Mr. Edward O. Robinson, who died in 1934, set up the Mountain Fund that supported many important functions in Breathitt, Knott, and Perry Counties.

The 1926 Robinson Harvest Festival

By Lula M. Hale, Field Worker Robinson Substation

At Quicksand, Kentucky

Mountain Life and Work, January 1927

Someone has said that where there is a big need and a little faith that need will be met. Surely there is a big need for better agricultural conditions in the mountains of Kentucky. The time was when, if the contents of the "smoke-house" ran low, there was a forest of game nearby. The time was when, in case of financial emergency, such as a doctor's bill, there was a black walnut tree standing on the farm. Today these conditions are changed, yet the population is rapidly increasing and the demands for the necessities of life are becoming greater. Everywhere one meets the same situation; the farm man working at the "public works" to supplement the meager income from his farm. As a solution of the problem, some have suggested that the people cease farming altogether and move to another section, while the hills reforest themselves. Some have been bold enough to suggest that they remain in the mountains and try to meet the changing conditions with better or different agricultural methods. But, so long as folks remain here, the difficulties of drainage, soil erosion, transportation, and marketing will be serious problems on the mountain farms.

A few years ago, Mr. E. O. Robinson, of Fort Thomas, Kentucky, began thinking seriously about these conditions. He found others thinking about them. Among these were Thomas P. Cooper, Dean and Director of the College of Agriculture; Dr. Frank L. McVey, President of the University of Kentucky; Dr. William J. Hutchins, President of Berea College; and the Honorable W. J. Fields, Governor of Kentucky. In 1923, Mr. Robinson and his partner in the lumber business, Mr. F. W. Mowbray, of Cincinnati, Ohio, donated their holdings of some 15,000 acres in Eastern Kentucky to the University of Kentucky. The legislature of 1924 passed an act, appropriating $25,000 annually for the operation of a branch of the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station in the eastern part of the state, and designated that it should be known as the Robinson Agricultural Experiment Substation. Thus it was that the Robinson Agricultural Experiment Substation came into existence. The same legislature which created this substation for Eastern Kentucky created one also for the western section of the state. Thomas P. Cooper is director of all agricultural work. Experienced men, who are heads of the various departments of the Lexington Experiment Station, outline the work for the substations. The personnel of the Robinson Substation consists of the superintendent, Mr. R. W. Jones, Jr.; the forester, Mr. C. H. Burrage; and the field worker, Miss Lula M. Hale.

It so happens that the lands donated are located in the heart of the hills in Knott, Perry, and Breathitt Counties. Therefore, the Robinson Substation is well situated, with headquarters at Quicksand, on the Appalachian Highway, and one mile distant from the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. The land is typical mountain land, and is therefore, admirably adapted to experiments in mountain agriculture.

It is hard to give a conception of the actual work accomplished since 1924. Much time was spent in cleaning up the debris from two lumber camps, including over 100 dwellings, and what was supposed to be one of the largest hardwood sawmills in the world. Log buggies and railroad tracks were removed. Shops, poultry houses, and barns were erected, while other buildings were repaired for permanent use. Now the Substation is conducting investigations and demonstrations in horticulture, agronomy, animal husbandry, and home making. The horticulture department has experiments in fruit and berry growing, potato raising, and gardening. The agronomy department has many experiments with field crops, grasses, and fertilizers. The animal husbandry department is conducting experiments with dairy cattle, hogs, and poultry, while the home making department has two cottages furnished as model mountain homes for observation work and classes. The major portion of the acreage donated is given over to reforestation and experiments in timber production. Investigations in regard to the practicability of this project and the development of a permanent forest industry are being undertaken. Necessarily, much time has been spent in fixing boundary lines, making contour maps, and estimating timber. Also, in making trails over which might be carried tools, and means for fighting forest fires.

Last spring those in charge of the Substation felt that the work had reached the point where a festival would be in order. Plans were accordingly made for the holding of the Robinson Harvest Festival on the 23rd and 24th of September. Material outlining the work and purpose of the Substation, and data for the agricultural fair were collected. Several thousand copies of this bulletin were printed and distributed throughout Eastern Kentucky. The good news was spread far up the creeks and down the rivers of nearby counties. Further generosity on the part of Mr. Robinson made it possible to offer substantial premiums for farm and home products.

The interest manifested was remarkable, and the exhibits far exceeded the expectations of those in charge. One person from a distance remarked that he had attended fairs, large and small, but he had never seen a better display of farm products, poultry, stock, needlework, and canning than was exhibited here. The larger settlement and church schools, throughout the mountain section, cooperated and added much to the success by sending splendid displays and by having representatives present. Another encouraging feature of the festival was that a number of the prize winners were folks who had obtained a start from the Robinson Substation farm. For example, the woman winning the most prizes on poultry had purchased egg settings from the Substation, and the winner of the sweepstake on hogs had obtained his stock here. In a number of instances, ribbons were tied on corn raised from seed grown on the Robinson Substation farm.

One department of our exhibits labeled "Miscellaneous" contained rare, curious, and antique articles. Among the many queer old dishes was a plate entered from Knott County, which had been given as a wedding present in Virginia more than 100 years ago. There were old deeds, notes, and books, one of which was a history and the business proceedings of the first church organized in Breathitt County. Letters dating from 1822 were exhibited. A very interesting one from a man near Prestonsburg to Mr. Samuel Stone, who was a candidate "down in the state," contained about the same political advice as such a letter of today might. Space will not permit us to go into detail about old dress hoops, cedar piggins, coins, fire arms, Indian artifacts, flax hackles, rifle guides, and cooking vessels.

Mountain weaving in the old-time patterns of "Martha Washington," "Pine Bloom," "Lee's Surrender," and "Young Man's Fancy" were very much in evidence. One could not help but wish they might read in the old dyes and patterns the story of the joys, sorrows, hopes, and ambitions of their creators. One woman entered her loom. spinning wheel, reel, and cards, with a "kiver" she had made. There were articles woven in wool, cotton, and flax, too numerous to mention, except to say that a beautiful spread edged with colonial "tied lace" was captured by an admirer from Fort Thomas, Kentucky.

A unique feature of the occasion was the mountain ballad singing contest. "Song ballets," both old and modern, were sung out in the open by the five contestants. Many memories were stirred as the crowd listened to the songs familiar to childhood, but long since forgotten. A deeper interest will be manifested another year, and it is hoped that these treasures of the past handed down by word of mouth from one generation to another will continue to be the rich heritage of our mountain children. The prize was won by Robert Davis, who lives on Quicksand Creek. He rendered in a simple and effective way "Barbara Allen" and "Turkish Lady."

The hog-calling contest for men, and the chicken-calling for the women, created a great deal of interest, especially among the women. There were many chuckles from the crowd as the familiar calls were given, and those who had never thought of contesting pushed forward to show their persuasive arts on the barn yard animals. It has been suggested that the women call the cows next year, that still being a part of women's work in our mountain section.

We would not forget the fiddler's contest. Smiles of recognition and approval could be seen as the familiar strains of "Sugar in the Gourd," "Sourwood Mountain," and "Callahan" sang out from the old bows, assisted by the perpetual pat of the foot and nod of the fiddler's head.

Among the visitors to the festival were: Miss May Stone, of Hindman; Miss Mary R. McCord, of Wooton; Miss Helen Dingman, of Berea College; Miss Florence Goodell, from Montclair, New Jersey; Mr. E. O. Robinson and friends, Mr. and Mrs. Staggerman, from Fort Thomas; Professor McHenry Rhoads, of Frankfort; Mr. Fitch and Mr. Teed, of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, Lexington; Mr. James Speed, of Louisville; Mr. and Mrs. Ben E. Niles, of Henderson; Mr. C. T. Roszell, and Mr. and Mrs. Henry Giovannoli, of Lexington; Commissioner Clell Coleman, of Frankfort; Dr. Hollings, of Boston, Massachusetts; Dr. Tadlock, of Winchester; Dr. Estabrook, of Leslie County; and our own university people, President and Mrs. Frank L. McVey, Dean Thomas P. Cooper, Mr. T. R. Bryant, Mr. C. A. Mahan, and Mr. J. M. Feltner.

The festival did away with all doubt as to the confidence of the community in the project, for the folks are manifestly interested and friendly toward the work of the Substation. According to present plans, the Robinson Harvest Festival is to be a annual affair. With the farmers and schools cooperating it should develop into an agricultural fair that will mean equally as much to the mountains and Eastern Kentucky, as does the Bluegrass Fair to Central Kentucky, or the state fair to the state as a whole.

We feel that better methods of farming are gradually being introduced. We have a vision of the Kentucky mountains 50 or 75 years from today, in which happy, healthy children are going over real roads to well equipped schools. We have a vision of mothers singing about their work, because the drudgery of housekeeping has been lightened by modern improvements. We have a vision of fathers with brighter eyes and less stoops in their shoulders because of a better and easier livelihood. Will that vision be fulfilled because of good roads? The mining industry? The public schools? Better agricultural conditions? One of these or a combination of all? Or will that vision be fulfilled because of something yet undreamed of?