Tabor City tribune., 1963-01-09
Agriculture
in
Action
" WALLACE PARKER
~ C. Farm Bureau Federatioo

va avs 40 NAitCu.
The curtain is down, and the
house lights are ON. We are
left to sort out our impressions
of the players and the plot.
What sort of reTiew will W.
give to the North Carolina
Farm Bureau IN the role it
played?
First let's look at the role
the North Carolina Farm Bur-
eau has chosen. Farm Bureau
l: a free, independent, non
governmental. voluntary org
anization of farm families unit
ed for the purpose of analyz-
ing their problems and formu-
lating action to achieve edu-
Cmic opportunity, and social
advancement - thereby pro-
noting the national welfare.
The North Carolina Farm
Bureau played that role to the
kilt in 1862, and the highlight
&; the performance was the
introduction of an expanded
Program which is already plac-
ing the organization in posi-
t,On to be of better service to
It's members.
The expanded program is tn"
product OF almost two years of
study and evaluation. 1t ap-
peared as a bit player i'll 1860
when study tour was made
in other states TO take a look
a; the Farm Bureau programs
OF those states. Later in the
,ear, North Carolina Farm Bu-
reau members decided that
study of the Tar Heel organ
ization'S structure might point
up areas which could be i'm
proved. Another tour followed
in 1861.
AT the annual meeting that
same year, voting delegates
passed this resolution: I'VE
recommend that immediate
steps be taken to involve the
maximum number of Farm
Bureau members in Farm Bu-
leau activities"
To do this. the following cx-
i,t nSiOnS were recommended: :
D Contract bargaining; O.
/ Establishing arG expanding
county offices; (3J County o.
fee services: (IJ EXpande,
ticld services: (5) Home dis
cuSSiun groups: (6) Expanded
:nlUrmatiunll program: %
Market development and APP
piied research: 90 Record
keeping: 90 Women'S activi-
ties; G0) Youth activities.
The expanded program was
officially adopted IN 1862 dur
ing the first Sp, cial called
meeting of delegates ever held
IN North Carolina.
! Though tn. program is
young. it has all cady brought
: results Many new county
( Farm Bureau Offices have op-
cned. and man others have
Xpandcd. New clerical Scrv-
ices are offered through Of
fees Additional 'icldmcn and
program specialists have been
EiICd. Plans have been lalc
Tor home discus, ION groups.
The State information staff has
grown, and COUNTY newSlcttcrS
are being mailed to members
or d monthly HISiS in many
counties. Farm record books
are being developed 70 ease the
EUrOcn on farmers. Women are
assuming more responsibility
in the overall Farm Bureau
program.
Such an expansion could not
finance itself. So MEMBERS VOt-
ed in dues Increase which
boosted dues from five to- ten
dollars. Never in the hlStOr.:
ui the American IaTm Bureau
has State organization with
more than $4,000 members
raised its dues without losing
members. The North Carolina
Farm Bureau ,lio IT in 1862.
AS of November 30. 9l62. there
were 55.45l Farm Bureau fam
lies on record in North Caro-
lima. This was a small gain
over the preceding year. but RI
/ significant gain because of the
( dues increase.
And exactly What will
1853 be like? Well. nobody
gets d script beforehand when
the stage is life. But the North
! Carolina Farm Bureau, through
/ its improved program and the
unity of its IN 'mbcrS. should
be even better prepared to
champion the farmers cause as
Tie curtains part.