Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-04-17
.FAVORs FORMING
FARMERS CLUB
PROF. KENNEDY OF AMES HAS
PLAN FOR AIDING RURAL
COMMUNITIES.
WOULD ORGANIZE
Agricultural Extension Department
VIII Aid In Assisting Formation
Of Clubs; Twelve Families
As Unit.

Ames, April 15.--With the view to
| organize the farmers in the various
rural communities into clubs or or
CARNATIONS for the mutual good, and
to aid in solving every day problems
/, of the farmer, Prof. w. J. Kennedy OF
the agricultural extension department
at Iowa State college, has the follow
ling plan to offer:
In this day and age Of agitation and
unrest, much concern has been exS
pressed concerning the farmer and his
business. The question Of increased
crop production, maintenance OF soil
fertility, better methods of transporta-
ton 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 move
ments, but in the vast majority OF
cases 1t 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 people,
still they will not 60 very far toward
getting desired results. No permanent
relief need be looked for until the
farmers, as a body, seriously take up
these problems. Then, and then alone,
will we get tangible results. This
means a thorough system OF co-opera-
ton, organization 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 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 excellent work Each has it's ad
vantages and disadvantages. A real
farmers club ought to be of equal
benefit to each and every one OF its
members. It should furnish something |
of real interest and benefit to the
father, the mother, and the children.
= Twelve Families In Club.
In the writer's estimation, one of
the most helpful and satisfactory
kinds of clubs is one composed OF
twelve families. Such a club should
meet at least once a month and with
a different family each month. In this
way each member would have the OPP
portunity of entertaining the other
members and their families at least
once each year. These meetings 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. 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
etins should be presented for discus
sion. The secretary should arrange
With the state college and other insti-
:utions to secure the loan Of packet
ibraries" for the use of the members
# the club. These Libraries should
contain interesting and useful read
ng material for the men, the women,
he boys and girls. IL
Township Federation.
The various local clubs should have
township organization composed Of
,ay the president and one other mem
,er of each local club. The various
ownships should form county or
.anization and the counties state
ederation of farmers clubs. The
cal work must be done in the in
livldual clubs and the larger organiza-
ions will prove useful in dealing with .
matters of township, county, state or
lation wide interest. :.
The organization of these clubs +
should be very largely volunteer in
nature. 1t should not be the work of I
ome professional organizer. In other !
words, no club should be started where
he people do not want it. In these
mall clubs only people congenial to
ZACH other should belong to the same
Tub. All must pull together for sue s
ess /.
Extension viii Lend Aid. ,
The agricultural extension depart :
nent of the Iowa State college stands .
eady to render any assistance within :
is power to clubs already organized :
n to people in communities Wishing
O organize clubs. Copies of sug- ,
FESTIVE forms of constitution and by
avs will be sent free to those wishing
he same Bulletins and other printed
Material will be furnished. During the I
spring, summer and fall months a I
United number of speakers are avail 9
lble for this work.
CLARKE APPOINTS a
TWO OF COMMISSION