New Mexico boys and girls club work: What it is, its aims and purposes, and how the work is accomplished

              1        The   first   club    organized    in
History of New Mexico was comprised of a
Club Work          group    of    boys    living    in    the
 I   neighborhood   of  the   State  College.      This   club   held   its   first
meeting in the Spring of 1911.    Seven of the members from this club completed their work.
In 1912 the work spread to all parts of the
state. In that year a club was organized in Curry
county at Pleasant Hill, which has been very active ever since'and  is now the oldest club in the
Year by year the clubs have spread into new
communities and the scope of the work enlarged.
The number of members completir.g the work
each year has increased rapidly from the small beginning in 1911 to 3,087 in 1918.
In 1918 there were 2,504 additional club members who did good work but did not make final reports. This made a total of 5,591 boys and girls
actively engaged in food production and food con-
Present Organization of Club Work
In New Mexico the most efficient form of organization involves the co-operation of the Extension Service and the local school officials in a
county unit plan. Colfax County has led the state
in club work for three years due to this plan.
During 1918 the schools of that county employed
15 local club leaders who were under the direction
of a county club leader. His salary was paid by
the Extension Service, and his traveling expenses
were paid by the public schools. The work in
Colfax County as in all other counties was under
the general supervision of the Extension Service
but the details were developed by the farm bureau,
superintendent of schools and  other school offi-
This form of organization is being adopted In
all parts of the state and is a logical outgrowth of
the old volunteer local leader scheme. Teachers
are being selected who show ability as club leaders
and their services are being continued in this capacity throughout the year under the direction of
a county club leader.
Club
improves the mate-
. physical, social and
spiritual welfare of club mem-
club work- to the state in 1918
was over $25,000. The average financial profit per club member was $19.25. To make a
profit, club members are forced to "use their
heads." All club projects require physical exertion. The organized recreation of mind and body
which forms an important feature of club work
forces associations based on physical and mental
growth. This is made more serious by the pulling
together of club members in their work and demonstration activities. All club members are taught
to give to others something of value through
demonstrations. The spirit of service formed by
doing for others is inestimable. If you really want
to know the resulting value of club work, ask a
parent  of a  club  member who  has completed  at
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Club Work and the Future
Self assurance Energy Individuality
Kindness Imagination Ambition
With these ideals as a working basis, the future
progress of club work is assured.
The people of the state are coming to recognize
more and more the true value of the work and
continue to support it more vigorously each year.
Club members of the early days have become
men and women. They reveal the influence club
work had upon them. Their development is the
greatest promise for the growth of this undertaking. The future of club work through their influence and example will lead to great things for
the young manhood and womanhood of New
Mexico.
K.vlonsion Circular No. 47 Mcta., IS
New Mexico Boys
and Girls Club Work
What it is, its aims and purposes,
and hov> the TDorfy is accomplished
The   New   Mexico   College   of
Agriculture and Mechanic Arts
AUSTIN D. CRILE,  President.
A Prize Winner Prom Dona Ana County
Prepared by
CHARLES ORCHARD-SMITH
State Club Leader
AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICE
A. C COOLBY, Director
The   New   Mexico   College   of
Agriculture and Mechanic Arts
and the
United States Department of Agriculture