FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 77 



BIG RAPIDS INSTITUTE. 



The Institute at this place commenced on Thursday evening, January 15. 

 The attendance at the first evening session was rather slim, but the next day it 

 was good and on the second evening the large hall was well filled and a good 

 degree of interest was manifested throughout. The Big Rapids and Green 

 Glee Clubs furnislied some excellent music. Col. N. H. Vincent was president 

 of the Institute, and after the usual preliminary exercises gave the following 

 opening address : 



I believe this is the first meeting of the first Farmers' Institute ever held in 

 Mecosta county. The objects of which organization, as I understand them, 

 are for the purpose of enabling farmers and those interested in the farming 

 business to meet together for the purpose of discussing questions and matters 

 pertaining to the farm, with the view of cultivating and building up a better 

 understanding, a better social feeling among farmers, and for the general 

 advancement of the farming interests of the county. 



I have been a farmer here for ten years or more, and while I have always 

 taken a great interest in the development of the agricultural resources of the 

 county, I have long felt the necessity of a better understanding among farmers. 

 I think the farmers will all agree with me when tlie time comes for hiring help 

 to do the work on their farms that it would be a great benefit and satisfaction 

 to know just what wages their neighbors were paying their farm hands. It 

 •would be a satisfaction to know whether they have to pay $15, $20 or $25 per 

 month. And I know there are farmers here who have introduced into the 

 county improved farm machinery and improved breeds of farm animals who 

 have felt the necessity of a better understanding among farmers. 



Now is the time during these winter months for laying the foundation and 

 making your arrangements for the work of the coming season, and I should 

 like to have the farmers from all parts of the county attend the Institute, enter 

 freely into the discussions that will take place during these meetings, exchange 

 views, become better acquainted with each other, get the benefit of each other's 

 experience, and when the Institute meetings close and you have returned to 

 your respective townships, call the farmers together and organize a farmers' 

 club or an agricultural society of some kind or character in every township in 

 the county, hold frequent meetings and debating schools in your school dis- 

 tricts, and you will soon cultivate and build up a higher standard of sociability, 

 and acquire a better knowledge and proficiency in the business in which you 

 are engaged. 



I was one of the first to encourage the organization of the Agricultural and 

 Mechanical Association which has existed in the county for about seven years, 

 an organi/cation which, though not as successful in some respects as we might 

 wish, yet has been a great benefit and has done much toward advancing the 

 farming interests of the county, and if you will take my advice after these 

 meetings close and organize your township societies, hold frequent meetings 

 during the winter months, and when spring comes take a little extra pains and 

 pride in the cultivation of your crops, get up a rivalry between townships, and 

 when the time comes for iiolding the annual fair, take your families and your 



