The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1914-03-20
FARMERS cLUBS..THEIR
VALUE TO COMMUNITY
BY G. 8. GuES.EY,
Director Of Agriculture, Detroit, Min
nesota, a 1918 Graduate OF s.
9. State College.


He has been trained for generations
tc depend upon himself, and until the
present time has not felt the necessi-
ty for cooperation. and only when
he is under the pressure of necessity
does he, as a rule, cooperate. The
time is coming, and that in the near
future (aHd, in fact, has already come
~ many sections), when the farmer
will he compelled to cooperate with
his neighbors if he is to get the most
out Of his farm or get a fair share
from. the products of his arm.
The cooperative spirit has been
strengthened in a number of commu-
mites where farmers clubs have been
organized. A farmers club is simply
a local organization of a group of
farmers and their families who have
adopted a constitution. elected neces-
sarv officers and who meet once a
month or oftener at some. farm
house. school house. or some other
suitable meeting place, where they
spend a few hours together in visit
ing. giving a regular program, and dis
c~ussins farm topics.
The work taken IN bv these clubs
usually Is more diversified than that
Of any other organization in a com
munity, as they are not organized for
any one purpose. They may be Of
advantage to a community In three
ways: socially. educationally, and
financially.
The social advantages come through
the meetings, because people are
brought together there who do not
met at any other place. Near neigh
bors come and visit who do not see
n another at any other time, mere
ly because they do not make 1t a point
to visit each other regularly. Every
man, woman and child will therefore
look forward to club day with much
interest. And all this will develop
with a few months in a community
where community spirit was usually
lacking.
The educational feature of these
club meetings is the strongest ar2u-
ment in their favor. The men, wom-
en-. and children are all trained in
public speaking and learn how to
think while on their feet before a
crowd. and how to deport themselves
in a gathering. The bashfulness Of the
children and the growing boys grad
ually disappears and they learn to
talk easily with grown people. The
iistrustfulness which SO often IS
found in communities disappears, and
al meet on a friendly basis. This IS
Tue as much to education as it is to
he fact that the people are better ac-
luainted.
If one will stop to think of the ma
fure of these club meetings and pro-
grams, he can easily see their value
from an educational viewpoint. The
children and younger people usually
furnish the entertainment and music.
Every parent is proud Of his child
when he does we'll on a program. and
spends much time in training him for
his part. The readings. recitations.
and music keep the young people in
terested in the meetings and enliver
the program. which would be too
heavy and dry if made up of nothing
but the discussion of farm topics. The
opening of the main discussions on
the program is usually assigned to
some member who is especially we'll
informed on the subject under discus
sion and who can get the rest of the
people who are present to think on
it. Everyone knows that it is easier
to follow a good speaker than it is
to open such discussions himself. and
many people will add good points who
never could be persuaded to open an
argument.
The knowledge gained by club meT-
bers through their association with
neighbors is something which can
not be overlooked. Before and after
the program the farmers will get to-
gether in groups and talk over their
farm problems. Many ideas will be
brought out which cal be made use
of in their work and which will add to
their efficiency and possibly lessen
their labor.
This same idea holds true with the
women. They will examine the %
and ~labor-saving devices
which the hostess has installed in
her home to make her work lighter or
to increase the comfort Of her fam
lily, and listen to the wOmen talk
about their own conveniences and
methods Of doing house work. Many
Of the ideas gained here can be put
into practice at home and tend to
make better wives and mothers.
Another good feature Of these clubs
is the ability to get the concerted &C
ton Of all in a community on matters
which are of interest to all. The club
meeting Is the place where things OF
community interest can be taken up
and discussed. When definite action
Is taken it Is quite sure to follow the
wish of the majority of the people and
therefore carries much more weight
because II is known to be the wish of
a body Of people. For example, the
roads in some locality may be poor
and need improving. This matter can
be taken up In a club meeting. dis
cussed there, and a committee appoint
ed to take It before the proper au-
I hnrifips with certain Instructions.