The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1921-03-21
GROWERS FORM ! [ j /
..>LOCAIPR0|D D j
ORGANIZATION r.
Present. italization- Fixed
al s.. With Share.
Each
TEMPORARY QEcToRS
NAMED II BEGIN WORK
y"s3 III. liz
Another General Meeting Will
Be Called Soon to Completes
Warehouse Project

A local produce association was or
qanized Saturday afternoon at a
meeting of farmers at the city hall
called for that purpose. County
Agent ;Dvoracek acted as chairman
and H. l.. Boyer was elected tempo
rary secretary.
After calling the meeting to order
the county agent briefly outlined the
needs Of a cooperative association
and more adequate warehouse facli-
tiles at, Bemidji for more satisfactory
marketing of all kinds Of farm prod:
ucts. He cited the various co-opera-
tive enterprises that had operated at
one time or another at Bemidji and
failed for one reason. or another. He
warned against two of the most COM
mon causes Of failure in cooperative
enterprises; namely: inefficient man
agement and, no doubt the more seri-
Gus, the active disloyalty Of members
and shareholders. He stated that I'M
less each and everyone was ready to
support an association with 100 per
cent loyalty in boosting it, and mar
keting their products, then its or
ganization would be time wasted! He
showed that warehouse of 100000
bushel capacity was necessary with
facilities for cleaning and handling
clover seed, small grains, both for
seed and for feed. Several farmers
responded to request for discussion.
Everyone admitted the vital need Of
such an organization, but more or
less pessimism was expressed because
: Of previous failures of farmers en-
terprises. The advantage Of co-opera-
in this district in selling potatoes and
especially seed stock and other prod
ucts was also shown. This system
would make the Bemidji association
the central unit because Of its natu-
raj location and it's railroad facilities.
F. S. Jordan, field manager Of Min
nesota Potato exchange, explained the
system Of handling the sale Of cars
consigned by local associations from
the time the car. was loaded and ship
ped, until the grower receives
his return, and the system Of
pooling cars, like grade and variety.
He pointed to the enormous future
selling power of the exchange and the
possibilities of national potato or
ganization similar to that of the fruit
growers. He touched briefly on the
buying power Of such an organiza-
ton. 2..< ..''Hi>. .--~ -. '.- -.
His talk led to a general discussion
of the exchange, and expressions re-
garding its success the past year. L..
T. Bella emphasized the need of i'm
mediate action be taken to assist the
farmers in disposing of their present
stock of potatoes in order that they
would be in a position to build a
warehouse to take care Of this years
crop. It having been previously voted
to organize produce association, the
sentiment toward the exchange was
determined by vote, not as;vote being
cast against it. The county agent
read the growers agreement with the
local association, and the associations
agreement with the state exchange.
This was further explained by E. p:
Schulke of Tenstrike, a director OF
the State exchange. r.. !. -. = :,
III order that this association could
begin operation at once, the present
capitalization was fixed at $4,000
with shares at $25 each. Nine farm
ers who have potatoes to sell signed
their intention to purchase shares,
and the following temporary directors
were elected to incorporate the asso-
citation and to affiliate with the ex-
change: w. G. Schroeder, A. P.
Richie, Richard Martin, George
French, L. T. Bella, c. L. Straw
bridge, Chris Larson, all Of Bemid]l.
Another general meeting will be
called in the near future to talk the
warehouse proposition. It is intend
ed then to amend the articles Of IN
corporation of the present association
to increase the capitalization and also
the size of shares, and take definite
steps towards the erection Of a suit
able warehouse and work out plans
for cooperation among locals. This
meeting will be widely advertised
with the hope of securing the attend
ance OF a larger percentage OF the
farmers in this locality.
The board of directors called a
meeting for 8 O'Clock today at the
farm bureau office to complete the
incorporation and take steps for i'm
mediate action of selling potatoes
through the exchange.