The Belding banner-news., 1920-09-29
IONA CO. FARM
BUREAU IS NOW
ESTABLISHED FACT
HEADQUARTERS ARE OVER THE
HILER 4 BAIRD STORE, In
SMITH BLOCK, IONIA

Now that 80 many farmers all over
the country are availing themselves
of the opportunity to join the new
farm bureaus which are being es-
tablished everywhere, Ionia county
farmers are also falling into line.
and are ready to join with the other
farmers from the far west and the
extreme east and south in organiz-
ing for mutual assistance and pro-
lection.
All but 20 of the counties in Mich
igan have joined the movement, and
of the states. 35 have ratified the
national constitution. This means
that in short time, the farmers will
be able to hold their own in the pres
ent day competition for advantage
which is being waged between pro-
ducer and consumer, The whole
scheme is founded on the situation
which has worried not only the farm
ers but all thinking people of the
nation for some time, the high cost
of commodities and the difficulty of
getting food stuffs. Much blame
has been laid on the farmers, that
they have not been producing
enough, but they on the other hand
claim that they have been producing
at loss to themselves. The Farm
Bureau enables the farmers to join
in fixing the prices so that any one
wishing to buy any single line of
produce will have to come up to the
price demanded by the bureau, or go
without. In most of the counties
about rs or 80 per cent of the farm
ers have joined this bureau, and feel
that it is a great advantage to them
to be able to do so.
The Farm Bureau is a distinctly
representative organization, as none
but farmers can be officers or MEM
bers. The smallest unit of the or
is the township, delegates
chosen from the townships to form
an examining board for the county.
and from the counties to state ex-
ecutive committee is chosen. Thus
the state organization is truly rep
The executive COM
mittees will meet frequently and will
have charge of all marketing and
buying operations.
The agricultural colleges have done
4 great deal to train young farmers
TO increase production, and to pro-
duce first class quality, but the
problem before the farming popula-
ion is how to profitably dispose Of
.hese fire products of the farm with
,ut loss to the farmer. Even nov
N the paper we see how stock, grain
fruits and other farm products are
being marketed at a loss and in
many cases of fruit, the farmers are
citing it rot or are feeding it to the
pigs because of low prices and lack
If shipping facilities.
When our farm bureau gets its or
yanization in perfect running order,
md it's influence begins to be felt
n other lines of business, they will
De able to exert telling pressure on
Ill business which is dependent on
he farmer for the source of supply.
transportation will be improved and
,anning companies, livestock deal
RS, vegetables and fruit buyers. ele-
yators, wool buyers, creamery own
RS and many others will be affected.
The farm bureau in Ionia has Sc
'ured the services of Harry l.. Carr,
he state organizer, who has been in
he farm bureau work for the last
10 months, nearly ever since tha
was started His work
S recognized by the state bureau
md by Prof. Mumford of the Agri-
ultural college. Mr.. Carr has had
much experience in organizing the
bureaus all over the state and will
zee that Ionia gets the full value of
lis services. He will be in Ionia |
or some time and has moved his
amily here.
The Ionia county organization has
elected for it's president, John c.
Butler, and for vice president. and
reasurer, Lee p. Spaulding. Other
Members of the executive committee
re George d. Mathews, Lee Lamp
lin, Nathan Greenhoe, Leon Carter,
}. w. Stewart and George Wool
ridge. The delegates to the state
farm Bureau are H. E. Powell, A.
Al Wa1oh onI Nt11;oyo TnoN