156 Report of Farmers' Institutes 



on the actual work that has been done by those bureaus, and the 

 fuller understanding of what they may do when properly 

 organized. 



For the purpose of this paper a fann bureau is a county-wide 

 organization of farmers associated together for the purpose of 

 promoting, through study, cooperation and paid leadership, better 

 agricultural practices, rural economics and country social life. 

 The heart of the farm bureau is the county agent, or farm bureau 

 manager, as he is called in this state, who, by cooperation and 

 agreement, is usually also a representative of the state and the 

 federal government in agricultural extension work. The farm 

 bureau differs from other farmers' organizations in its catholicity 

 of membersliip, its permanent paid leadership, the fact that its 

 agent may also be a direct representative of the state and govern- 

 ment, and the work is fostered by the state financially and other- 

 wise. These would seem to be stabilizing elements in the farm 

 bureau movement. 



Most movements fail for want of leaders. The farm bureau 

 movement aims to avoid this end through paid leadership. The 

 state is cooperating to see that this paid leadership is competent, 

 and is reinforced by all the help the state and federal government 

 can lend in support of the work. 



The question may be asked, Why are the state and government 

 encouraging farm bureaus and cooperating in its work? The 

 answer is simple enough. They are given millions of dollars 

 every year to study and promote agriculture. They need an 

 effective way of getting the results of their studies and the knowl- 

 edge of the practices of the best farmers to every man on the 

 farm, everywhere. The colleges and department may not need 

 an extension organization to get before the people the really new 

 things they discover in agriculture each year; bulletins, reports 

 and the public press may be satisfactory for this. But, when it 

 comes to the widespread distribution and adoption of the things 

 already known among all farmers, the psychology of the situation 

 demands a local study and closer contact with the people than 

 that of publications or public address — a contact and local study 

 that the agent of the farm bureau is in a better position to effect 

 than by any plan heretofore put into effect. 



