182 Keport of Farmers" Institutes 



an association until a good man can be secured, than to start with 

 vision. I realize that this is only one part of your very multi- 

 tudinous work, but understand that it will be much better for you 

 and the counties which you serve to do a few things well than to 

 attempt so much that you accomplish very little. Do not forget 

 the excuse given in the Prophet's parable *' While I was busy 

 here and there, behold he was gone." A case has recently been 

 reported to me of an association which has been dead a month, 

 and the tester gone before the bureau man knew of it. A few 

 herds dropped out, the tester was not able to put in full time, he 

 became discouraged and quit. This is not an isolated case of the 

 loss of associations because of neglect. A little timely looking 

 after would have prevented this. Instead of a lot of wasted time 

 and funds, and a disgusted community, valuable work would still 

 be going on. Take this plain speaking in the spirit I am giving 

 it. You farm bureau men have no better friend, or one more 

 keenly interested in the success of your work — as well as more 

 keenly critical of it — than the speaker. A lack of oversight of 

 one part of your work is an indicator of a similar lack along other 

 lines, and does not enhance your value for the future. 



MAGNIFYING THE ORGANIZATION 



I have always felt that there was much to be desired in the 

 organization. Usually good men have been selected for officers, 

 but they have not had enough to do, hence they lost interest. 

 People are only actively interested in what occupies them. Re- 

 cently I was called to meet with an association whose president 

 died more than a year ago, and his place had not yet been filled, 

 nor had they had a meeting in all that time. Well said the wise 

 man — " How shall two walk to.gether except they be agreed," 

 much less twenty-six. The more I have to do with men and 

 things, the more I am impressed with the value of the congrega- 

 tion of men of like purposes. "As iron sharpeneth iron, so a 

 man sharpeneth the face of his friend " — was another true axiom 

 of the wise man. 



I would most earnestly urge quarterly or at least semi-annual 

 meetings. I realize that many associations are scattered over a 

 wide range and it is difficult to get the members together at a 

 central point. I also realize that to get them together and give 



