The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-02-01
Lake Crystal Man Honored at
Meet On Saturday
TALKS ON PROPOSITION
Much Good Is Expected to Come
Out of This Big New
Organization
George Austin, Lake Crystal, presi-

George Austin, Lake Crystal, presi-
dent.
Jens Johnson, Lake Crystal, first
vice president.
Grant Hazel, MapIeton, second vice
president.
|. A. Yaeser, Good Thunder, third
vice president.
S. w. Buckle, Lake Crystal, fourth
vice president.
tary-treasurer.
Representing organizations:
County commissioners, Ole X. OIL
son, Amboy; farmers, c. w. StrobeI,
Mapleton; Equity society, A. 1. Vel
gel, Mankato; Blue Earth Agricultural
society, John Chapman, Garden City;
Mankato Blue Earth County Fair as
ISOLATION, Al. Quimby; schools, Rob-
ert Haedt; Live Stock breeders, o. w.
HeaIy; Stock Shipping association, o.
w. Grimes, Mapleton; Commission Of
Public Safety, Sam Wilson; women's
activities, Mrs. II. C. HotaIing, Maple
ton; Commercial interests, John Ny
quist.
Above are the names of the officers
of the Blue Earth County Farm bureau
which was organized at the courthouse
Saturday afternoon.
The members of the executive COM
mittee are Robert Haedt, city; Chas.
Whitney, Mapleton; w. H. Detamore,
Mankato; o. S. Lasby, Mankato; F.
M. Schwartz, Amboy.
BY the constitution and bylaws
adopted Mankato is designated as the
headquarters of the bureau, and the
annual meetings are to be held during
the month of December. The capital
stock is $4,000 and the bureau had
500 members Saturday, according to
the report of o. w. True, chairman of
the membership committee. 1t was
stated that it was expeced that the
membership would soon reach six
hundred.
F. E. 3almer of the state agricultural
farm stated that he thought the sue
cess of the Blue Earth County Farm
bIreau was assured by the type of
men which had been elected to office.
Mr.. Austin, who was chosen president,
is one of the largest and most sue
cessful farmers IN the state. and had
the best farm display at the county
and state fairs. He is active in all af-
fairs in his locality and an enterpris-
ing farmer of the best type. Officers
and members are of the progressive
class of farmers who are making agri-
culture success in Minnesota.
The organization meeting was held
in the court room, and about one hun
dred farmers were present
An Instructive Address.
Mr.. Balmer gave an instructive adj
dress on the value of farm bureaus.
He stated that only nine counties in
the state are now blank on the farm
bureau situation, and in three of these
counties the matter has not been
brought up as yet. With the aid of
large chart at the front of the room
Mr. Balmer explained and discussed
the work to be done by the farm bu-
reau. He drew attention to the fact
that people agree that agricultural in
terests are not as well organized as
other interests. By having farm
bureau organized and county agri-
cultural agent to assist the farmers in
all farm problems, such as soil con-
ditions, diseases of live stock methods
ton of the community, the needs of
the country receive proper attention.
'We want to study in this organiza-
ton the problems of this community"
said Mr.. Balmer. 1--WE must look be-
yond the result of a years time, and
try to see what the county will be like
ten, twenty or forty years from now.
{ We must have a permanent program
of work. Most of us are interested in
having more productive soil, in getting
more returns from the stock, having
more rural organizations, better mar
keting facilities, and we must show
that every cent is well spent
"On February Z, s and 9, we are call
ing together all agricultural agents,
and presidents of farm bureaus, to
meet at the state university farm to
outline program of work, and lay out
definite plans, to get ready a program
of work for 1918
Seed Corn Situation.
Zone of the first things we must
pay attention to is the seed corn situa-
ton, which is more serious than it
has ever been. If the corn fails we
will have to decrease our livestock.
The government does not want this to
happen. Hogs are what the govern
ment wants at the present time, and
we must have corn to raise hogs. An
other important question is that of
labor We are backing up the food
conservation and the entire program
of the government, including the Red
Cross Liberty loans, Y. NJ C. A. thrift
stamps, and other big movements
Every organization should help to win
the war. The great aim of all organi-
cations should be to help the govern
ment 1t is important that all farm
ers should be back of the farm bureau
movement. There is nothing of more
influence, or more far reaching in eff
feet in Blue Earth county than the ag-
ricultural interests
Following Mr. Balmer's talk the ar
ticles of Incorporation and bylaws
were read, amended and adopted by
oral vote. A nominating committee
composed of Robert Haedt, Charles
Whitney and w. H. Detamore, retired
to select names of possible officers
and while the committee was out ar
interesting talk on boys and girls
club work, as encouraged by the uni
versity farm, was given by Roy H