1954

What was happening in 1954...

County Extension Director - William H St.Clair
Florence Mathre Ferden was named home economist on September 1, 1954

There were 20 4-H Clubs
Fertile Merry Maids 4-H Club was organized.
Bristol Busy Bees - 16 members
Brookfield Boosters - 30 members
Deer Creek Ribbon Takers - 30 members
Fertile T.N.T. - 12 members
Golden Banner Boys - 27 members
Grove Progressive Farmers - 21 members
Hartland Happy Hustling Harvesters - 26 members
Lincoln Junior Farmers - 31 members
Silver Lake Streaks - 18 members
Barton Bannerettes - 17 members
Bristol Happy Hustlers - 22 members
Brookfield Boosterettes - 21 members
Deer Creek Wohelos - 21 members
Grove Progressive Girls - 25 members
Hartland Happy Homemakers - 31 members
Hanlon Highlighters - 13 members
Kensett BR Best - 24 members
East Lincoln 4-Square - 27 members
West Lincoln 4-Square - 24 members
Silver Lake Beavers - 14 members

AGRICULTURE

 Production and Marketing – Soil mapping was completed from
sufficient farms to form the bases for complete farm plans requested during the
coming fiscal year.

 A county S.C.S. Field Day was held where all who attended saw
the various conservation practices actually in
operation.

 Crop Production:

 Oats – An oat variety demonstration plot was grown in the county
and observation and check was made on the different varieties. A field day was held in connection with this project.

 Corn – Corn borer check was made all over the county during the
period of mass migration, along with army worm, web worm, common corn stalk worm and corn root worm. This was a year of heavy infestation. Farmers were kept advised of infestation and control measurers over radio and newspaper articles.

Fertilizer observation test plots were established on four farms
throughout the county. 

Fertilizer – Fertilizer test plots o corn were also carried out
on six farms throughout the county with three including side dressing of nitrogen up to 80# last cultivation. Application of nitrogen on all second year corn and application of nitrogen on corn stalks seeded to oats were demonstrated on several fields throughout the county.

 Soybeans – A soybean variety test plot was grown in the county
and a field day held. 

Soil – Soil sampling service has been used to capacity in the
county with a follow-up service of explaining and reviewing fertilizer requirements and needs.

 Wind Break – A wind break demonstration plot set up on the
Wallace Johnson farm in Barton township was checked and replacement stock obtained and planted.

 Forage – A forage demonstration plot was set out on the William
Imlau farm in 1953 in Brookfield township. The 60 some odd variations of pasture mixtures made sufficient growth so that a very worth while field day was held and this plot was seeded to oats and seeded to the various pasture mixtures.

 LIVESTOCK

 Swine – The county swine producers held a field day and tour of
all breeds. A judging contest for both juniors and adults was held. 
 
Dairy – The Worth County Artificial Breeding Association
  operating under a county unit Eastern Iowa Association assumed the full management and control over the inseminator and its business transactions.

 There has been a tremendous growth in membership and use of this service since it was first locally organized on a two county basis. This last year being the third year it has operated on a single county basis.

 Baby Beeves – A program of marketing baby beeves is quite unique in that the calves are taken off feed a day before they are graded and an estimated yield for that grade given by packer graders from Hormel, Wilson & Co. and Deckers. Calves are weighed immediately after they are graded and are sold at this weight on the sale.

 A Worth County beef producers association in the county has 101
members. A cattle feeders tour was held, with about 65 cattle feeders present. 
 
Sheep – A District 4-H Western lamb association was organized
comprising four counties in this area. 588 lambs. 
 
Fertilizer – County wide meetings were held to which all farmers
who had soil tests made were invited to discuss any problems they had and to assist them in interpreting the results of the tests
taken.

 Poultry – A County Poultry short course was held in the county,
a series of eight meetings were held where housing, management, feed, diseases, breeding, etc were discussed on an average of 55 per meeting.

 RYG – Rural Youth Group – the Worth County Rural Young People’s group is going to its sixth year with about 25 paid members. This group is organized to provide social and educational entertainment for those boys and girls out of 4-H club work and not married. Ages range from 17 to 30. 
 
The group sponsored the Tractor Rodeo held at the Worth County
Fair and Achievement Show. This was won by Ralph Harris. 
 
Nine delegates attended the District Training Conference at
Garner. Sixteen attended the State Assembly at Ames in March. Two delegates from the group attended the regional RYP conference at Columbia, MO.

 COMMUNITY AND HEALTH PROBLEMS

 Health and Safety – Blue Cross and Blue Shield have been carried on in the county for several years with a Blue Cross and Blue Shield enrollment of 372. This service is sponsored by the County Farm Bureau and the Services are available to all rural people in the county whether members of the Farm Bureau
or not.

 Fly Control Program – A fly control program was active in all
towns of the county through the cooperation of town councils and local committees. Towns were sprayed during the summer season in Northwood, Manly and Grafton. This also was in connection with regular garbage pick-ups.

 Livestock Diseases – The TB and Bangs disease program in the
county was continued with county wide approval and cooperation among farmers, Federal, State and Local Veterinarians. Livestock Committees, Committee meetings, radio and press participated in this program to keep the people informed.

 Rat Control – A county wide rat control program was carried on
farm to farm contacts with bate stations and Warefarin provided farmers interested.  Chamber of Commerce boards in towns were also contacted with much progress made in controlling rats, in the city dump, etc.

 Farm Visits – Farm visits are effective in obtaining leadership
acquainting people with and arousing interest in the over-all extension educational program of work to find out what the needs of the people are and to give individual help and assistance in problems relating to better farming methods.