BULLETIN

of the

‘flgricultural and JXTec/zanical College
of Texas

(In cooperation with the United States De-
partment of Agriculture)

April, 1916 Extension Service No. B-ZD

Extension Work in Home
Economics for Rural

Women

CLARENCE OUSLEY
Director of Extension Service, College
Station, Texas

EXTENSION WORK IN HOME ECONOM-
ICS FOR RURAL WOMEN.

By Mrs. Nat P. Jackson, Organizer Rural
Women, Extension Service, Agricultural
and Mechanical College of Texas.

One of the phases of the Extension work
of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of
Texas that is steadily growing in popularity
and usefulness is that of which rural women
are receiving the direct benefit.

The plan of this work is very simple and
is outlined below for the information of those

who wish to aid in the movement or to re-
ceive the benefit of it for their own com-
munities or counties.

Rural women are asked to organize them-
selves into Bands of Good Neighbors, Circles,
or Societies, give such groups a definite
name, elect such officers or leaders as they
may deem necessary and apply to the Exten-
sion Service for literature. The club is then
regularly enrolled and the names of the offi-
cers placed on the Extension Service mailing
list. Each club is furnished with a copy of
a simple constitution and by-laws, which may
be adapted to local needs before being adopt-
ed, if desired. The Farm Women’s Reading
Course, planned for group study to be con-
ducted in fortnightly meetings, is sent free
of charge to every club, and valuable publi-
cation bearing on the betterment of Texas
farm conditions are mailed from time to
time.

As often as practicable, trained lecturers
who give instruction and demonstrations in
the fundamentals of Texas Rural Home
Economics, are sent to each club. The ex-
pression, “Texas Rural Home Economics,” is
used advisedly, because it embraces subjects
peculiar to our Texas country homes, and in-
eludes instruction in the making of butter, the
production and marketing of eggs and the
preservation of our native products. This
department is trying to suit its instruction
to the common every-day needs of Texas rural
women, both through reading courses sent out
to clubs and through demonstrators especial-
ly trained to teach the subjects in which our
Texas farm women need training. It is
hardly necesary to say that child welfare is
counted one of the most important phases
of home economics and that it is stressed in
our teaching.

It will be evident that it is convenient to
have our rural clubs as closely grouped as
possible, since this will make it easier to
reach a large number of women with instruc-
tion at one time, thus lessening the expense
of our Extension field workers. Where there
are a number of clubs in one county, it is
advisable for them to form a county union

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or federation of women's clubs, such as are
already in good working order in Bee, De
Witt, Collin, Gregg, Armstrong and Lub-
bock Counties. The advantages of such an
organization are evident to those who have
given Texas rural conditions much thought-
The various rural community groups are
linked with the Agricultural and Mechanical
College and may feel at liberty to ask for
such help as they may need from time to
time. Already some definite and helpful
follow-up work has been done in the practi-
cal teaching of cooperation in the marketing
of eggs by the organization of egg circles.

It has been found that the rural club
movement is enriching community life by get-
ting women together, not only for the much
needed social features of the meetings, but
for cooperative work for their schools, their
churches and their young people. The
county organization, composed of the smaller
community units, brings rural and urban
women together, gives them a common pur-
pose for the advancement and development
of the material interests of the county and
breaks down the barriers between town and
country.

The success with which this work is meet-
ing has surprised even those who planned it
and have been its Warmest advocates. It is
but just to say that much credit is due to the
active support and aid given this project by
the Texas Federation of Women’s Clubs. As
soon as a definite plan had been formed by
the Extension Service of the Agricultural
and Mechanical College, they were submitted
to that big-hearted woman, Mrs. Henry B.
Fall, who was at that time president of the
State Federation. After a careful examina-
tion of the plan outlined and of the first pub-
lished courses of study, she gave them her
hearty approval as suited to the needs of
Texas rural women. She also, in a cordial
letter of endorsement, urged the club women
of the State to aid in reaching rural com-
munities with this work for the improvement
of living conditions in our State; and, they,
already keenly alive to the needs of the hour,

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have eagerly rendered most loving and efli-
cient service. Without the sympathetic and
intelligent assistance thus given, it would
have been hard to reach the hundreds of rural
communities that are now receiving direct
aid from this department. Whenever an of-
fer has been made to send a field worker to
assist in organizing a county, the federated
club women of the towns, often aided by the
superintendent of public instruction, the
board of trade and the county demonstration
agent, made dates and announcements, ar-
ranged an itinerary for the representative of
the Extension Service, provided rapid local
transportation and stood sponsor for the suc-
cess of the movement. In several instances,
as in Collin and DeWitt Counties, local club
women have asked very little help in the
matter of forming rural clubs, but have un~
dertaken the work themselves and have met
with wonderful success. Fortunate indeed
are the communities that are guided by good
women imbuded with the true club spirit of
usefulness and helpfulness.

It is sincerely hoped that the interest of
the club women in this Work will be as un-
flagging in the future as it has been in the
past, for nothing can be more vital to the
material and intellectual uplift of our State
than is this work for the brave and patient
women of our farm homes, the homes that
are the foundation stones of our prosperity.
It is gratifying to know that the present pres-
ident of the Texas Federation of Women's
Clubs, Mrs. Fred Fleming, and her co-work-
ers are in warm sympathy with the work, as
is shown by the outlines submitted by the
Rural Life Committee.

While it is desirable that counties and com-
munities act together as far as possible and
that a number of clubs be formed in one vi~
cinity, individuals and single groups should
not hesitate to effect organizations and write
to the Extension Service for suggestions and
assistance. It is our desire to help the peo-
ple to help themselves.

Application should be made to Mrs. Nat.
P Jackson, Organizer Rural Women, Exten-
sion Department, College Station, Texas.

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