El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-08-28
FARM BUREAU IS
DOING Bic WORK

By h C. STEWART
Manager FL P1so County Farm Buresr
IT is only natural that FL Paso should
1 have almost doubled its popula-
tion IN the last decade. being 10
Gated as It Is in the heart OF a great
farming valley
Practically ali Of the prosperous and
contented cities OF the world are 10
Gated in the center Of a thriving farm
area This IL important II the city's
population IS TO be well fed
Il is well remembered by most FL
Pasous when farming was considered
its greatest asset. with an assured de-
velopment far beyond the average
mind
In the year 1919. the farm produc-
ton totsled S5.729,121 for the project
Alfalfa the most important farm crop,
had a value Of 1856, AZ Livestock has
occupied a minor place IN the projects
growth yet IL has a value OF $780,
oo0- These figures merely show the
importance OF the great farming in
dustry and indicate what may be ex-
pected when fully developed.
There is only about one half Of the
available agricultural lands in cul-
tivation-
Farmers Are Progressive.
There ear be found no place IN
the United tatcs where the farm
ing population f. more prosperous
and progressive
Farmers from nearly every
state in the union and several
foreign countries can be found in
the valley. Eaeh has brought new
ideas and methods which has re-
suited IN a more rapid develop
mcnf. Evidence Of this e. seen
IN the many farmers orEanizH-
lions which are functionlnE IN the
comfy.
A water Improvement district, rep
resenting the water users OF the coun-
~, IS a highly developed farmers or
EaufEation- It maintains an office
and employs a manager who Is con-
stautlT on the job and VIII take over
operation and maintenance Of the r.
riEation system when the construction
work IS completed by the United
States reclamation service Other
farm matters requiring immediate at
tention are considered by the board OF
directors OF water Improvement dis
trict No. 1. This Is fortunate as the
directors are all progressive farmers
and know the agricultural needs OF
the county.
Work Of the Farm Bureau.
A farm bureau functions in the
county and oudeavors TO promote
farming in ali OF its phases. A pro-
gram OF work has been outlined which
reaches every man woman and child
in the county Plans are now under
way for a still broader and more com
nrehensive farm bureau. Every com
fuunity viii have its local. with Is rep
resentztion in the county wide organ
izatiOn. All matters OF farm interest
are referred TO the individual farmer
for mis- consideration and solution
This IS done BY the referendum sys-
ten. thereby making the Individual
member = vital part OF the orEauiZa-
ton and not mere figurehead. as IS
now common in most organizations
where al matters are disposed OF by
its three OF four officers.
Good farm organizations IS vital to
the consuming public No county can
be wen fed and clothed by a dis
gruntled farm population There is
only one way TO encourage farming,
and that Is by making Il profitable
Recently the Farmers Cooperative :
society was organized and incorpor- I
ated under the farmers cooperative I
act passed by the state legislature IN 1
1917. This society Is attempting TO 4
properly grade. pack and sell all per-
ishabIe products produced BY the 4
farmer An office and salesroom is /
maintained IN the FL Paso market It I
Is gradually gaining ground and as
sures the consumer OF an honest grade I
and pack This IS more than enough 1
70 Justify It's sListance- The farmer
IS essentially - producer and has
neither the time nor inclination for
selling. but he realizes that IN order J.