“The Woman’s Touch or What Club Work Means to Farm Women” by Jane S. McKimmon, State Home Demonstration Agent and Assistant Director of Extension, N.C. State College, Raleigh, as published in the Carolina Co-Operator, December, 1935
Nash County Niceties
That there is much interest in the little niceties which make life worth living is shown by the Gordon-Best home demonstration club of Nash County, which is made up of young housekeepers as they come together to discuss how to make their homes comfortable, attractive, and up-to-date.
The November meeting was an all-day affair and Mrs. Theo Baker, a young housekeeper and former 4-H Club girl, gave demonstrations in how to set a table attractively for breakfast, dinner, and luncheon. As each member had brought a box of food, lunch was served buffet style. For many of these young married women, it was the first time they had ever taken part in a meal served in this way, and it gave all of them ideas of how the good food to be found on the farm might be made to serve a large roup with all the niceties observed.
Catawba Cooperation
Home demonstration agents and home economists for the Division of Rural Rehabilitation have been coming together to talk over ways and means of cooperating. One plan is to get as many women and girls from rural rehabilitation families as possible into the home demonstration and 4-H clubs in their communities.
In order to do this, Mrs. Edna R. Baine, home economist of Catawba County, is attending meetings with Mrs. Marie Matheson, home demonstration agent, and explaining to the home demonstration club members there what she is trying to do. After she has become acquainted with the club members, she plans to return the next month and, carrying farm women from rehabilitation families with her, to visit and decide if they would like to join the home demonstration club.
Some of the club women on their part have asked for lists of rehabilitation families in their communities that they may give them personal invitations to become club members. The home agent also writes each rehabilitation woman, inviting her to attend the club meeting nearest to her home.
McDowell Interest Increasing
Interest in home demonstration work has increased steadily in McDowell County as the program of work develops under the leadership of Miss Anne Tucker, the newly appointed home demonstration agent. There have been new members at every club meeting and one meeting was attended by 40 women, seven babies, and one dog. Of the 40 women present, only five rode to the meeting. The others walked, some as far as three miles. Interest like this is indeed an inspiration to the home agent.
Meat Canning
With the coming of cold weather and the consequent slaughter of hogs, the Division of Home Demonstration Work is sending Mrs. Cornelia C. Morris, Extension Economist in Conservation and Marketing, to give meat canning demonstrations to groups of home agents and home economists in all sections of the State.
In early December she was in New Bern, Wilmington, Fayetteville, Carthage, Durham, and Winston-Salem. In January group schools will be held in Franklin, Rutherfordton, and Charlotte.
Wilson County Clubs Organizing
Miss Lois Rainwater, Home Agent in Wilson County, says November was a month of checking up and balancing accomplishments in Home Demonstration Work against goals set early in the year.
In all farm women’s clubs “Measurements for Club Activities” were discussed and each woman was asked to give one suggestion for work next year. Farm women are understanding that the object of home demonstration work is “to build better homes, better farms, and better communities,” along with develop leadership.
Wilson is a newly organized county but it is well on its way in training fine leaders.
Craven Club Leaders
As a result of the leaders’ school held by Miss Mamie Whisnant, State Assistant Specialist in Home Management, the Craven County Home Agent says four of her 18 club meetings held during November were conducted entirely by project leaders. At these meetings homemakers seemed to enjoy taking an inventory of their household goods and planning the improvements they hoped to make in 1936.
Macclesfield Club Wins Steam Pressure Cooker
The Macclesfield Home Demonstration Club of Edgecombe County was presented with a steam pressure cooker for the best work done during the past year, and the club members will have the use of this cooker during the coming year.
November Agent Training
The entire staff of Agricultural and Home Demonstration Extension workers will meet at State College, Raleigh, December 16-20, to discuss county plans and how the farm and home agents will cooperate in carrying them out in community, county, and state.
In the mornings, joint meetings of men and women will be conducted by Dean I.O. Schaub and in the afternoon home demonstration and agricultural groups will hold separate sessions.
Through the whole program will run the thought “What Can Philosophy Contribute to a Better Understanding of the Agricultural Situation?” This will be discussed by Dr. Taeusch of the Agricultural Extension Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, at the first session and be carried further in the afternoon for special groups of men and women agents.
Publicity
Publicity committees in Home Demonstration Clubs are functioning well in Rutherford County, for every club reported the doings of club members during November, and the two county newspapers published them.
I believe almost any county newspaper would furnish space if home demonstration club reporters would write in a readable style the interesting things that happen in every community.
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