The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1913-12-05
farmers CLUBS ARE
DOING MUCH GOOD
Continually Working to Better
Rural Conditions.
THREE HUNDRED IN STATE
(6y HARVEY M. BUSH, Extension Di.
vision. University Farm. ST Paull

VtoiOUy university TduI.}
At present there are about 300
farmers clubs in the state Of Mime
sofa. These clubs are doing a great
deal to better rural conditions at the
present time. They benefit the peo-
pie of the communities in which they
exist in three ways: % socially, (2)
educationally, and CO financially. The
social features OF these farmers clubs
are most Important With the month
y or bimOnthly meetings OF the clubs
the people OF the community are
brought together so they become bet
ter acquainted with each other and
the distrust which so often exists in
. community disappears.
These meetings also give the peo-
pie of a community place to 60
Most farmers are forced to stay too
closely at their work and their homes.
This lack OF association is felt more
BY the women and children than by
the men. With a pleasant day to look
forward to once a month the women
and children will be more contented
With farm work and less liable to leave
the farm for town life. One of the big
problems today is holding the women
and children on the farms and inter-
esting them in the farm business. BY
attending these club meetings and
listening to the discussions OF farm
practice which they do not hear at
home they are shown the more in
teresting side Of farming and their in
terest in the farm work is increased.
The educational feature of these
farmers club meetings is the making
general of the knowledge of each in.
dividual member of the club. Through
the discussion Of farm topics which is
entered into by the club members the
best is brought out.
The financial features of the club
encourage cooperation among its
members. Cooperative companies
which will increase the efficiency of
the members in producing and market
ing the farm crops can be formed as
an outgrowth of their social club.
An easy way to start one of these
clubs Is for some family of a COM
munity to invite two or three OF their
nelghboring families to their home.
A good dinner can be prepared, also
program which may consist of a few
readings, Rotations, and some music.
There is nothing like good meal to
break down reserve and make people
sociable and put them into a better
frame of mind to accept such prOpo-
sition and act on it favorably. If de-
sired, some high school agricultural
Instructor, county agricultural agent,
or representative OF the Agricultural
help present proposition and effect
the organization of the club. A SIM
PIE constitution may be adopted and
officers elected. These officers should
be the people who are most interest
cd and most likely to make a success
OF the club, instead of those most
popular In the community.
The Minnesota public library CON-
mission sends out free travelling libra
ries to farmers clubs, on application.
These consist Of twenty-five books OF
the best reading on agriculture and
domestic science. No farmers club
should be without one of these libra
Kies. The Agricultural Extension Di-
vision, at University Farm, st. Paul,
sends out each month outlined timely
topics and short articles which can
be used by farmers clubs at their
regular meetings. These are sent to
any farmers club in Minnesota on
application. If you are a booster,
boost for farmers club in your COM
munity.