Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-06-28
DAILY HINTS ON
FARM TOPICS
Rv K A K;rknatrick
By K. A. Kirkpatrick
Farmers Clubs.

Farmers Clubs.
In q neighboring state where the
writer recently worked, there were
over 100 live Farmers clubs In OK.
istence. These clubs were product
i've Of the very best In farming lines.
There was never club started In
the community that did not tend to
bring the farmers closer together as
class and to start the community
on an era Of material, social and in
tellectual growth. 1t was almost
pathetic at times to see the efforts
which families would make to at
tend the meetings OF these clubs, es-
pecially In the newer portions OF the
state where the country was not yet
out OF pioneer conditions. The club
in such instances furnished practical
ly the only social life Of the COM
munity In many instances the club
was Of direct financial aid In enab-
ling the farmers to build the best
types of silos at reduced rates, IN
helping them to secure cement for
construction purposes at cheaper
rates. and often in banding them to-
gether into q marketing association
or cooperative dairy venture. In
most instances the cooperative en-
terprises which grew out Of the club
activities were of undoubted benefit
to the community. In many parts
of that state the potato crop could
not be marketed n 1t were not for
the cooperative farmers shipping
associations. The farmers banded
themselves together to ship live
stock. comparatively in more than
forty instances as the outgrowth Of
club work.
There Is scarcely q person who is
acquainted with rural conditions who
does not believe that the one great
thing which farming lacks today, is
organization. Let 1t be said here
that organization among farmers will
never come by taking nicely per-
fected plan and clapping 1t down MP
on their shoulders. Organization
must come as the outgrowth OF a
feeling within the individuals. The
feeling within and the desire FOR
closer union among farmers can not
be cultivated or stimulated until the
farmers themselves begin to get to-
gether. AS long as every farmer
lives unto himself and persists in
showing by actions or words that he
wants to keep aloof from his neigh
bors and townsmen, there will be no
organization.
The best place to begin to get to-
gether is In an informal club. Here
q half dozen or . dozen families
come together for the evening. The
men talk over various phases OF
farm work, and the women talk over
things which pertain to good house
keeping. Oftentimes there are pro-
grams for the boys and girls. There
ls always some feature to interest
them. Often the farmers themselves
have debates upon various methods
/ pf doing things on the farm. There
Is nothing that will bring out the
thought among farmers 30 we'll as
argument. This affords such an op
portunity The meetings may be
monthly or semi-monthly during the
winter and less frequent during the
summer months. The only things
which are prohibited from discussion
1t these club meetings are politics
and religion. The constitution does
not allow these subjects to be
brought up. After the discussion
and talks have been carried on for
an hour or an hour and half, the
family at whose house tho club Ii
meeting furnishes coffee and the wo-
men OF the visiting membership on.
| wiches. In this way light refresh
ment which is fitting climax to the
evenings pleasure, is had. Ths
trouble of getting up such refresh
nents in this fashion ID not arduous
upon any one. The constitution
! prohibits the getting up of elaborate
meals at such meetings.
At many OF the meetings speak
Brs from other parts of the county
Or from the state college are secur-
I'd. These speakers usually count II
a great privilege to meet with such
clubs.
It seems to the writer that there
are many localities in Muscatine
! county that ought to appreciate the
advantages of q good live farmers
club. 1t is true that Muscatine coun-
| ty Is not any longer In the pioneer
state, and that the farmers are gen.
orally getting along very nicely upon
LAOAA A0A Liz. Luz 6OOA SAOuSA IE
not a desirable slogan. The battle
cry ought TO be Make the good bet
ter. and the better best!" l an
satisfied that 9 good live farmers
club in any Community would at
least be w keeping with this motto.
In view Of what has been said
above. It would seem :, that there
| ought to be several localities In this
county which would feel like organ
izing farmers clubs. Iowa has q
few such clubs that are doing splen-
did work but the number is entirely
too small. M. A. Hauser, formerly q
successful farmer Of MARSHALL Jcoun-
ty, Iowa, has been secured by the
state extension division to spend h!a
! time going about the state organ
I izing such clubs. Mr.. Hauser mas
recently written the agricultural ad-
visor saying that he could give one
week to this work in Muscatine
county The agricultural advisor
would like to hear from parties in
the county who are interested ia
such a movement. Talk the matter
!! over among your Heighbors and
1,1oo Ac <hn~a nA,.,1l