388 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



the efficiency of their service. A conference attended by the 

 Executive officers was held with the Iowa Congressional dele- 

 gation previous to their departure for Washington to take up 

 their duties in Congress. At this meeting the problems of the 

 farmer and his requirements in matters of legislation were fully 

 discussed, and we can assure our members that the Iowa mem- 

 bers of Congress now fully understand their problems and will 

 use every honorable means to protect the interests of the Iowa 

 farmer. 



The Farm Bureau picnic dates interferred very materially with 

 the regular work of the office and with many lines of work that 

 necessarily had to be delayed for want of time. The Executive 

 Committee was advised of the situation and their judgment 

 seemed to dictate the necessity of the Secretary attending these 

 meetings in order to bring about a more perfect understanding 

 between the membership and the Executive officers. Your Sec- 

 retary attended one hundred eighteen county meetings, not in- 

 cluding the conferences heretofore mentioned. It is difficult to 

 estimate the value of these meetings to the organization, as the 

 personal relation of the Secretary with the work precludes the 

 possibility of giving an impartial opinion. 



Our activities on behalf of the members in rendering service 

 brought us into close relation with the heads of the large cor- 

 porate interests of the country, from all of whom we have receiv- 

 ed most courteous consideration ; but it is also true that with 

 these interests, as with many others, it is becoming much less 

 difficult to get their attention and co-operation than at any 

 previous time, due no doubt more to their ability for far-sighted 

 discernment than to any conversion of heart. 



We are conscious of many necessary short comings in our 

 qualification to adequately serve the members of our organiza- 

 tion. Our endeavor has been to carry out every recommenda- 

 tion of the Executive Committee and to confine our every activity 

 to such endeavors as would eventually be for the benefit of our 

 organization. It is well to remember we were beginning a some- 

 what hazardous undertaking. We had an organization large in 

 numbers hastily thrown together and not used to discipline. It 

 was looked upon with suspicion by the public generally and any 

 break in its ranks would have been welcomed by many. We 

 were all on thin ice. Naturally our constant efifort was to secure 

 our membership in its loyalty and to go forward in a manner that 



