The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1914-02-05
FARMERS'.CLuBS
UNITE FORCES
ORGANIZATIONS or DAWSON
AND HANSON COUNTIES IN
RURAL LIFE BETTER
MENT.

the state agricultural associations of
south Dakota, members of the farm
crs' clubs of Dawson and Hanson
counties gathered yesterday after
noon in the basement of the First
Methodist hurcn and organized the
proposed Rural Life Betterment as
ISOLATION.
Every club in the territory adjac-
ent to Mitchell was represented at
yesterday afternoons meeting, which
was featured with enthusiasm for the
In the eeyning at the Gale
theatre. the idea was further pro-
Jeetfd by u program of speakers. No
action relative to the formation of Il
state federation was taken.
Following the adoption of a consti-
tuition, identical to that already fav-
ored by the clubs in their recent
meetings in this territory, officers
and directors were elected for the en-
suing year. The list of officers fol-
lows:
Prof, IL. /. Jones, president; w. NJ.
Getty. of Farwell, vice-president,
Prof. S. ID. van Benthuysen, secretary
treasurer. The directors are A.. j.
Frantz, Of Rome township, Charles
Hoelsher OF Lisbon township, Carl
Hoffman of Prosper township, Joe
Kotrbn of Beulah township, Frank
Percy of Bard and j. S. Bonham of
LOOMS.
Arrangements for a corn growing
contest open to boys of the club UNI
der Is years OF age were made in the
afternoon session. The First National
hank Will offer prizes of $50, $35 and
SIS in gold for the boys winning
first. second and third place. The
rules OF the contest will be formulate
Oh by a committee consisting OF II
member from each club and secret
airy van Be%nthuysen.
This contest will likely be worked
out on the basis OF the largest yield
per acre. The rules will be announced
later. The new association expects to
hold it's annual meeting simultaneous
with the other organizations that
meet in Mitchell In January of each
year.
The evening session, or rural life
conference, was attended by a crowd
which completely filled the theatre.
Prof. I'll. /. Jones acted as chairman.
Seated on the stage with him were
DR.. A. N. Hume, of the State college
at Brookings, Geo. M. Dunmire, of
Scotland, President j. M. Erion, of
the Live Stock Breeders association,
II. E. Dawes, of Fulton, president of
the Corn and Grain Growers %associa-
ton. Charles Boreson, president of
the Ethan Farmers Elevator comp
any, w. A. Wheeler, Mayor A. f..
Hitchcock and Prof. S. ID. van Ben
thuysen.
In opening the meeting Prof. Jones
laid emphasis upon the necessity of
securing in the new president of the
State college at Brookings, n mar
large enough TO forward that insti-
tutions agricultural extension work.
He also outlined the function of the
proposed federation of all farmers
associations in the state, which would
not take from any their identity, but
would add to the general Go-opera-
ton of the mass.
President Dawes of the grain grow
ers, spoke briefly upon the work OF
that organization since the time it
was organized in Mitchell in the Corn
Palace, eight years ago. He praised
the corn which had been on exhibit
ton at the state show here this week,
declaring that 1t was better than that
shown at Mankato, MINI, a week ago
where a steam tractor was the first
prize. The winning corn at Mankato
had a score of "a, against the score
of "a on the corn submitted at the
South Dakota show by Sam Carlson,
OF Elk Point.
Cooperation was discussed by Mr..
Sorenson in a brief talk Astounding
a l. raj ~ LIT So x.NL eln1 --r,,1 ..t1. - Ill.,
movement and it's Importance. The
speaker declared that it takes as
much effort to succeed at farming as
in any other business, and that there
fore all farmers should unite to reap
the results of their industry.
The farmers elevator at Ethan.
which Mr.. Boreson heads, was given
as one result of what cooperation
did n business of $4S7,000, dealing in
grain, cattle and fuel. He declared
that the same cooperative methods
a packing plant in Mitchell, by which
the farmers and the townspeople a.
like would be benefited.
Figures submitted by Mr.. Boreson
on the suggested packing plant show
ON NAiO ObOVV ANoo VI SoteAS oAC q
ELI each year in Dawson county. Most
OF the cattle are shipped to Sioux City
where they are slaughtered before
being shipped back for consumption.
In this connection, Mr.. Boreson de-
clared that by cooperation the con
sumer could buy his meat for less
and the farmer avoid the loss occas-
Toned by shipping and other charges.
The necessity of federation was
outlined in the address by w. A.
Wheeler. He stated that federation
and cooperation go hand in hand.
The past weeks successful meetings,
he said had shown the increased in
terest taken when three associations
meet simultaneously. That this can
be still further hettered, is instanced
by the holding Of twelve meetings in
Missouri at the same time, with III
200 farmers in attendance. The need
of a permanent Corn Palace, of rein
forced concrete, to house the sessions
OF the associations and provide a suit
able headquarters, was shown by the
record of the week.