"Personal Mention" News From Farmers Across North Carolina, March 1953

“Personal Mention” by Frank Jeter, published in the March, 1953, issue of Extension Farm-News

When Bill Carpenter was married, he gave the Farm Journal a real boost. He and his promised bride set the date of their wedding as per the long-range weather prediction in FJ so they might travel by auto to Florida. To Bill’s surprise, it worked.

Haywood County held its usual big celebration honoring the communities which won first place in North Carolina’s original community development program with White Oak taking the $500 check. Jonathan Woody and R.C. Francis were there, of course, upholding the capable Haywood Extension group in their annual undertaking.

By the way, in case you didn’t already know it, Orange County made it awful tough for Rockingham County in that statewide Community Development contest. Ran Rockingham such a close second, you couldn’t measure the distance between them.

Consider E.J. Simpson, who tried many visits to get a Duplin club boy to install lights in his poultry house. Agent Simpson takes the flu and his wife goes to that home for their weekly supply of fresh eggs. She too suggests lights and the next trip her husband makes by that farm, he sees the lights burning brightly. “I should maybe take over the housekeeping,” shrugs husband Simpson.

When S.N. Hawks held the annual tobacco school in Martin County, Tom Brandon says all seats were filled in the County Courthouse, including the jury box and the witness stand. The aisles were filled and the stairways clogged. A real fire hazard. Specialist Hawks discussed production and nematode control.

C.H. Kirkman Jr. and L.C. Hasty reported to the Bertie County Commissioners that they worked 41 days in February.

Mrs. Corrine Justice Grimsley was guest lecturer in the Kentucky Extension Conference during the first week in February. She told them how to be young at any age and if anyone could do it, Mrs. Grimsley is the person.

Clyde Peedin and the Prophet Mohammed have much in common. When Wayne tobacco growers were too busy to come to an extension meeting in February, Mr. Peedin when to them. He found them in filling stations, combination grocery and supply stores and in all such spots. He missed on combination filling station however, so Mark Goforth took over. Peedin could go that day because a son was being born at the Goldsboro hospital. Twenty-seven men were grouped around the stove that day as Mark told them about this year’s tobacco crop.

Bud Shanklin has found $3,000 to be used for prize money and has revived the old-time, five-acre cotton production contest. He acknowledges the full support of the Cotton Seed Crushers Association, the Cotton Co-op, the Ginners, and the State Cotton Committee. Entries close June 1.

Robeson’s efficient Negro Agent, S.T. Lloyd, says one never knows the problems he will face as he travels among his people. Agent Lloyd had to decide whether one of his cooperating farmers should go to the hospital.

Eli Morgan has an additional job. The County Commissioners have placed him in charge of planning for a caretaker tenant family now farming the 16 acres comprising the old Sampson County Home farm. Eli says they want to know if a family can make a living on 16 acres.

The newly formed Albemarle Swine Breeders Association held its first sale, a successful one, on Friday, February 13.

Word from Graham Morrison, speaking this time at swank Greenbrier Hotel at White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. That fellow is really working in the high cotton these days.

H.R. Niswonger advises everyone to have a home garden this year and he tells an interesting story about it in Manly Mann’s Carolina Co-operator for February.

Dr. Jim Hilton is a member of Secretary Benson’s 13-man dairy advisory committee. John Brown tells an interesting story about how artificial breeding became to be used on a Grayson County, Virginia, farm. One man over there just couldn’t be convinced that the practice had any merit. One day he tuned in on the Mt. Airy radio station and heard Col. Neill Smith tell how the plan was working in Surry. John says the dissenter became a convert and now is a hearty advocate of the idea.

J.L. Rea Jr., who is Otto Owen’s replacement in Robeson tells a story about R.C. Pearce of Ransomville, Beaufort County, who traveled all the way to Robeson to see the concrete silo built by Stone Brothers for $485. Mr. Pearce read an item from this editorial office telling about the silo and he rented the steel forms to build one for himself.

One never knows. Our first Farm Press and Radio Institute was a success, we think, and we plan to hold another next February.

Chick Parrish is the successful founder and booster of an Exchange Club on the Western Boulevard, here in Raleigh, and the ladies night out there on February 17 was as nice an affair as could be held anywhere. The folks have their own well-equipped Community house.

Five longtime grist mills in Yadkin County have been converted into feed grinding mills because of the increase in livestock, and R.D. Smith says other mills also will add the mixing units. He says this assures Yadkin farmers of a good quality of home-mixed feeds.

Wilkes and Alexander counties are working to get a cannery at Taylorsville to use cull apples, snap beans, wild blackberries, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and other such products. Grover Dobbins says it looks like sure thing.

The Grady Fullers announce another production goal reached on January 10. The young lady weighed 7 pounds, 5 ounces, and bears the proud name of Cheryl Lynn Fuller.

Frank Harris thought the best time to catch up on his reading was when he was ill with influenza. That’s what he thought. But the Catawba Assistant was so weak he deiced it was best to do nothing and maybe read some next Christmas. He did spend one holiday hunting rabbits with the folks in the Sherrills Ford section…15 men and 15 beagles had a big time.

Listen to the lyric words of Graham’s W.H. Flake, “It’s only a short time until Spring will break forth in all its splendor of sunshine and warmth.” Those words were penned by singer flake in the heart of a cold mountain January and show what optimists these county agents are.

Two minutes after his phone had been connected in the farm home of Lee Goodman, Gold Hill Route 1, he put in a call to Salisbury for Rowan’s P.H. Satterwhite. “My first call is going to you,” Mr. Goodman said.

Ruth Current, Bob Shoffner and Club Leader Harrill back from Texas with tales as wild as an old-time Texas steer about the wonderful hospitality out there. They attended the Extension leaders meeting in Dallas and then journeyed to Terrell for the Fifty Year Anniversary. Lots of barbecued beef and a wonderful program at the Walter Porter farm. The two Porter sons, Harry and Bill, have a real farm. Miss Current said the celebration program went through without a hitch. It’s been decided to have our North Carolina celebration during Farm and Home Week in June, on Wednesday afternoon, June 10.

Another wonderful suggestion from Miss Current. Let’s have a North Carolina Extension Song! A sort of loyalty song, like an Alma Mater. Who will be the first to write the words and music?

Director Weaver likes our new seal on agricultural publications from the Station and Extension Service. He suggests we ask the entire college to adopt the seal.