Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1913-04-23
STATEWIDE SYSTEM
OF FARMERS CLUBS
Advocated by Prof. w. j. Kennedy
of State Agricultural College.
BASIS FOR SOLVING
PRESENT DAY PROBLEMS.
Club Unit of Twelve Families and
System Extending Over the State
Would be of Untold Benefit.


In this day and age of agitation
and unrest, much concern has been
expressed concerning the farmer and
his business. The question of in
creased crop production, mainten-
ance of soil fertility, better methods
of transportation and marketing
crops, improved rural schools and the
upbuilding of the rural churches,
are all receiving earnest attention.
In some instances the farmers are
active in these movements 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 inter-
est to many people, still they will not
go very far towards getting desired
results. No permanent relief need
be looked for until the farmers, as a
body, seriously take up these prob
lens. Then, and then alone, will we
get tangible results. This means a
thorough system of cooperation, or
ganization and study on their part.
1t must be an organization 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 meth
ods 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 excellent
work. Each has its 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 a month and with
different family each month. In
this way each member would have
the opportunity of entertaining the
other members and their families at
least once each year. These meet
ings should occupy the entire day.
Everything on the farm and in the
home should be carefully inspected
and discussed. In this way helpful
suggestions may be obtained. Oc-
casionally an outside speaker might
be secured to present some useful
line of work. Provision should al
ways be made for helpful program
with ample time for discussion.
The secretary should arrange with
the state college and other institu-
tions to secure the loan of packet
libraries" for the use of the men,
bers of the club. These Libraries
should contain interesting and useful
reading material for the men, the
women, the boys and girls.
The various local clubs should
have a township organization COM
posed of say the president and one
other member of each local club. The
various townships should form a
county organization and the counties
state federation of farmers clubs.
The real work must be done in the
individual clubs and the larger Or
ganizations will prove useful in deal
/ ing with matters of township, coun-
ty, 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 start
ed where the people do not want it.
In these small clubs only people con-
genial to each other should belong
to the same club. All must pull to-
gether for success.
The Agricultural Extension De-
partment of the Iowa State College
stands ready to render any assistance
within it's power to clubs already or
ganized or to people in communities
wishing to organize clubs. Copies of
suggestive forms of constitution and
bylaws will be sent free to those
wishing the same. Bulletins and
other printed material will be fur
nished. During the spring, summer
and fall months limited number Of
speakers are available for this work.