The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1902-07-25
REMOVING COUNTRY isolation.
How More Than Three Hundred
Farmers Clubs Have Drown
Up in Michigan.
State and County organiz atoms.

| Iue IdrmerS CLUBS IN the STATE OF
Michigan are so successful and have
done so much for the rural communities
in which they have been organized that
it seems almost in the nature of duty
to place before the farmers of our entire
country description of the farmers
club work as conducted in the banner
farmer club State of the Union.
A farmers club is the result of feel
ing in rural community that some
thing is needed in the line of farmers
organization; and this feeling must be
| strong, for effort is required, as the
clubs have no paid organizers or officials
to organize new clubs. Clubs are Or
gained only where the community in
its sober moments wants them, and
when organized they stay.
| This organization admits to member
ship every member of the family, from
the grandsire to the babe, and welcomes
the guests and friends of members to its
meetings; for its principle has always
been that it is not only willing but
anxious that all understand club work
and club methods 1t is this open door
principle which has been the primary
cause of the rapid growth of farmers
clubs in popular favor
The clubs usually consist of twenty to
twenty-five families situated within
driving distance of one another, and,
with the exception of the charter mem
bers, new families are admitted by bal
lot, thus insuring congenial company.
The clubs meet once each month in the
homes of members in rotation, each
member being called upon to entertain
once in about two years. In the six
winter months all day meetings are
held, or from about 1890 a. m, until
p. NJ; and dinner is enjoyed with the
host and hostess. In the summer the
meetings are held in the afternoon, or
from 1 80 until early evening, and sup
per is enjoyed at the club. 1t will be
noticed that the hours of meeting are
such that the youthful and the feeble
members may retire to their homes and
to their beds with no sacrifice of needed
rest. While some clubs divide the re-
sponsibility of the meal, in majority
of them the persons in whose home the
club is held provide the dinner or supper
unassisted. The clubs usually own
dishes and lapboards, which are used by
the members as their turn to entertain
comes round.
Over three hundred farmers clubs in
Michigan doing active. effective work,
with membership Of over twenty-five
thousand and all organized without the
aid of paid or experienced organizers,
seems to prove that the farmers club is
worthy institution, attractive to
farmers when brought to their notice
and appreciated and supported when in
active operation.
There are many reasons why the club
idea has been so warmly received in sc
many rural communities. Farmers S,
the advantages of associated effort
The opinion of many people seems to IL
that the farming classes are ignorant {.
the advantages of organization. The
farmer is not ignorant, but sees clearly
that in an unorganized condition he j:
surely at disadvantage when he comes
into competition with other classes who
are thoroughly organized In the farm
ers' club the farmers see a simple, prac
teal aid to the solution of the question
of bringing themselves into a closer
social and business relation. The need
of society where the members of the
rural communities can meet once each
month for mental improvements and
social enjoyment is appreciated in every
such community, and by any one who
has ever dwelt in a rural neighborhood
In the club we have the ideal rura
social centre. 1t is not secret society
it dispenses entirely with the forms and
, ceremonies which secret work entails
hence it is attractive to those people
who from principle or for other reasons
do not approve of the star chamber
Having no secrets we can freely wei
come every member of the family tc
membership, and guests and friends tc
our meetings. This is the only non
secret organization except the Christian
Church and the societies associated with
, it that has ever been introduced into
rural communities so far as am able tc
, learn. Meeting, as we do, in our owr
! homes, it creates desire on the part OF
, the members to have their homes lool
tidy and attractive, and to have the
farm look well tended and productive
and the whole place to have genera
air of prosperity. This inculcates love
Of home and an interest in home life
self-respect in every member of the
family and contentment on the farm.
The expense of membership is nominal
1t is probable that the average annual
expense is not over ten cents member
This does not include the expense of en-
tertaining the club; but, as every family
is entertained twenty or more times fol
every time it is called on to entertain
and from the fact that a large part of
the wherewithal to supply the demands
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