304 Missouri Agricultural Report, 



SWINE ORGANIZATIONS—THEIR VALUE AND THE WORK 



THEY SHOULD DO. 



(E. Z. Russell, Benson, Neb.) 



We would make two classes of swine organizations, state 

 and breed. State organizations should include the breeders of 

 all breeds of swine. We believe that each breed organization in 

 the state should be auxiliary to the state organization. 



The value of either state or breed organization will be just 

 what the members of such organizations make it. There are 

 many things that a state organization can do to further interests 

 in general. In this organization we would reach as far as pos- 

 sible in the membership, and by no means limit your member- 

 ship to breeders of pure-bred swine, but get every farmer possible 

 interested in your organization. 



As regards meetings, we believe one good general meeting 

 better than more, for the reason that farmers and breeders are 

 busy men and it is hard to get an attendance that will justify 

 too many meetings. When we have one meeting a strong pull 

 can be made and a good meeting assured. To have a good meet- 

 ing we must have numbers. Very seldom do we get the neces- 

 sary amount of good from a small attendance. 



This annual meeting can be held in connection with other 

 agricultural meetings, as I understand you now have in this 

 State. When you can show to the farmer or breeder that with 

 the same expense he can attend several meetings you will be more 

 liable to get him to attend your meeting than if he can only 

 attend the one. When you can once get him started and he 

 becomes interested you can get him to come again. 



I am firmly of the belief that no farm enterprise will make 

 better returns for the time and money expended than will the 

 raising of swine, and the better the swine the greater will be the 

 returns. Breeders of pure-bred swine are, of course, anxious to 

 extend their sales, and to do this we must interest the fellow who 

 is not now raising pure-breds, as well as to keep interested the 

 fellow who is now raising them. If we can get these men to 

 our meetings, have men there who know the business, read 

 papers, etc., show the many advantages of raising better hogs, we 

 will soon have these men wanting to better their condition by 

 having some of these better hogs. 



