Robeson County Home and Poor Farm, Jane McKimmon Honored for Work in Bringing Electricity to State, 1937

“Around the State” in the January, 1937, issue of the Carolina Co-Operator

SUCCESS AT ROBESON CO. “POOR FARM”

When three years ago Robeson County Commissioners wanted a manager for their County Home and Farm they turned to Duke University graduate L.D. Edens, then 40 years old, and offered him the post which carries with it the responsibility of taking care of 115 inmates as well as managing the farm.

Mr. Edens buckled down to his job with the aim to make less poor what was commonly called the “county poor farm.” He has succeeded to the extent that today the word “poor” might well be crossed out and “rich” substituted in its place.

His first thought when he took over the farm was diversification and more emphasis on live stock. Today he can point proudly to the fact that during his regime nary an egg has been bought—a flock of white leghorns supplied a sufficiency of these right on the farm.

He also keeps plenty of hogs: 12 brood sows, and one boar—and this year he will kill 60 head weighing about 15,000 pounds. Self-feeders are used in fattening the hogs, along with FCX fish meal, and Mr. Edens’ records show that his meat cost him only 5 cents a pound to produce.

Fifteen dairy cows provide milk and butter for home consumption and a registered Jersey bull keeps the quality of the herd on the upgrade.

Of crops, the harvest is bountiful, as records for 1936 show: 1,250 bushels corn, 375 bushels wheat, 40 tons hay, 700 bushels sweet potatoes, 300 bushels Irish potatoes, and 2,000 gallons of peas, beans, and peaches canned for home use.

The Robeson County Home grows all it can on its own farm, but for farm supplies it must buy it turns to the Robeson FCX. “I am a great believer in quality,” said Manager Edens, “and the best assurance I have in getting it in farm supplies is to patronize my own farm cooperative which is farmer-owned and farmer-controlled. Too, FCX feeds are approved by our own State College of Agriculture.”

ELECTRICITY COMING

Rural power lines have been rising in North Carolina at the rate of one pole every five minutes of every working day since July 1, 1935, according to the State Rural Electrification Authority.

Between 750 and 1,000 customers have received power service each month since the program was inaugurated, said Dudley Bagley, REA chairman.

HONORED FOR SERVICE

Co-workers piled another honor on the heap already won by Dr. Jane S. McKimmon, assistant director of State extension, when at their December convention they presented her with the Epsilon Sigma Phi key studded with the ruby of distinguished service to American agriculture and two diamonds significant of 25 years’ service to rural North Carolina.

The woman leader, so busy that during 25 years of extension work she has had only one vacation, was also presented with a purse of $250 with the implicit understanding that it is to be used for a vacation trip. Just where she will go Mrs. McKimmon does not yet know, though Florida is likely.

Others Honored

At the same time certificates in honor of 20 years of service were presented to the following: Mrs. Estelle T. Smith of State College; Miss Elizabeth Gainey of Cumberland County; F.E. Patton of Rutherford County; J.P. Quinerly of Columbus County; Mrs. Cornelia C. Morris, A.O. Alford, B. Troy Ferguson, O.F. McCrary, and Frank H. Jeter, all of State College.