The people's voice., 1959-12-11
From VERNEVA and RALPH
SALISBURY, Floweree. Mont.
(First In A Series)

SALISBURY, Floweree, Mont.
(First In A Series)
Twenty-Five farm people from al
parts of the United States recently
studied together at the National
All Club Center in Washington
D. C. in preparation for a trip to
India where they will comprise the
living exhibit of American farmers
at the World Agricultural Fair to be
held in New Delhi December IL to
February IA.
Getting a briefing on the languages,
geography, religions and customs of
India were a dozen farm men and
women from Iowa, Vermont, North
Carolina, Indiana, Minnesota and
Montana selected from the three ma
jor farm organizations: the Farmers
Union, Grange and Farm Bureau.
Those representing the Farmers Un-
ion are Mr.. and Mrs. Milton Maxwell
of LaSeuer, Minnesota, and Mr.. and
Mrs. Ralph Salisbury of Floweree,
Montana.
These farm people from widely diff
ferent types of farms have been asked
to explain to fair goers the compre-
hensive display of American agricul-
tural productivity which shows our
land and its resources, research and
technology, information and educa-
tion, applied technology on the land,
marketing of farm products at home
and abroad, life in farm community,
and a look at the atomic age in agri-
culture.
To the people of India who are
familiar with the more simple meth
DDS of agriculture which provide work
for as many as possible of the 415
million population, the So million
American exhibit may appear rather
ostentatious, with it's four large
buildings surrounded by 32 golden
domes.
The u. S. group will try to reassure
those they meet that American farm
ers are like other farmers who enjoy
exchanging experiences about crops,
weather and families. They hope to
make friends who will give them
frank opinions about Americas ways
of handling surpluses. They want to
know how India is affected psycholog-
ically, politically and economically by |
the rivalry between the U. S. and
U. S. S. R. They will encourage the
people to tell what they think India
hopes to contribute to world better
ment and how the U. S. and India
can work together.
The adult group of farmers, spon-
sored by Farmers and World Affairs,
a non-profit educational organization,
hopes to be able to bring back to
United States farmers better under
standing of the farmers of India with
The expectation that farmers Of the
world can have an important role in
developing constructive programs for
world peace.
We started in Washington, D. C.
;rying to learn to understand our
selves so we'll that we can understand
he people we will meet in India.
The easiest part of the lesson came
'irst. Tea at the Indian Embassy!
How wonderful" l thought. ooh,
,ut I won't know how to act. Teas
llways make me feel inadequate.
But this one was different. The
warmth of the Indian peoples hos
,itality put us at ease from the first
greeting at the door to the
asst lingering "namastay"-That's
.oodbye in Hindi.
Mr.. L. R. Seth, cultural attache
# the Indian embassy, and his assist
nts all in western style business
uits, were happy to answer our
uestions and listen to our ideas.
The women, in graceful, colorful
aris. served delicious Indian deli
acies and invited us to take third
nd fourth servings, which we did !
Without too much coaxing.
Oh, OH And Ralph and I had
hought this trip to India would be