440 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



REPORT OF THE 



FIRST ANNUAL CONVENTION 



OF THE 



IOWA FARM BUREAU FEDERATION 



Held in Des Moines 



January 8-9, 1920 



INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT 



It is safely within the bounds of reason and conservatism to assert 

 that the First Annual Meeting of the Iowa Farm Bureau Federa- 

 tion marks the beginning of a new order for Iowa agriculture. 



This meeting was held in Des Moines, January 8 and 9. 1920. 

 More than twelve hundred actual, honest-to-goodness tillers of the 

 soil journeyed to the Capital City from all parts of the state to take 

 part in its deliberations. 



The weather was of the bitter, biting sort that Iowa generally 

 has on tap in January. Railroad passenger service was not of a sort 

 to stir enthusiasm. The Auditorium in Des Moines, where sessions 

 were held, was little better than the outside atmosphere practically 

 all of the first day. It was strictly an overcoat session. However, 

 near-zero temperatures held no terrors for the hardy men who. from 

 the nature of their calling, have to contend with weather extremes 

 and vagaries in season and out, and the Federation spirit waxed 

 enthusiastic and frost-proof. 



There are an even hundred county farm bureaus in the state — 

 Pottawattamie County having two — and ninety-nine of these or- 

 ganizations were represented at the meeting by accredited delegates, 

 while visitors and unofficial delegations came by hundreds. 



The morning session of the 8th was of a business nature. Sec- 

 retary Coverdale made a report of the last year's activities, com- 

 mittees were appointed and various loose ends and details incident 

 to organizing the convention were taken up. 



President James R. Howard made a brief address in which he 

 touched upon some of the numerous problems that ai)pear to have 

 been sidetracked by the business world and left for the farmers of 

 the country to dispose of. 



The secretary's review of the past year's work demonstrated that 

 the Federation is working along practical lines, which, if continued — 

 as they most certainly will be — must in the near future bring a 



