The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1886-01-21
THE Farmers Institute at this place

the county being represented in the at
tendance. The Institute was largely an
experiment and it was feared that the
want of association among the farmers of
this county would operate to prevent
attendance. But thisfear proved ground
less. 1t was one of the largsst institutes
held in the state and the interest shown
was all that could be desired. The great
est difficulty arose from the fact that our
farmers not being accustomed to give
expression to their views in large as
semblages, were too timid to ask ques-
tions, express disapproval or give their
experience. The session was too short
to allow this feeling of embarrassment to
wear off wholly, though the last half day
of the session it was evident that this
difidence was wearing off and question
ing became much more common.
Farmers will make a serious mistake if
they act upon the opinion that the only
good they get are the suggestions which
they can put in immediate practice on
the farm. The good consists mainly in
creating desire to meet in local associa-
tons and there discuss principles of
farming among themselves.
In this connection the experience of
teachers furnish a safe guide. The
teachers institute is recognized power
fer good in this county, but it is because
it gives inspiration to the teacher and
makes him search for himself the best
methods of impartiDg instruction. The
desire naturally drives him to forming
local associations, and there is no pro
fession the members of which hold meet
ings to discuss the principles underlying
their work in which better work is done
or more practical than at these meetings.
Many of the younger teachers prompted
by this spirit of improvement have for
INFLATED methods of their own which
might proitably be followed by some of
our college professors. While those who
do not believe in ssociations have be-
come fossils and are of but little use in
the school room.
This is precisely what the farmer
SHOULD do, become inspired with pur-
pose to do the very best he can and prof
it by the experience of his co workers.
The more mind he uses on his farm the
better the results and the more pleasant
the labor, and it exerts an influence on
his children. When the father shows
that he manages his farm well, favors
meetings where principles of farming are
discussed, the child feels that the exer-
else of mind is essential in everything he
does as our habits are largely inherited,
and thus the parent educates the child
while making his own work more profit
able and pleasant.
The farmers institute held at this place
will be wholly without value unless it be
followed up by farmers clubs, and every
farmer who joins should resolve to make
the meetings as practical and valuable as
possible. Man is naturally social be-
ing and it is much better that there
should be place of meeting where valu-
able discussions may take place than that
people should congregate at groceries
and soloons and retail idle gossip. Be-
sides how much better to teach children
by the practice of the parents that PEG.
pie can assemble for some other purpose
than to drink or dance. The very ap.
pearance of Hiram Smith of Sheboygan
should be an inspiration to farmer, and
particularly to one that is raising fam
lily. If the old man has a son he cannot
be otherwise than proud of his father, in
his green old age-the result of good
habits and the exercise of his mind in
the management of his farm. Mr.. Smith
has no more natural ability than many
OF our farmers, nor has he the quality of
leadership in any greater degree. Any
one who sees the old man must believe
he has pleasant home, and his family
could have no better guide than the faith
er's life. We can have just such farmers
in this county and their influence for
good may be fully equal to his. All that
is needed is that their power be e1erted
in the right direction. This can be done
through the fundamentally of farmers
clubs.
The gentleman at the head of the COM
mittee for the organization of these clubs.
Mr.. Fred Schuette, shows in the man
agement of his own business that he un.
derstands the value of system. The far
mers have no better friend or one more
unselfish and he should find his work in
this direction easy. For years The Pilot
has urged the ACCESSIBILITY of organizing
these clubs and for the reason that the
writer felt the advantages likely to result
both as an educating agency and in more
systematic farming while he worked on
the farm Now that step is taken in
the right direction the motion should be
kept up. Without these clubs the insti-
tute will be of little value. With them
the young mau will no longer 20 to the
groggary for amusement but will be oc.
cupied III planning how best to make his
farm attractive in appearance, and pro.
ductive. No good can come of institutes
unless through the active participation of
farmers. 1t doesn't do particle of good
to hear a paper read at an institute I'm
less the hearers mind is active and in.
curing. Let every locality have it's far
mers' club and let these clubs be organ
lied now while the farmer has time and
we will soon see the benefit in more pro-
ductive farmers, and better habits on
the part OF our young people.
SCHUETTE EROS.