54 



MISSOURI. 



The farmers' institute as an organized educational institution, as well as all other 

 organized agencies for the advancement of agricultural development and education 

 in Missouri, are so closely identified with and have been so largely promoted and 

 developed by the State board of agriculture that in recording the history of farmers' 

 institutes in this State it is necessary to consider the board of agriculture and the insti- 

 tute organization together. 



The Ih-st State agricultural society receiving patronage from the State was incorpo- 

 rated ])y the legislature by an act approved February 24, 1853. a In the same year an 

 agricultural fair was held by this society at Boonville, and the most prominent feature 

 of this fair was a public address by Hon. Uriah Wright, of St. Louis, in which he made 

 a master argument in favor of agricultural education. Mr. Wright's address shows that 

 the importance of special education for the farmer was at least thought of in Missouri 

 more than forty years ago and at a time when much of the State was yet a vast 

 wilderness. 



During the winter of 1864-65 the legislature incorporated the Missouri State Board of 

 Agriculture. The board was organized under this act at its first meeting held March 

 13, 1865. The work of the board for the first few years of its existence consisted mainly 

 in exploiting the resources of the State and in gathering useful information on crops, 

 improved breeds of live stock, new inventions of farm machinery, etc. This infor- 

 mation was published in the annual report and distributed among the farmers of the 

 State and no doubt had a considerable influence in opening up the way for the future 

 work of the board. 



The annual meetings of the board held for the purpose of transacting routine busi- 

 ness soon developed into what was practically a State institute meeting. At these 

 meetings the most intelligent and successful farmers and prominent scientists would 

 meet with the board, and papers were read and addresses delivered on current farm 

 topics in as able a manner, considering the state of progress of science at that time, as 

 are the subjects now handled at one of our present-day State institute meetings. 



The first effort of the board of agriculture toward the establishment of farmers' insti- 

 tute meetings was made at the annual meeting held in St. Louis, September 9, 1869. b 

 A resolution drawn by Norman J. Colman was unanimously adopted at that meeting 

 pledging the support of the members of the board to the organization of institute work 

 and promising their assistance and attendance as far as practicable whenever possible. 

 No meetings were held, however, under this resolution, for lack of availal^le funds. 



The second and successful move toward the estal:)lishment of organized institute 

 work was made at the annual meeting of the board of agriculture, held November 1, 

 1882, c by Prof. J. W. Sanborn, who at the time was filling the position of secretary of 

 the board of agriculture as well as that of dean of the agricultural college. Upon the 

 suggestion of Professor Sanborn a committee was appointed to report on the organiza- 

 tion of farmers' institutes. The committee after deliberation reported resolutions, 

 which were adopted by the board, setting forth the desirability of holding farmers' 

 institute meetings during the coming winter and requesting the secretary of the board 

 to notify the farming communities thru the press of the desire of the board to coop- 

 erate with them in holding institutes and that the board would defray the expenses, 

 except that the counties must furnish hall for the meeting and heat and light it free of 

 expense to the board. The secretary was also requested to arrange with not less than 

 three nor more than five members of the board for the delivering of addresses upon 

 some farm topic. 



a First Ann. Rpt. Bd. Agr., 1865. ''Ann. Rpt. Bd. Agr., 1882. 



bAnn. Rpt. Bd. Agr., 1869. 



