The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1921-09-09

Getting away to a flying start on
June 4, 1918 with a resulting member
ship of 365 at the end of that year,
Valley county now leads the state with
a total of 1900 paid up members.
Through the years of drouths, cut
worms and grashoppers, Murray E.
Stebbins has carried on with faith un-
diminished, a county agent in fact as
well as in name. That his people are
with him and behind him goes with
out saying, for without the confidence
of the farmers in his county the re-
markable record referred to would
have been impossible. 4
The mere attainment of the highest
membership in the state would be of
no particular Importance if it were
not backed up by a great record of
achievement in the way of work ac-
complished and still greater work un-
der way. AS is the custom in farm
bureau activities the work of the
county agent is divided into projects,
strong leaders r selected for each
one and the members best qualified,
are selected to carry on the different
lines of endeavor. When the bureau
was first organized the following men
and women were elected as officers
and project leaders:
Peter Peterson, president; H. c.
Webb, Frazer, vice-president; Mrs.
Blanche Phillips, secretary-treasurer;
C. M. Peterson, Nashua, treasurer;
Rudy Hamry, Hinsdale, markets; Jake
Thoeny, Thoeny, gopher control; Nels
Cotton, Glasgow, irrigation; Ray Can
non, Glasgow, Boys and Girls clubs;
Mrs. Fred Scott, Frazer, Woman's
Work; F. L. Belzer, Glasgow, labor.
Through the able supervision OF
these directors the work became firm
ly established and the spirit of enthus-
iasm and cooperation which devel-
oped as a result of their Efforts, paved
the way for the achievements of the
years to come.
OF the many projects carried on in
Valley county, one of the most prom
Using and one that has attracted even
more than statewide attention is that
of the pure seed work. While the
work has by nc means been limited to
a single crop, the most encouraging
development has been made with al
falfa. At the State Grain and Seed
Show at Bozeman this past January,
the county won first, second and
fourth with its common alfalfa and
then capped its success by taking home
the alfalfa sweepstakes. Fred Pahlka
of Lismas, John Bernhardt of Hins-
dale and William V. Massemaker of
Tampico were the successful grow
ers responsible for this excellent show
ing. So widespread has become tae
fame of the Valley County Seeds
Growers and their alfalfa seed that
carload lets have been shipped as far
wv y as central New York. The Mich
igan Farm Bureau was so well pleased
with their first car of seed that i'm
mediately after its delivery their rep
resentative was again sent out to Sc
cure more of the same. The out
standing quality of the seed is being
recognized throughout the country and
all sales have returned a substantial
premium over prevailing market
For convenience in marketing live
stock a number of local units of the
farm bureau have organized shipping
association. Last fall and winter
eighteen carloads or 486 head of cat
tie were shipped through these asso-
Citations. The Milk River and Hins-
dale units stand at the head of the
list in number of cars shipped, the
former with six, and the latter with
three. In all cases these activities
have resulted in a decided benefit to
the producers. Along with it's market
ing work the Milk River Association
purchased coal in carload lots for the
winter of 1920, saving many dollars
on the fuel bills of it's members.
The county is strong in Club Work,
this having been one of the major
projects from the beginning through
out the state. The county fair. since
the days when S. C. Moore started as
secretary, have been one of the lead
ing county attractions in the state and
it is steadily improving. A fine spirit
of cooperation exists between farm
ers and t~ownspeople and farm bureau
and Commercial club, and this in no
small measure accounts for the sue
cess of it's exhibits.
The Women's work directed by Miss
Erickson, home demonstra-
ton agent, while, because of it's ma !
not as inclined 10 attract at
tention as some of the efforts of the
men, has been progressing steadily
and surely, resulting in material bene-
tit to the ladies of the county. Chief
among the projects are cheese MAX
ing, gardening, canning, dress form
demonstrations, poultry and nutrition