Charlevoix county herald., 1919-02-14
FARM BUREAU FOR
STATE ORGANIZED
BY MICHIGAN FARMERS
Unite to Secure Concerted Action
Among Agriculturists of All
Counties.

East Lansing, Mich, Feb. 10.-Far-
mers of Michigan expect to secure
more careful and intelligent considera-
ton OF their problems as the result OF
the organization by them of the Michi-
gan Farm Bureau association here, a
few daysIiago. The launching OF the
new body was one Of the big accom-
plishments last week of the three
thousand farmers who met at M. A. e.
for farmers week and the housewives
congress. By their action leading far
mers brought together in single, cen
trail state body all of the county farm
bureaus of the state, creating by sim
gle move what observers of evented in
agricultural circles declare will become
the most influential of farmers organi-
cations in Michigan.
The actual launching of the new
association was brought about by dele
gates from farm bureaus in sixty
counties. In all there we're over 200
of these delegates in attendance, in
Guiding in their ranks such typically
leading agriculturists from both the
upper and lower peninsulas as l..
Whitney Watkins of Manchester; Ro-
land Morrill, of Benton Harbor, F. H.
Vandenboom of Marquette and Fred
Cornair Of Saginaw.
"Our organization, said Mr.. Morrill,,
who was elected president Of the new
body, "is intended to be a business
organization of farmers with men,
bership OF business farmers. 1t is our
intention to encourage and aid the
work of the county farm bureaus of the
state and to provide means for united
action by farmers in the solution Of
their common agricultural, business
and legislative problems. We hope to
bring about teamwork between the
many associations that have been
created for the furthering of the far
mers' interests just as independent
labor unions work together for a COM
mon cause in the American Federation
of Labor; we hope to cooperate with
the college and the United States de-
partment of agriculture with view to
informing both of our needs and Sc
curing from both the assistance we
must have; we hope to tackle such
things as the marketing problem, and
to encourage the union of our various
cooperative bodies into a statewide
organization; we hope topush the work
of eliminating scrub sires, and secure
cooperation between counties in drain.
age work-we hope to center the atten'
ton OF our best farmers on Michigan's
agricultural questions and to place the
sum of their thought and advice where
governmental agencies can be guided
by them.
"Thls is not an agricultural chamber
of commerce, and it is most certainly i.
not state-controlled organization; it i:
wholly farmers association formed
for the furtherance of the farmers in
terests."
Officers of the association are the fol
lowing:
President, Roland Morrill,, Benton
Harbor; first vice-president, Ray Potts,
Macomb county; second vice-president
State Senator F. H. Vandenboom oil
Marquette county; treasurer, Fred Van
Orsdahl, st. Joseph county; secretary
C. A. Bingham, Oakland county; vice
presidents: Fred Conair, Saginaw coun
ty, crops department; j. P. Munson
Kent county, fruits and vegetables; A.
E. Illenden, Lenawee county, livestock
Alfred Hendrickson, Oceana county
dairying; James Nicol, Allegan county
department of buying and selling; Aus.
tin Cowles, Clinton county, farm man,
agement; Mrs. John c. Ketcham, boys
and girls clubs; Miss Jennie Buel, Len,
awee county, home economics; Repre-
sentative Arlie Hopkins, Manistee coun.
ty, legislative department; Earl R.
Trangmar; East Lansing. publicity.