YOUNG FARMERS’ CLUBS

Southland Times, Issue 22999, 19 September 1936, Page 14

YOUNG FARMERS’ CLUBS

AID TO DEPARTMENT OF

AGRICULTURE

The value to the department of the Young Farmers’ Clubs as an agency in its advisory and instructional work is emphasized in the annual report of the Department of Agriculture for the year ended March 31 last. The initial clubs were founded in Otago in 1932 since when the work has been greatly extended, states the report. At the end of the year under review there were 30 clubs in the North Island and 56 clubs in the South Island, with a total membership of approximately 2000, and the clubs are so rapidly growing in popularity that the time seems not far distant when there will be a chain of clubs throughout the Dominion located at most farming centres of sufficient population to have the social activities of typical up-to-date small rural communities. The department proposes to stimulate the work of clubs by arranging for officers of the Fields Division to act as organizers and for departmental officers generally to assist the clubs as far as possible in respect to lectures, field days, etc. The clubs, which are self-support-ing and which open their membership to those between 16 and 25 years of age, hold monthly meetings regularly, and engage in a wide range of social and educational activities. They are receiving considerable enthusiastic support of adult business and farming communities.