Warren sheaf., 1917-10-10
ONE OF THE GREATEST
THINGS IN COUNTY
FARM BUREAU WORK.

So great is the variety of problems
involved in the agricultural develop
ment Of a county that there seems to-
be no limit to the work to which a
county farm bureau association may
turn it's attention. Yet. work under
taken each year in any county, should
not be too varied. A few things we'll
done make for great effectiveness. The
work Of county farm bureau associa-
tions, however, will vary greatly in
different counties owing ito local needs
and desires. Wherever organized and
actively maintained, tho, one of the
best results of such an associations
efforts will be the development of
leadership, the cultivation of spirit
of service and interest in public vel
fare throughout the entire county.
Members of g, farm bureau associa-
ton receive benefits which non -mem-l
bers do. not, primarily because they un-
derstand the better how most effective
~ to use the institutions represented in
and cooperating with it. Yet, funda-
mentally, farm bureau work is public
service for public institutions, such as
the United States Department of Agri-
culture, the State college of Agricul-
ture, and boards Of county commission-
ers, cooperate with the farm bureau
associations to. maintain the work
Farm bureau effort is public, and for
the general good, This is a basic rea-
son why every one in a county should
gladly accept the privilege Of helping
to support it. 81
No doubt too much emphasis has
been placed on the personal service
which the agent Of the farm bureau
may give. The feeling has been alto
gether too common that he should come
at the beck and call Of any and every
one and many times each year visit
every farm in the county. A little rea-
soning makes clear that this is impos-
sible and impracticable. The public
should not be asked to help pay the
cost of extensive personal service. For
such service the individuals should
lthemselves be willing to pay in large
| measure. But since the farm bureau
and its agent are largely supported by
public funds, their relationship should
be more public than private or indi-
vidual, and farm bureau work should
| be developed the more to contribute
permanent advantage to large groups
| of farmers in the county.
It is plain that many Of the import
ant problems and questions that may
confront one farmer may confront
large groups Of farmers, where condi-
tions are comparatively uniform. To
cope with such problems requires very
loften the combined activity Of the
group. For example !.
Where wet land is common more
than one man is concerned in securing
a suitable outlet. Surveying must be
done in cooperation. Placing joint
orders for tile is found advantageous
III securing good prices and In reducing
freight charges. Contracts for labor
may also be let to better advantage in
cooperation.
Where acid soil prevails, a group
can effectively combine to purchase
and operate limestone crushing ma
chinery.
One man cannot hope to do good
job in cleaning his land Of foul weeds
unless his neighbors make a similar
effort.
Again It does one man little good to
plant pure-bred variety Of corn if In
nearby fields neighbors plant other
varieties or scrub corn.
Smut cannot be eradicated from the
grain Of one farm unless neighbors
work towards the same end.
IS big pile Of coal owned by the Red
River Power Co, at Grand Forks,
caught fire BY spontaneous combustion
this week and much Of the valuable
product was destroyed.