Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-03-08
BANKERS STUDY
FARMER finance
Plans of the American Bankers
Association to Promote Bet
ter Relations.
FARM EXPERT AS DIRECTOR
Agricultural Commission to Make
Scientific Study of Farm
Needs.
FARM EXPERT AS DIRECTOR

UdIhlnS
with agricultural needs is indicated in
the recently announced plans Of the
American Bakers Association for ex-
banding the activities Of its Agricul-
tural Commission. Professor d. II.
Otis, well known agriculturalist with
extensive practical experience in farm
management and finance, has been ap-
pointed director of the commission
He will have the cooperation OF an
Advisory Council of three of the ma
tons outstanding agricultural experts
and educators. This council is made
up of President William M. Jardine OF
the Kansas State Agricultural College
at Manhattan, Kansas; Dean William
r. Dodson of the College Of Agricui-
ture, Louisiana State University at
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Dean
Harry L. Russell of the College OF
Agriculture, University of Wisconsin,
at Madison, Wisconsin.
Burton NJ. Smith, president OF the
Bank of North Lake, Wisconsin, IS
chairman of the commission. Discuss
ing his determination to make it rem
der an increasingly valuable service
in the economic life of the country,
he said:
Banker-Farmer Cooperation
"The underlying endeavor OF the
Agricultural Commission of the Amerl-
can Bankers Association will continue
to be a better understanding and q
greater cooperation between the bank
err and the farmer. The banker knows
how to run his bank, but often does
not fully appreciate one important
source from which he obtains large
amount of the money with which he
conducts his business. This is particu-
Iarly true Of the city banker. City
banks have country correspondents
from whom they receive large depos-
its. These deposits come primarily
from the farmer.
"The Agricultural Commission has
had its appropriation from the Asso-
citation sufficiently increased to enable
it to employ a paid agricultural expert,
who will obtain the concrete facts as
to needs in each Federal Reserve dis
trict. The director is thoroughly
practical agricultural educator who is
ready to do more than desk work.
The country banker will be met in his
own bank and the farmer in his own
field
Contacts will be established with
the United States Department OF Agri-
culture, the agricultural colleges, the
heads of agricultural associations, the
heads of farm equipment manufactur-
ing associations, state bankers agrl-
cultural committees, farmer banker
committees, the packing and allied in
terests as users of farm products, the
Commission Of the Great Lakes Water
ways, agricultural publications, those
handling the railroad problems of the
farmer, legislators interested in the
establishment of farm credit instru-
mentalists, and with those in charge
of the boys and girls farm clubs.
The Farm for Young Folks
"The farm must be made an attrac
tive future field for the Noys and girls
of the farm today. They must
be trained in business methods
and in cultural pursuits. Here must
come the cooperation of the Agricul-
tural Commission and the Educational
Committee Of the Association.
D. H. Otis, the new director, was
born and raised on dairy farm near
Topeka, Kansas He was graduated
from Kansas Agricultural College, and
after taking his masters degree there,
became an assistant in agriculture. In
this position he looked after the de-
tails Of experiments in crop produc-
ton, steer feeding and hog raising.
Later he was elected professor OF
Dairy Husbandry, and then advanced
to professor of Animal Husbandry, his
responsibilities being broadened to in
clude teaching and experimental work
In relation to beef cattle and hogs.
A Practical Farmer
In order to enlarge his practical ex
perience, Professor Otis resigned
from the Kansas Agricultural College
and became, in 1903, manager of the
Deming Ranch, $500 acre farm in
southeastern Kansas. Here he had
wide experience in handling farm help,
in raising various crops and in feeding
these crops to steers, sheep, cattle and
hogs. He was called back to academic
work by the University of Wisconsin
as assistant professor of Animal NJ
triton. Professor Otis later was made
assistant dean of the College of Agri-
culture and professor of Farm Man
agement.
Three and half years ago Profess
sor Otis resigned from the University
of Wisconsin to become director OF
the Banker Farmer Exchange of the
Wisconsin Bankers Association. In
this position he developed plan
whereby a farmer may list what he
has to sell at his local bank. The pros
pective buyer can likewise record his
wants at this bank. These listings
are forwarded to the heaquarters OF
the Banker-F Farmer Exchange, which
acts as a clearing house, bringing the
buyer in touch with the seller. During
1922 fi2ty-eight carloads of dairy cat
tie anu a large number of individual
animals were handled.