The Delta independent., 1914-03-06
COLORADO GETS PRESIDENT
INTERNATIONAL FARM WOMEN

Denver, February 20.-Mrs. Belle
Van Dorm Harbert of Manzanola, Colo.
may be termed the first farm woman
of the world, for the farm women of
twenty-eight nations have chosen this
practical ranch wife to be their lea
der. Mrs. Harbert was elected presi-
dent of the International Congress
of Farm Women, held at Client, Bel
gium, last summer. The American
delegate was chosen because of ner
practical ideas on farm work for wom-
en-. and because she knows how to
put these ideas in appealing form in
public addresses.
When Mrs. Harbert attended the
congress, she had no idea that she
was to be chosen to any office. She
had been a leader in organizing lit
tie coterie of Western farm women as
an auxiliary TO the Dry Farmers Con
gress at Colorado Springs some three
years ago. After this society had
been organized, Mrs. Harbert and her
coworkers found that others had been
working along the same line. Ger
many has had an organization of farm
women for fifteen years, and had
united with farm organizations OF
other countries, forming an interna-
tional congress. The little associa-
ton of women which had been organ
lied at Colorado Springs, and whose
membership consisted of women
whose lives were being spent on the
nonirrigated farms of the plains re-
eion of the west, affiliated with this
worldwide organization, and Mrs.
Harbert was sent as a delegate to the
Canadian and American meeting at
Lethbridge, Canada. Here she deliv-
cred an address on the model farm
kitchen which started her on the road
to fame This address, which en-
bodied the results of her practical
experience as a ranch cook, was copi-
ed and quoted all over the world, and
she even received letters regarding
it from the interior of China, showing
what a general desire there is among
farm women to make their lot easier.
On other farm topics Mrs. Harbert
showed herself possessed of just as
great a fund of general information.
She was chosen president of the con-
gress when she was not present, and
when she demonstrated, she was in
formed by Hon. Paul DeVuyst, direc-
tor general of agriculture of Belgium
that the choice was made because 1t
was decided that in the Colorado dele
gate had been found the real farm
woman, who had thoroughly practical
ideas with regard to organization.
While Mrs. Harbert still believes
that too great an honor was thrust
upon her, she has entered heartily in
to the work of organizing the farm
women. She has even neglected her
work on her beloved ranch at Man
zanola, but she finds consolation in
,Ie fact that her husband, upoE
whom the farm responsibilities have
fallen, has become quite farmer
as she puts it with smile.
TT was understood when we were
married." she said, that we were to
go to my farm to live. But my hus-
band had taken up with real estate
and farm loans for an insurance com
pany and work of like nature, and
not until / was called to this work has
he assumed full charge of farm duties.
] pruned 100 cherry trees, whose
nj Snnariptandnd oil i,,gt
before l attended the convention in
Belgium. | have made cherry raising
my specially, though we have also
some apple trees and 100 acres of al.
falfa. / am immensely proud o. The
fact that ! won an award at the St
Louis Worlds Exposition, where |
sent a crate of cherries, and am also
proud of a prize l won at the Interna-
tional Apple Show at Denver for max
ing the best apple and crabapple jelly
and marmalade"
Having been practical herself in all
things, Mrs. Harbert believes that by
practical organized effort, farmwomen
can do much to improve their condi-
ton.
1T is strange thing, but farm.
women, who have worked harder than
any other class, are the last to organ
ize. We are not organizing to strike
now, but to help ourselves and to
uplift and upbuild. People have a
wrong idea about this alarming de-
crease ia country life communities.
1t isn't SO much on account of the
restlessness and dissatisfaction of the
men as the women We have found