The Coolidge examiner., 1945-06-29
Farm Bureau Sets
Membership GeaI
AT 5000 in 1945

HH WV III - ~
State membership of farm
er's organization at all
time low say leaders A.
L. Bartlett of Pinal on
state membership COM
mittee.
Five thousand members by June
81, 1916, is the ambitious goal set
by the Arizona Farm Bureau in
announcing plans for the most in
tensive membership drive in its
history. The drive, which gets I'M
der way Monday, July 8, is the cul-
mination of demands among those
engaged in agriculture for a more
vigorous membership. The decision
to undertake it was made at a
recent meeting in Phoenix when ii
was disclosed that current farm
bureau membership is at an all
time low.
Sixty-five farmers representing
every branch of agriculture, attend
ed the meeting and Numbered a
unanimous NO" when sounded out
/, on the question of whether the bu-
reau should be left to die.
A special membership committee
headed by Keith Taylor, Phoenix
will ramrod the campaign for mem
bers. Bill Springer, Pendergast, is
vice-chairman. other members of
the committee include: Nat Dysart,
'Maricopa; A. L. Bartlett, Pinal;
Ben Ormand, Pine; C. P. Gould,
Graham; and George Pickering,
Yuma.
Dysart already has appointed To-
cal chaimen in the ID principal
farm districts of Maricopa county,
and the various other county chair
men are expected to take similar
action.
The work of enlisting new mem
bers in the farm bureau will be
done entirely by volunteers.
Were not going to hire any
slick, fast-talking salesmen,'" Pres
ident Glen Vinson declared. eff the
farmers of this state are not suf.
ficiently interested in building uI
a strong organization to represent
them in Phoenix and in Washing
ton then there is no further nee(
for a farm bureau"
Preliminary arrangements for th'
membership drive already are wei
under way with Taylor, Syringe
and |. M. Clausen, executive sec
retayr of the bureau, contactin,
local leaders in the states princi
pal farm counties.
Special efforts will be made t.
add new members from the var
ious so-called commodity" groups
such as cattlegrowers, woolgrowers
citrus men, cattle feeders, vege
table growers, cotton men an
others.
There are indications that stroni
support will be forthcoming from
among these groups.
"The farm bureau is needed t.
cement all the commodity group
into one strong organization" Bel
Ormand, Pima county cotton grow
er, pointed out.
I'VE need the farm bureau NOR
than it needs u.s." declared Ra,
Cowden, speaking for the Contra
Arizona Cattle Feeders, another o
the commodity groups.
"The farm bureau isn't through,
added M. o. Best, Salt River Vale.
vegetable man, "and there is NJ
question regarding our continued
need for it."
President Vinson summed up tn,
situation in a brief statement an
nouncing the date and goals Of tn,
membership drive. He said:
"The future of the Arizona Farm
Bureau depends on the success o
this campaign for new members
It's up to the farmers and tn
stockmen themselves. If they wan
state association to fight thei
battles for them, let them speak up
join up, or forever hold thei
peace"
Membership fees in the farm bu
reau are five dollars a year 70
farmers who own 40 acres or less
Those who own more than 40 acre
are expected to add two and one
cents to their dues for each ad
ditional acre.