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What a Poultry Project Should Contain*
WHAT A POULTEY PROJECT SHOULD CONTAIN* H. L. SHRADER University of Missouri
* Read at the annual meeting of the A. A. of I. and I. in P. H., Manhattan, Kansas, August, 1925. 274
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ by Nathalia Oliveira on May 10, 2015
In introducing this subject it seems best first to cast about for a definition of the term Project. If you were to ask certain extension workers about their Poultry Project they would tell you that they are spending some time working on Poultry in a more or less miscellaneous fashion. Their work is disjointed, not planned ahead of time, but only carried out when the demand for personal service or assistance to some individual becomes so strong that it cannot be denied. Other occasions for poultry work are when he runs out of other subjects and devotes a little filling in time to poultry. If you ask this worker to put his Poultry Project on paper, the chances are that he would not get much farther than chewing the end of his pencil. He has never thought the subject through. This type of project —if it could be assembled and dignified by the term—is an Abstract Project. In contrast to this Abstract Project is the Concrete or Paper Project, the one under discussion today. Such a poultry project consists of ideas projected into written form, whose object is to secure the adoption of improved poultry practices and methods by the poultry producers. The task before the extension man is to obtain results in practices adopted. He must be a combination salesman and teacher. His project is his sample case and text book. Psychologists tell us that the mind goes through distinct stages in the educational process. They are: 1. Interest and Attention; 2. Desire and Confidence; 3. Decision and Action. Most branches of educational work carry only through the second stage, that of desire and confidence, but the extension project must be so organized and the extension worker enough of a combination salesman and teacher that he can secure decision and action and get practices adopted. Let us look at the skeleton or framework of a project; the
POULTRY PROJECTS
275
Grade A—The Creative Mind 4% Grade Β—The Rapid Imitators 9% Grade C—The Apprentice Type of Mind, (Those Who Learn to Do by Doing) 76% Grade D—The Inert Type of Mind that Learns Slowly and Forgets Quickly 11%
The propaganda method of extension work will catch the first two grades, or 1 1 % . With these, demonstration farms can be established and the demonstration stage carried out. Then with the spread of influence stage following closely we can teach the large " C " class, by showing them what is being done in their community.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ by Nathalia Oliveira on May 10, 2015
Extension Division, U. S. D. Α., suggests that it contain four parts; namely, (1) plan of work; (2) definite goals; (3) calen dar of operations; (4) contributing agencies. The plan of work is the working chart or blueprint of the project. In tracing out a blueprint one of the first things to consider is the working material available. For the project this means the status or development of the poultry industry in the state. If the industry is well established and highly developed, is it failing to keep up witfr modern research ? If it is new are short-sighted policies being inaugurated? All such questions come in the scope of the plan of work. This development will also largely determine the method of attack used. Extension methods are divided into three classes: 1. Propaganda or Pro motion; 2. Demonstration; 3. Spread of Influence. The propaganda stage is used where the problem is to intro duce poultry and extension work to the community. The plan has been used for a new county extension agent to put on an in tensive culling campaign to get acquainted in the county. This may not be a poultry county and his poultry activities be limited the following years, but for this particular season it served as a means to an end. The demonstration stage is second in the outline of methods. To show the need of demonstrations and the reason for placing it after propaganda, let us look at the people with whom we are to deal. The U. S. Army has furnished us the results of their mentality tests from the sons of farm owners and operators. They are grouped in four divisions with the following data:
276
POULTRY
SCIENCE
The plan of work is no doubt the most important part of the project, but it is not complete without the addition of goals, calendar of operations, and contributing agencies.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ by Nathalia Oliveira on May 10, 2015
The status of the poultry industry and the previous extension methods used in a community determine the method of attack outlined in the plan of work. In speaking of demonstration farms, too many of them are only so called demonstrations. It is not sufficient for the farm to be using the approved practices, but they should be reporting in detail to some central office. Such records serve as a means of checking results and show the trend of the industry. At Missouri we have eight years of demonstration flock records and we regard our files as very valuable. The spread of influence from the demonstration farms follows very closely, often leaving no sharp line of demarcation. By thinking of the demonstration flocks as a center around which all the poultry project should move, various phases of the poultry industry or sub-projects should be outlined in the plan of work. It is in endorsing the sub-projects most needed in the county or community, that the wide-awake poultry specialist proves his worth. The sub-project must be carefully thought through, and written in simple and attractive form, yet contain all the details so that the county agent or poultry association leader to finds it "easy to take." The county agent has a long list of duties and a comparatively short time to devote to each of them. The poultry specialist will find it much easier to get his plan across with the agent or poultry association if the details are carefully thought through and the idea sold in a specific detailed rather than a generalized form. Let me emphasize this idea of specific and detailed information for subprojects. If it is to be put over at a general meeting, outline the program for the meeting so that the points will be taken up in their logical order. Provide forms for the follow-up and check-up system. If the sub-project is in the nature of a campaign, prepare samples of publicity. If it is a poultry tour, be sure the agent is supplied with a list of the points and practices you wish to be brought out and see that the stops are selected accordingly. We have questioned the agents closely and find them very receptive to such detailed plans.
POULTRY PROJECTS
277
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ by Nathalia Oliveira on May 10, 2015
After formulating the plan of work, the next step in making the poultry project is to outline goals. These should be divided into longtime and yearly goals. The long-time goal is what we would like to see accomplished at some future date. It should be the vision of the poultry industry. The machinery used in setting up these goals is not so important as the fact of having the goals to strive for. If you are working through community organizations the community should have its goal, the county its goal, and the counties taken together comprise the state goal. · '^ " * No set rule can be applied to setting goals because of the different types of poultry farming. With the specialized districts and commercial egg farms such as we have on the Bast and West coast; with the general farm flock such as we have in the Middle West; or with the farms where poultry is considered only a miscellaneous chore ; all of these conditions require a different type of goal. To illustrate my idea of a misfit goal, do not try to develop the general farm flock into a commercial egg farm or specialized trapnest breeder. If the plan of work is built up from some central office or by the survey method, the goals would undoubtedly be different. The psychological effect of reaching for certain attainments is the chief argument for inserting goals. The calendar of operations should be written into the project plans in order to coordinate the sub-projects more completely. The time of the poultry specialists can be allotted on a much more uniform basis and his travel schedules can be easier arranged when utilizing the calendar of operations. My idea of an incomplete calendar would be one that did not allow time to attend the instructors' and investigators' convention each year. The fourth division of a project comes under the head of contributing agencies. By listing the duties of all parties concerned the specialist, the agent, and the cooperator can preserve a balance and make their efforts more far-reaching. There is a tendency on the part of many specialists to overdo the idea of personal service to individuals ; others spend their time doing work that should be carried out by the county agent. The detailed plans outlining the duties of each party involved do
278
POULTRY
SCIENCE
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ by Nathalia Oliveira on May 10, 2015
much toward eliminating such faults. Another point that this brings out is the outlining of a sub-project that is of such high type or so complicated that only a specialist himself can carry it out. By listing the contributing agencies there is also brought to mind the use of various methods of making the required contacts—poultry associations, feed dealers, hatcheries, tours, publicity channels, all of these best adapted for each separate subproject should be enumerated. With the project plans definitely organized and prepared, the specialist is then ready to lay out a poultry plan for the county and the state. You will pardon me if I use the system now in use at Missouri as an illustration, not setting it up as a model, but as a basis for discussion. We have 114 counties, with county agents in about 50 of them. A county agent spends 60% of his time on two or three major projects and the remainder on minor and miscellaneous projects. All poultry extension work is centered around the demonstration farm flocks. If poultry is a minor project with hijn he carries on the demonstration flocks and one sub-project; if a major, the demonstration flocks and all the sub^projects he can carry or all that the territory is ready for. This selecting of sub-projects is done either by personal «onferenee, through eorrespondenee, or with the state agents-. If the work is in a county when there is no county agent, we stait; in by getting some organization to take on one sub-project. The sub-projects in use last year were as follows: 1. Winter Feeding and Selection of Breeding Pens. 2. Disease-Free Flocks. A. Testing for White Diarrhea. 3. Incubation and Brooding. 4. Selection and Production of Quality Market Eggs. 5. Summer Feeding and Culling Campaign. 6. Certified Work. 7. Boys' and Girls' Poultry Clubs. 1st year—Baby Chick Club. 2nd year—Flock Management Club. 3rd year—^Poultry Breeding Club. The Pettis County program and some of the attainments are offered as a sample of a county program.
POULTRY PROJECTS
27!)
POULTRY PROJECT—PETTIS COUNTY R. S. CLOUGH, Agent
RESULTS
Jan.—13 meetings held, 183 people. Winter feeding and breeding. 16 houses completed. 23 demonstration flocks reporting Feb.—37 breeding pens reported selected in 14 different communities. 500 vials for White Diarrhea used from Vet. Dept. Several flocks tested by commercial laboratory. Marketing Ass'n. meeting. 2-yr contract adopted March—10 Incubation and brooding meetings. 215 people. 14 demonstrators enrolled April—Five incubation and brooding meetings. 74 people. Pettis County Poultry Ass'n. inactive since 1917 reorganized. Marketing Ass'n. handled 156 cases in one week
Specialists' help
(1)
Days agent's time
No. using improveiJ prac, 1st time
7
22
Bj^
14
9
25
4
5
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ by Nathalia Oliveira on May 10, 2015
Longtime goal—25 trapnested pedigreed breeders developed. Hatcheries buying from only high producing disease free flocks 50% producers marketing poultry products through commodity cooperative organization. An active poultry association. 75% of the farmers to reach the 5 standard attainments of farm flocks, which are: 1. Raise standard or purebred poultry. 2. Hatch early, range on fresh ground. 3. House comfortably and in sanitary quarters. 4. Feed a balanced ration throughout the year. 5. Breed from selected females mated to certified or pedigreed males. Cull consistently. 1925 Goals—15 demonstration farm flocks. 75 certified and other breeding pens selected. 200 to cull flocks. 10 to adopt modern brooding system. 20 to test flocks for white diarrhea. 200 to sell quality eggs. 25 new houses. 50 remodeled houses. 100 to adopt feeding animal protein throughout the year. 1 flock management tour. Methods (Work to be done by the County Agent)—Hold 12 demonstration meetings on winter feeding and selection of breeding pens. Hold oiflce conference on testing for white diarrhea. Hold 10 demonstration meetings on incubation and brooding problems. Hold 10 demonstration meetings on production and selection of quality eggs. Hold 16 demonstration meetings on summer feeding and culling campaigns. Certifled flock inspection. Housing to be discussed and plans furnished at summer and fall demonstrations.
280
POULTRY
NOTE : The county program is agent spends 65% of his time on County had 3 majors—Poultry, County has 2797 farms averaging farm.
(1)
7
5
(1)
2
5
divided into major and minor subjects. The the major projects. The program for Pettis Legumes, Community Organization. Pettis 146 acres of cultivated land and 131 hens per
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ by Nathalia Oliveira on May 10, 2015
May—10 Incubation and brooding demonstrations visited. Only 4 are carrying out all essentials. 6 have adopted most of the practices, but are not 100% demonstrations. The demonstrations needed closer supervision. Poultry Ass'n. meeting. Plan for show this fall.. June—1 Quality Egg Demonstration Meeting. 30 people. Marketing Ass'n. year ended shows 2994 cases handled and bonus of $1669.40 paid above local prices
SCIENCE
* Read at the annual meeting of the A. A. of I. and I. in P. H., Manhattan, Kansas, August, 1925. 274
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ by Nathalia Oliveira on May 10, 2015
In introducing this subject it seems best first to cast about for a definition of the term Project. If you were to ask certain extension workers about their Poultry Project they would tell you that they are spending some time working on Poultry in a more or less miscellaneous fashion. Their work is disjointed, not planned ahead of time, but only carried out when the demand for personal service or assistance to some individual becomes so strong that it cannot be denied. Other occasions for poultry work are when he runs out of other subjects and devotes a little filling in time to poultry. If you ask this worker to put his Poultry Project on paper, the chances are that he would not get much farther than chewing the end of his pencil. He has never thought the subject through. This type of project —if it could be assembled and dignified by the term—is an Abstract Project. In contrast to this Abstract Project is the Concrete or Paper Project, the one under discussion today. Such a poultry project consists of ideas projected into written form, whose object is to secure the adoption of improved poultry practices and methods by the poultry producers. The task before the extension man is to obtain results in practices adopted. He must be a combination salesman and teacher. His project is his sample case and text book. Psychologists tell us that the mind goes through distinct stages in the educational process. They are: 1. Interest and Attention; 2. Desire and Confidence; 3. Decision and Action. Most branches of educational work carry only through the second stage, that of desire and confidence, but the extension project must be so organized and the extension worker enough of a combination salesman and teacher that he can secure decision and action and get practices adopted. Let us look at the skeleton or framework of a project; the
POULTRY PROJECTS
275
Grade A—The Creative Mind 4% Grade Β—The Rapid Imitators 9% Grade C—The Apprentice Type of Mind, (Those Who Learn to Do by Doing) 76% Grade D—The Inert Type of Mind that Learns Slowly and Forgets Quickly 11%
The propaganda method of extension work will catch the first two grades, or 1 1 % . With these, demonstration farms can be established and the demonstration stage carried out. Then with the spread of influence stage following closely we can teach the large " C " class, by showing them what is being done in their community.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ by Nathalia Oliveira on May 10, 2015
Extension Division, U. S. D. Α., suggests that it contain four parts; namely, (1) plan of work; (2) definite goals; (3) calen dar of operations; (4) contributing agencies. The plan of work is the working chart or blueprint of the project. In tracing out a blueprint one of the first things to consider is the working material available. For the project this means the status or development of the poultry industry in the state. If the industry is well established and highly developed, is it failing to keep up witfr modern research ? If it is new are short-sighted policies being inaugurated? All such questions come in the scope of the plan of work. This development will also largely determine the method of attack used. Extension methods are divided into three classes: 1. Propaganda or Pro motion; 2. Demonstration; 3. Spread of Influence. The propaganda stage is used where the problem is to intro duce poultry and extension work to the community. The plan has been used for a new county extension agent to put on an in tensive culling campaign to get acquainted in the county. This may not be a poultry county and his poultry activities be limited the following years, but for this particular season it served as a means to an end. The demonstration stage is second in the outline of methods. To show the need of demonstrations and the reason for placing it after propaganda, let us look at the people with whom we are to deal. The U. S. Army has furnished us the results of their mentality tests from the sons of farm owners and operators. They are grouped in four divisions with the following data:
276
POULTRY
SCIENCE
The plan of work is no doubt the most important part of the project, but it is not complete without the addition of goals, calendar of operations, and contributing agencies.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ by Nathalia Oliveira on May 10, 2015
The status of the poultry industry and the previous extension methods used in a community determine the method of attack outlined in the plan of work. In speaking of demonstration farms, too many of them are only so called demonstrations. It is not sufficient for the farm to be using the approved practices, but they should be reporting in detail to some central office. Such records serve as a means of checking results and show the trend of the industry. At Missouri we have eight years of demonstration flock records and we regard our files as very valuable. The spread of influence from the demonstration farms follows very closely, often leaving no sharp line of demarcation. By thinking of the demonstration flocks as a center around which all the poultry project should move, various phases of the poultry industry or sub-projects should be outlined in the plan of work. It is in endorsing the sub-projects most needed in the county or community, that the wide-awake poultry specialist proves his worth. The sub-project must be carefully thought through, and written in simple and attractive form, yet contain all the details so that the county agent or poultry association leader to finds it "easy to take." The county agent has a long list of duties and a comparatively short time to devote to each of them. The poultry specialist will find it much easier to get his plan across with the agent or poultry association if the details are carefully thought through and the idea sold in a specific detailed rather than a generalized form. Let me emphasize this idea of specific and detailed information for subprojects. If it is to be put over at a general meeting, outline the program for the meeting so that the points will be taken up in their logical order. Provide forms for the follow-up and check-up system. If the sub-project is in the nature of a campaign, prepare samples of publicity. If it is a poultry tour, be sure the agent is supplied with a list of the points and practices you wish to be brought out and see that the stops are selected accordingly. We have questioned the agents closely and find them very receptive to such detailed plans.
POULTRY PROJECTS
277
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ by Nathalia Oliveira on May 10, 2015
After formulating the plan of work, the next step in making the poultry project is to outline goals. These should be divided into longtime and yearly goals. The long-time goal is what we would like to see accomplished at some future date. It should be the vision of the poultry industry. The machinery used in setting up these goals is not so important as the fact of having the goals to strive for. If you are working through community organizations the community should have its goal, the county its goal, and the counties taken together comprise the state goal. · '^ " * No set rule can be applied to setting goals because of the different types of poultry farming. With the specialized districts and commercial egg farms such as we have on the Bast and West coast; with the general farm flock such as we have in the Middle West; or with the farms where poultry is considered only a miscellaneous chore ; all of these conditions require a different type of goal. To illustrate my idea of a misfit goal, do not try to develop the general farm flock into a commercial egg farm or specialized trapnest breeder. If the plan of work is built up from some central office or by the survey method, the goals would undoubtedly be different. The psychological effect of reaching for certain attainments is the chief argument for inserting goals. The calendar of operations should be written into the project plans in order to coordinate the sub-projects more completely. The time of the poultry specialists can be allotted on a much more uniform basis and his travel schedules can be easier arranged when utilizing the calendar of operations. My idea of an incomplete calendar would be one that did not allow time to attend the instructors' and investigators' convention each year. The fourth division of a project comes under the head of contributing agencies. By listing the duties of all parties concerned the specialist, the agent, and the cooperator can preserve a balance and make their efforts more far-reaching. There is a tendency on the part of many specialists to overdo the idea of personal service to individuals ; others spend their time doing work that should be carried out by the county agent. The detailed plans outlining the duties of each party involved do
278
POULTRY
SCIENCE
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ by Nathalia Oliveira on May 10, 2015
much toward eliminating such faults. Another point that this brings out is the outlining of a sub-project that is of such high type or so complicated that only a specialist himself can carry it out. By listing the contributing agencies there is also brought to mind the use of various methods of making the required contacts—poultry associations, feed dealers, hatcheries, tours, publicity channels, all of these best adapted for each separate subproject should be enumerated. With the project plans definitely organized and prepared, the specialist is then ready to lay out a poultry plan for the county and the state. You will pardon me if I use the system now in use at Missouri as an illustration, not setting it up as a model, but as a basis for discussion. We have 114 counties, with county agents in about 50 of them. A county agent spends 60% of his time on two or three major projects and the remainder on minor and miscellaneous projects. All poultry extension work is centered around the demonstration farm flocks. If poultry is a minor project with hijn he carries on the demonstration flocks and one sub-project; if a major, the demonstration flocks and all the sub^projects he can carry or all that the territory is ready for. This selecting of sub-projects is done either by personal «onferenee, through eorrespondenee, or with the state agents-. If the work is in a county when there is no county agent, we stait; in by getting some organization to take on one sub-project. The sub-projects in use last year were as follows: 1. Winter Feeding and Selection of Breeding Pens. 2. Disease-Free Flocks. A. Testing for White Diarrhea. 3. Incubation and Brooding. 4. Selection and Production of Quality Market Eggs. 5. Summer Feeding and Culling Campaign. 6. Certified Work. 7. Boys' and Girls' Poultry Clubs. 1st year—Baby Chick Club. 2nd year—Flock Management Club. 3rd year—^Poultry Breeding Club. The Pettis County program and some of the attainments are offered as a sample of a county program.
POULTRY PROJECTS
27!)
POULTRY PROJECT—PETTIS COUNTY R. S. CLOUGH, Agent
RESULTS
Jan.—13 meetings held, 183 people. Winter feeding and breeding. 16 houses completed. 23 demonstration flocks reporting Feb.—37 breeding pens reported selected in 14 different communities. 500 vials for White Diarrhea used from Vet. Dept. Several flocks tested by commercial laboratory. Marketing Ass'n. meeting. 2-yr contract adopted March—10 Incubation and brooding meetings. 215 people. 14 demonstrators enrolled April—Five incubation and brooding meetings. 74 people. Pettis County Poultry Ass'n. inactive since 1917 reorganized. Marketing Ass'n. handled 156 cases in one week
Specialists' help
(1)
Days agent's time
No. using improveiJ prac, 1st time
7
22
Bj^
14
9
25
4
5
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ by Nathalia Oliveira on May 10, 2015
Longtime goal—25 trapnested pedigreed breeders developed. Hatcheries buying from only high producing disease free flocks 50% producers marketing poultry products through commodity cooperative organization. An active poultry association. 75% of the farmers to reach the 5 standard attainments of farm flocks, which are: 1. Raise standard or purebred poultry. 2. Hatch early, range on fresh ground. 3. House comfortably and in sanitary quarters. 4. Feed a balanced ration throughout the year. 5. Breed from selected females mated to certified or pedigreed males. Cull consistently. 1925 Goals—15 demonstration farm flocks. 75 certified and other breeding pens selected. 200 to cull flocks. 10 to adopt modern brooding system. 20 to test flocks for white diarrhea. 200 to sell quality eggs. 25 new houses. 50 remodeled houses. 100 to adopt feeding animal protein throughout the year. 1 flock management tour. Methods (Work to be done by the County Agent)—Hold 12 demonstration meetings on winter feeding and selection of breeding pens. Hold oiflce conference on testing for white diarrhea. Hold 10 demonstration meetings on incubation and brooding problems. Hold 10 demonstration meetings on production and selection of quality eggs. Hold 16 demonstration meetings on summer feeding and culling campaigns. Certifled flock inspection. Housing to be discussed and plans furnished at summer and fall demonstrations.
280
POULTRY
NOTE : The county program is agent spends 65% of his time on County had 3 majors—Poultry, County has 2797 farms averaging farm.
(1)
7
5
(1)
2
5
divided into major and minor subjects. The the major projects. The program for Pettis Legumes, Community Organization. Pettis 146 acres of cultivated land and 131 hens per
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ by Nathalia Oliveira on May 10, 2015
May—10 Incubation and brooding demonstrations visited. Only 4 are carrying out all essentials. 6 have adopted most of the practices, but are not 100% demonstrations. The demonstrations needed closer supervision. Poultry Ass'n. meeting. Plan for show this fall.. June—1 Quality Egg Demonstration Meeting. 30 people. Marketing Ass'n. year ended shows 2994 cases handled and bonus of $1669.40 paid above local prices
SCIENCE