Pine Mountain Settlement School
Series 11: Farm
Farm Defense Program
HARLAN COUNTY Farm Defense Program (WWII)
TAGS: Farm Defense Program, Harlan County, Kentucky, Henry Creech, Gray Williams, milk, eggs, meat, garden products, farm production increases, 1942, tractors, John S. Gardner, Miss Emily University of Kentucky, food values
COUNTY PLANS FARM DEFENSE PROGRAM 1942
Special to the Pine Cone, Mr. William Hayes, Farm Supervisor
Harlan County, as well as all the other 119 counties of the state, is taking active steps in the line of defense at home. The Harlan County farm defense board has as the representative from this district Mr. Henry Creech. The defense board pointed out that the small farms in this county can do a big part to help our Government. Mr. Gray Williams said, “We can’t hope to produce food to be shipped out of the county, but we can increase the amount of food produced in the county and thereby reduce the enormous amount of food products shipped into Harlan County.”
This year 1942, all the farmers of the county have been asked to produce more milk, poultry, eggs, beef cattle, and garden products.
A meeting of four counties — Laurel, Bell, Harlan, and Whitley — was held at Pineville. The main purpose of the committees formed is to get the people of the community together to discuss matters related to the program. Among the speakers was Miss Emily of University of Kentucky, who spoke of food values. The other speaker was Mr. John S. Gardner of U.K., who specializes in garden products. These meetings are called whenever Mr. Gray Williams feels it necessary.
Secretary Wickard* said,
“We, as farmers, are to produce and meet the war demand. The nation’s manpower should be used effectively on farms, as well as in the military service and in defense industries. Enough farm workers must be available at all times if we are to produce the food supplies that are vital in winning the war, but our farms must also help supply men for the armed forces and for other defense work.”
The Pine Cone, March 7, 1942, p.3
- *Claude R. Wickard was the Secretary of Agriculture (February 28, 1893 – April 29, 1967) was a Democratic politician who served as the Secretary of Agriculture during the administrations of Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman from 1940 to 1945.
SEE ALSO:
FARM Harlan County Soil Conservation 1958, 1960
WELLS RECORD 08 PMSS Farm Dairy Poultry
DANCING IN THE CABBAGE PATCH Farm and Dairy II Morris Years
