The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1906-01-01
A FEW FUNDAMENTALS OF
OUR BUSINESS
by H. l.. Blanchard.)


iect assigned to me, and must make
only a brief talk.
In regard to the subject as it has
been read. | chose that subject be-
cause | felt that we are, too many of
us. conducting our specialties without
as FREQUENT thought and study of the
fundamental principles as we ought.
My reason for these remarks is that
we ought to think of these matters.
l was invited not long ago to WISH
a farm in this state that is being con-
Quoted as what is termed model
farm. by capitalist. He had been
spending a great deal of money in con-
structing required buildings and ar
ranging them for the dairy business.
He had gotten to that point where the
construction of his plant was about
to require something besides money.
He seemed to realize for the first
time that he needed something to
use that money could not buy. AS
we were talking, he said: blanchard,
l am way up in the air farming
That expressed a whole lot and 1t
occurred to me too many OF us are
sway up in the air farming We can
not farm up there, simply cannot.
What we are after as dalrymen is
success. I don't care whether we are
farming with money or whether we
have no capital and have to rely on
our own eXperience-we want sue
cess Just the same The man spend
ing his money wants success. That
man said to me, referring to a build
ing which cost thousands of dollars:
81 would tear that building down and
would not hesitate a minute If it
would help my business" The man
who is out without money and must
rely on physical strength to accom-
plish results is just as anxious to
achieve success. He does not like to
discover that for any reason he is not
going to accomplish what he wants to.
Now, success is not going to be at
tanned by farming in the air." We
have to get right down on the farm
with our whole being; that is what
we have to do. We must live in our
farm. When we allow politics and
such matters to distract us, we might
as we'll throw up the sponge.
The time was when a man, regard
less of his training and wealth, could
make a living. A man farming had
less chance of starving. Viewing 1t
from that standpoint, it has been true
that a man who could do nothing else
could farm and not go to the poor
house. But that day is past. Now a
farmer to live has to do few things
that the old farmer did not have to do.
We are in an age of progress and
the business of farming is fast being
lifted out of that condition whereby
any man can live on farm. The
present conditions are such that
farmer cannot possess too much
knowledge.
This gentleman whom I referred to
is a man who has made wonderful
success in the business world. | had
never met him before, though | had
often heard of him, and we got we'll
acquainted and he admitted that he
was farming in the air. He had reach
ed the point where it required more
ability than anything he had ever
undertaken before.
Why was this man in the air? Sim
ply because he did not understand
few fundamentals. What is our BUSH
ness? This association was organized
by and represents the combined inter
ests of the farmers and creameries of
this state. We are supposed to work
together; our interests are along the
same lines. What is the upshot of this
work? To present on the market our
butter and cheese in the best shape
possible That is what we are working
for. We trace this away back. All
our work ends in gallon of cream
and pound of butter Get the money
for it and that settles it.
Now I will not touch upon quality
here, but desire to touch upon the
cost of a gallon of cream and pound
of butter. We can exercise all our