Victory Farm Volunteers brochure, July 1943

Food supply

Civil defense

Brochure describing the Victory Farm Volunteers program, a subsidiary program of the U.S. Crop Corps. The brochure called on American boys and girls to work on farms to help support the effort to produce the necessary amount of food for the war effort. Victory Farm Volunteers were paid wages, although they were responsible for their own living expenses unless they were covered by the farmer for whom they were working.

State Archives of Florida, Series S419

U.S. Government Printing Office

1943-07

United States Department of Agriculture, Extension Service

brochures

eng-US

Text

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Florida during World War II (1939-1945)

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published July 1943

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Agriculture and Livestock

U.S. Crop Corps

VICTORY FARM VOLUNTEERS
OF THE U.S. CROP CORPS.
NEED 500,000 BOYS AND GIRLS

AWI-52 JULY 1943

WHY THE FARMER NEEDS YOUR HELP
The farmer has one of the Nation's most important jobs. Uncle Sam has called on him to raise food for our fighting men, our war workers, and our allies. His sons and hired men may be in the armed forces or working in war plants. More food than ever must be produced with fewer people to do it. Everybody who can must help!

HOW BOYS AND GIRLS CAN GET WORK ON A FARM THIS SUMMER
Be a Victory Farm Volunteer. This is the title given boys and girls volunteering for work on farms this summer. The volunteers are part of the U. S. Crop Corps. The best estimates is that half a million boys and girls will be needed.
In many high schools the Victory Farm Volunteers may be a part of High School Victory Corps. Private and parochial schools may also organize a VFV group. A teacher in the school will be in charge of Victory Farm Volunteer recruitment. County agricultural agents with the help of local volunteer committees will arrange for the placement and supervision of the boys and girls on farms.

COOPERATION OF YOUTH-SERVING AGENCIES
Youth-serving agencies are participating wholeheartedly in the Victory Farm Volunteer program. In many sections of the country they are running farm work camps and other VFV programs. Boys and girls can apply through local club leaders and youth-serving agencies, or the Junior Citizen Service Corps of the Civilian Defense Councils. Such groups will be considered full members of VFV and will, of course, be eligible for the insignia and certificate of service.

WHO CAN JOIN THE VICTORY FARM VOLUNTEERS
Any able-bodied boy or girl who is 14 years of age or older and willing to help with farm work can join. The greatest demand will be for boys who are 16 and 17 years old and girls who are 16 years old or older.
Members of the Victory Farm Volunteers will not wear uniforms. Insignia, as shown on the back of this folder, will be available. Certificates of service will be issued at the end of the season to recruits who make good.

TRAINING
Many volunteers will receive some training through the schools. The training will vary in each county and school and may include scheduled instruction periods during school hours, Saturday training in organized groups, talks by agricultural agents and leading farmers, and week-end visits to farms. In addition, volunteers will be given physical conditioning in school and taught how to keep in good condition for their work. Most of the training in farm skills will be done on the job by the farmer, but every effort will be made to give certain skill training before the young people are employed.

KINDS OF FARM SERVICE
There are three types of placement.
1. Living with the farmer's family, doing general farm work, such as harvesting and threshing grain, making hay, and caring for livestock. Young people volunteering for this type of placement will be expected to sign up for 2 to 4 months.
2. Living at home, being transported daily to and from the farm, for special jobs. Young people working on this basis will sign up for various lengths of time.
3. Living in a supervised camp, helping to harvest vegetables, fruits, and other crops. Work camps will generally run from 1 to 2 months.
The type of farming, the labor needs, and other factors will determine where the Victory Farm Volunteers will be placed.

SUPERVISION
Supervision will be provided for the mutual protection of all concerned. Farms, as well as the recruits assigned to these farms, will be

carefully selected. Those who live on farms will be visited regularly by the emergency farm labor assistant (VFV). He will help the boy or girl become acquainted in the community and take part in its activities. 4-H Clubs, Future Farmers' chapters, Defense Councils, and other community organizations will do all they can to make the Victory Farm Volunteers welcome.

WAGES
The farmer for whom they work will pay the Victory Farm Volunteers the same wages as those paid to other workers in the community doing the same kind and amount of work.
Expenses will by paid by the volunteers out of what they earn, except then the farmer agrees to pay transportation and furnish room and board as part of the pay. In camps, young people will usually be charged a specified weekly rate for their living expenses at the camp.

FARMERS' INTEREST IN THE VICTORY FARM VOLUNTEERS
Farmers who employ these volunteers will not expect them to be seasoned, skilled farm workers from the start. The Extension Service will encourage farmers to start the volunteers on the simpler jobs first, until their muscles are hardened to do more difficult tasks.
Farms will be selected according to standards set up by local farm placement committees, generally in accordance with Guides to Successful Employment of Nonfarm Youth in Wartime Agriculture, published by the Children's Bureau of the United States Department of Labor.

INSURANCE
Victory Farm Volunteers and their superiors can get special accident policy at a much reduced rate from a number of insurance companies. The policy will insure the workers for 3 months and will pay up to $250 for any medical expenses incurred in connection with an accident. It provides $500 for loss of life, and up to $1,000 for loss of limb or of sight. It will cover the worker 24 hours a day wherever he may be, and will remain in effect for the full 3 months, even though the worker does not remain in farm work for the whole period. The policy costs $4. It can be renewed for an additional 3 months for $4, or for an additional month for $1.50. Application forms can be obtained from the county agricultural agent's office.

ADVANTAGES OF FARM WORK
Farm work is war work. Producing food is the most vital war job young people can do. It is just as important as tanks and guns in winning the war.
Farm work makes for physical fitness. It provides the satisfactions of the out-of-doors. Experience in the country will broaden your outlook and give you a better understanding of the farmer's part in our life.

For further information see your local school officials, the county agricultural agent, State Department of Education, or Extension Service of the State agricultural college.

EXTENSION SERVICE
United States Department of Agriculture
In Collaboration With United States Office of Education and other Government and private agencies

VFW

U.S. Government Printing Office 16-36026-1

VICTORY FARM VOLUNTEERS
OF THE U.S. CROP CORPS.
NEED 500,000 BOYS AND GIRLS

AWI-52 JULY 1943