The Ordway new era., 1921-03-18
FARM BUREAU
AND PURPOSE

The American Farm Bureau Fed
Grafton is league of the Farm Bu-
reaus of the nation in which the COM
mon interests of all county organiza-
.ti0ns are united for tho advancement
OF agriculture in the United States of
America, economically, educational-
iy and socially on a constructive ba.
sis.
The American Farm Bureau Fed
GRAFTON was organized March 4, 1920
III Chlcago. Twenty-eight State Farm
bureau Federations were represents
&c at the organization meeting. :.
me American Farm Bureau Fed
Grafton is directed and controlled by
farmers through Board of Direc-
tors, consisting of one official and
one additional. representative from
each state for each 10000 members
or major portion thereof, and by an
executive. Committee consisting of
three members of the Board of Direc-
tors from each of the four regional
districts of the United States. ALI of
tho OFFICERS and directors must be ac-
tually engaged in farming.
A. Farmer Organization
The American Farm Bureau Fed
'b PUASAy iOPi
j. 1t represents thirty-seyen
states which have been admitted into
the national federation. The total
membership in the thirty-seven states
is more than l 900, O,00O-the largest
body of organized farmers in Ameri-
ca.
2. 1t represents mora then 1000
County Farm Bureaus, each of which
las an official board of farmers.
3. 1t represents all communities
Each County Farm Bureau organiza-
ton provides for director from each
community or township, co-opera-
tor from each school district, and a.
well-distributed membership.
a. 1t represents all agricultural
interests. The members, officers and
directors of the various County Farm
Bureaus include individual in all of
the general and specialized lines of
farming, and all are united for the
advancement of agriculture, econom-
ically, educationally and socially.
5. 1t represents the various agri-
cultural associations. The Farm
Bureaus do not aim to replace any
other organization, but include u
mong their membership representa-
tives of all farmers organizations.
The Federation encourages communi-
ty organization and cooperation.
The American Farm Bureau FEEDER
alton is not a political organization.
H. believes that the safeguarding and
promotion of agricultural interests
are vital to the public welfare. and
chat these interests can best be pro-
tected by the united action of all, re-
gardless of factional or political diff
ferences.
Is Not Political
The American Farm Bureau Fed
GRAFTON is not a panacea or a cure-all.
1t depends for its strength upon the
kind of support given to it by the To-
cal. county and state organizations,
and the cooperation which it receiv-
es from the various agencies inter-
ested in the welfare of agriculture.
The American Farm Bureau Fed
Grafton speaks the true voice of its
membership. The referendum is
usd to obtain the viewpoint of its
membership upon all great public
questions.
The American Farm Bureau Is free
from political entanglements. When
ever any officer or director becomes
n candidate for stase or national Of
office in the American Farm Bureau
Federation.
Upkeep is Nominal
The American Farm Bureau Fed
Grafton, the State Farm Bureau Fed
crations, and the various Farm Bu-
reaus represent only nominal in
vestment on the part of any one indi-
vidual. The entire upkeep of the
County Farm Bureaus and the State
Federations in tho American Farm
Bureau Fedration, uniformly appor-
toned, costs the farmer less than one
cent an acre on his land. This In
cludes federal. state and county ap-
propriations and membership fees.
One-half to twolthirds Of the finances
necessary to support the county
Agent movement comes from public
funds appropriated to maintain the
agricultural extension work carried
or through Farm Bureaus, but no
public funds go to the support OF the
S.ate or American Farm Bureau Fed
orations.- The American Farm Bu-
reau Federation depends for Its sup
mort entirely upon the funds provided
through tho individual Farm Bureau
membership fees, of which it receives
not - exceed SO cents per member.
The Warmer has been taught by the
County Farm Bureau the great ad-
yantages which come to him Through
organization. He demands that his
fnterests be effectively represented at
the council tables of the nation. and
he ia willing to make proper finan-
Nial provision for such representa-
tion. .