied in various communities. Word of mouth advertising from poultry leaders in various parts of the county has been a very influential factor. Newspaper publicity and circular letters have been used. In all cases, both the County Agent and the Poultry Committees have made the poultry schools the most important poultry event of the year. Pour instructional periods, of an hour to an hour and fifteen minutes each, are given- each day. Only one Extension man is present at each school. This makes a difficult program, but our men have been able to handle them satisfactorily. One period is given to each of the following subjects : Feeding Laying Hens, Summer Care of Growing Stock, Brooding, Breeding, Marketing, Breed Selection, Diseases, and Housing.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at NERL on June 1, 2015
poultry schools are necessarily followed up during the spring and summer months by group visits to successful farms within the county M'here actual equipment and methods can be observed, and in this manner direct observations of suggested methods in actual operation are tied up with verbal and demonstrational material alreadj^ presented during the winter schools. The greatest benefits from the enthusiasm aroused and information released through the school are lost unless satisfactory methods of follow up demonstrational Avork are used during the next summer and fall.
78
POULTRY
SCIENCE
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at NERL on June 1, 2015
We believe that the following practices have made this type of work desirable. The restriction placed upon securing schools lave made the desire for them greater. These restrictions and suggestions have insured a sufficient number of people present to justify the necessary expenditures. The subject matter available is sufBciently sound that when put into practice the results have proven profitable. Conditions which may be necessary before this type of work shouH be attempted are : Roads capable of travel during bad weather ; moderate density of population ; an already awakened interest in poultry; and a moderate concentration of poultry interest in the community. Probably the most important factor in insuring the success of this type of instruction is the cooperation of all poultry agencies, and a friendly attitude toward the entire Extension program.