The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1913-04-16
STATE SYSTEM
FARMERS CLUBS
Question of Increased Farm Produc.
tions, Maintenance Of Soil FertiI-
ity, Better Transportation.
GOOD SYSTEM OF COOPERATION
Farmers Must Organize and Study on
Their Part if They Would Solve
Grave Questions.

In this day and age of agitation and
unrest, much concern has been ex
pressed concerning the farmer and his
business. The question of increased
crop production, maintenance of soil
fertility, better methods of transpor.
tation and marketing crops, improved
rural schools and the upbuilding OF
the rural churches, all are receiving
earnest attention. In some instances
the farmers are active in these move
ments, but in the vast majority of
cases it is some man or body of men
more or less remote from the real
farmer. While these discussions are
timely and of interest to many peo-
pie, still they will not go very far to-
wards getting desired results. No
permanent relief need be looked for
until the farmers, as body, seriously
take up these problems. Then, and
then alone, will we get tangible re-
suits. This means thorough system
OF cooperation, organization and study
on their part. 1t must be an organi-
cation of the farmers, by the farmers,
for the farmers. This organization
work must be more or less volunteer
on the part of these people as
forced methods will not succeed A
good system of farmers clubs would
help solve this problem. There are
various kinds and sizes of farmers
clubs in operation at the present time
Many of these are doing most excel
lent work. Each has it's advantages
and disadvantages. A real farmers
club ought to be of equal benefit to
each and every one of it's members 1t
should furnish something of real in
terest and benefit to the father, the
mother and the children.
In the writer's estimation, one of
the most helpful and satisfactory kind
of clubs is one composed of twelve
families. Such club should meet at
least once month and with differ
ent family each month. In this way
each member would have the oppor-
tunity of entertaining the other men,
bers and their families at least once
each year. These meetings should &C.
cupy the entire day. Everything on
the farm and in the house should be
carefully inspected and discussed. In
this way helpful suggestions may be
obtained. Occasionally an outside
speaker might be secured to present
some useful line of work. Provision
should always be made for helpful
program with ample time for discus
sions. Timely topics from the agri-
cultural press, station and college bull
letins should be presented for dis
cussion. The secretary should ar
range with the state college and other
institutions to secure the loan of
packet libraries" for the use of the
members of the club. These libraries
should contain interesting and useful
reading material for the men, women,
boys and girls.
The various local clubs should have
township organization composed of
say the president and one other mem
Der of each local club. The various
townships should form a county or
ganization and the cunties a state
work must be done in the individual
clubs and the larger organizations
will prove useful in dealing with mat
ters of township, county, state or
nation wide interest.
The organization of these clubs
should be very largely volunteer in
nature 1t should not be the work of
some professional organizer. In other
words, no club should be started
where the people do not want it. In
these small clubs only people congen-
ial to each other should belong to
the same club. All must pull together
for success.
The agricultural extension depart
ment of the Iowa State college stands
ready to render any assistance within
it's power to clubs already organized
or to people in communities wishing
to organize clubs. Copies of suggest
i've forms of constitution and bylaws
will be sent free to those wishing the
same. Bulletins and other printed
material will be furnished. During
the spring, summer and fall months
a limited number of speakers are
available for this work-W. J. Ken
Ar, Eyfp NJ