The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1917-06-01
r.. r.. Groninger Agreed On as Man
to Organize Farm Forces
of County.

Of County.
! At a harmonious and triumphan
meeting held at the court hous'
Tuesday afternoon the executive ant
Iprecinct chairman of the Bingham
county farm bureau reported mem
bership of $50 farmers secured II
two weeks and promised to get sew
eral hundred. more.
The meeting considered for ths
position of county agent R. R. Gron
niger from north Idaho, and found
him fit. He will spend the first sew
eral weeks fastening upon Bingham
county's special farm problems and
getting acquainted with men and con.
ditions here.
Seven of the board of nine direc-
tors attended the meeting, including
the three county commissioners. The
spirit of the meeting was hearty for
cooperation. A. J. Snyder, chair
man of the county bureau, presided,
and Secretary Treasurer H. K. Wiley
kept the record and accepted the
cash membership fees in large gobs.
Plans were undertaken to push the
canvass for members during the next
few weeks, with a view to allow all
farmers an opportunity to get in on
the ground floor of this helpful in
stitution. 1t is admitted that all will
receive the full benefit of the farm
bureau system, whether they join as
members or not, but Mr.. Sollenber-
ger discourages slackers in this mat
ter something after this fashion:
when they ask me If they will
get the benefits of the organization
without joining and paying a dollar
| tell them yes, in SO far as they
have ability to absorb benefits--but
that 1 do not think man who
wouldn't put up dollar for the prof.
ect is the kind of man who could get
much good out of it anyway"
The County Agent. Il
After hearing the fine reports
from canvassing committees the
county agent matter was given full
sway. All the men present wanted to
get the agent Immediately and start
the work of progress.
Mr.. Hochbaum explained to them
the great difficulty now found in OBJ
tanning trained men for county posi-
tions. Most of the available men now
are lust boys fresh from college, he
said, and the older men have been
readily attached to positions that
have recently opened in rush all ov-
er the country He suggested X. II.
Groninger, a Moscow graduate, an
expert in animal husbandry, a Rman
of twenty-seven years, who managed
a farm in Pennsylvania for three
years before coming west. Mr..
Groninger has been in the north part
of Idaho for the past seven years,
which makes him an Idahoan. THESE
qualifications met with approval.
Louis Felt said Bingham county
needs the aid of stock expert; that
losses in calves, colts and pigs have
been far too high over the county.
There's something wrong some
where" he said, "and we need man
to find out what it is" Mr.. Gronln-
ger has taken several prizes for Judg-
ing stock at the Moscow stock shows.
Mr. Sollenberger said he was Penn
sylvania Dutch himself, and Mr..
Groninger's name was a considerable
qualification with him.
Then Mr.. Groninger was called to
the floor to speak for himself. he
briefly told of his training in ldaho
and farm experience. His PERSONAL
tv made a noticeable hit with his
hearers. They asked few questions
and received satisfactory answers. 1t
was Immediately certain that Mr..
Groninger was the man for tneplace'
What Is q Ford?
Mr.. Wiley could not refrain from
the question::
"In view of your training in ami
NAL husbandry, Mr.. Groninger, 40
YOU think you can manage a Ford?"
"I think so," laughed Groninger.
Hochbaum came to the rescue in his
efficient way:
"You know, Mr.. Wiley, Ford
isn't an animal-it's an aggrava-
tion."
And so good humor was in the at
mosphere, and Mr.. Groninger made
a roomfull of friends. He left the
meeting after answering all the ques-
tions shot at him, and vote showed
favor for at once putting
him into the field as county agent
for Bingham.
The Work Begins.
The new agents first duties will
be to establish an office in Black
foot, and visit every precinct in the
county to make the acquaintance of
individual farmers. In each commu-
nifty he will be introduced by the
local chairman or leader in the bu-
reau organization. He will find out
what the problems are to be met
first in raising the farm standard in
crops and stocks. Having gathered
all this information Mr.. Groninger
will attend a meeting on June % Of
the members and officers of the
county bureau and all interested
farmers, and the summers work will
be outlined. Special campaigns will
then be inaugurated against any pest
or disease that constitutes a menace
to crops or stock. Besides these
larger issues, the county agent will
will be constantly in touch with farm
ers' individual troubles and able to
bring them assistance. He is con-
nected thru the national county agent |
with experts in every
line of farm work, and can always !
put hands on the proper man to meet |
emergencies. He is him
I. 81. xH4 Ik,n,, f1+