Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1932-09-15
ROOT GROWERS
MEET, ORGANIZE

New Association VIII Work Toward
A System of More Orderly Ruta.
baga Marketing.
others interested in the marketing of
that crop gathered at the Askov D.
B. S. hall Monday night to organize
into a cooperative body for the pur-
pose Of improving the price. Repre-
sentatives were present from all
parts of northern Pine county and
voiced their views on the problems
facing the agricultural industry. A.
P. Jensen acted as chairman of the
meeting and Jul. Slot was secre-
tary. ]. H. Hay, deputy commissioner
of agriculture, was requested to be
present previously to the announce
ment of the meeting and was there
to make the proposition of organizing
into a growers body clear to those
present. A similar meeting was held
in the afternoon at Sandstone.
Mr.. Hay stated that the community
here in northern Pine county and a
small section in Wisconsin had, what
might be termed, a monopoly on the
growing and supplying the trade with
rutabagas and it seems no more than
fair for the growers to organize so
that a fair price for their product
might be obtained. There is no limit
to the market in the southern states,
said Mr.. Hay. From the Carolinas
and Florida to California many peo-
pie have never heard of the wonder
full, tasty morsel of table stock that
is raised here. But, said Mr.. Hay,
we can't sit here and expect them to
find it out unless we tell them about
it and if we tell them we can sell
more than we can raise. A good way
to create a better market is to form
an organization and there should be
action and not so much talking.
In this connection Mr.. Hay recited
dian who listened to lecturer on a
chautauqua circuit. After the speech
the Indian was asked what he thought
of it and he replied: big wind
lots of noise,-no rain" Work is
what counts. said Mr.. Hay. and in
suggesting that an organization be
formed he said the growers can't lose,
but that some good might be realized.
The growers can set price and by
cooperation they can stick to that
price until it is paid. In this respect
the speaker said that the trucks have
helped to set the low price citing the
fact that they take a truck load to
the Twin Cities or Chicago, or some
other place and the shrewd whole
salers or retailers will run their bluff
until finally in desperation rather
than face the necessity of bringing
his load home again the truckman
will unload at most any price. Right
then and there the price is set. The
next fellow may even have a more
difficult time to get as much for his
load.
After Mr.. Hays talk suggestions
and talks were heard at considerable
length from various ones in the audi
ence. Some suggested that a price
be set and others were against this
procedure saying that If price were
set it would invite other sections into
the growing field and tend to dis
courage the reputation as a market
for the product that has been built
up here.
Form Organization.
The title, Northern Minnesota Rut-
abaga Growers Association was
chosen for the new organization and
the purpose was to govern the ruta-
baga market. Askov was chosen as
the home location of the organization
with no capital stock. A membership
fee of so cents was set and growers
of rutabagas only could be members.
The limit of Indebtedness was set at
S1OO and the board of directors is
to be composed of seven members, two
from Askov, two from Sandstone, one
from along the northeastern end of
the Great Northern railroad in Pine
county; one from FinlaysOn; and one
from Willow River and northwestern
Pine county.
Those who have been named thus
far on the board are as follows:
Christ Larsen and Jul. Slot, Askov;
Sigurd Mosbak and Chris Ingeman-
sen, Sandstone; and Joe Dubie, Will
low River.
An agreement for members to sign
after they have paid their fee will be
left at the Kerrick State Bank; State
Bank of Bruno; First State Bank of
Askov; First National Bank of Sand
stone; First State Bank of Finlayson;
Willow River Creamery and at the
cry.
There is a bug in these prunes,"
said a travelling man to a waiter in