Farmers' Week in Agricultural College. 



83 



Each nioiitli during the growing season the Board issues a ei'op 

 report, and at the close of tlie year a sunnnary of the year's yield. , 



But the most important work of the Board is the holding of some 

 300 farmers' institutes each year — institutes which may take the form of 

 special agricultural trains, farm hoys' encampments, or even a great 

 Farmers' Week meeting, such as this promises to be. Where the Board 

 once had to hunt places to hold institutes — where it was safe for a, at 

 that time, so-called "book farmer" to '"light," we are today looking, not 

 for places where we may hold meetings, but for men and means to carry 

 on the work, for which, from every section of the State, the people are 

 calling. 



This is the day and hour of the greatest agricultural awakening the 

 world has ever known. Such meetings as this prove it. Not idle curi- 

 osity, but a desire for knowledge and an interest in your work, has 

 brought you here for this great mid-winter meeting — an agricultural 

 short course and a farmers' congress combined. 



That you may enjoy the week and that it may prove profitable 

 to you and to the State is our wisli, coupled witli a thousand unspoken 

 but lieartfelt words of welcome. 



ADDRESS OF WELCOME ON BEHALF OF COMMERCIAL CLUB 



OF COLUMBIA. 



(Hon. N. T. Gentry, Columbia, Mo.) • 



^Ir. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: 



As a citizen of Columbia, I have been selected to 

 formally welcome the farmers of the State, and I am 

 sure that I do so with pleasure. We have been 

 honored by yon witli visits to our little city on 

 former occasions, and we sincerely desire to see you 

 in our midst again and again. 



It is appropriate that tlie farmers of Missouri 

 should hold their meetings in Columbia, because 

 Columbia is located in Central ]\Iissouri, and w'e 

 Central INIissourians think that Central IMissouri is 

 one of the best farming districts in our State and in our Nation. 

 The people of Boone county, and the counties adjoining, are 

 proud of what their farmers have done — the fine horses they have 

 raised, fat cattle, big mules, high priced hogs and elegant sheep and 

 poultry, besides their extra good crops of hay, corn, wheat, oats, fruit 



Hon. N. T. Gentry. 



