104 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



Mr. Chairman, Members of the Corn Belt Meat Producers' Association, 

 and Friends: I wish to extend to you all a hearty welcome and to assure 

 you that the officers of this asociation are much gratified to see so many of 

 you here; and in addressing you I wish also to address the hundreds of our 

 members over the state who are not permitted to be with us — and I often 

 think that our members who do not attend these annual gatherings do not 

 realize what they are missing. Many of the members who come here year 

 after year tell me that they would not miss these annual meetings for 

 anything; they say that from both a social and educational standpoint they 

 are far more than repaid what it costs them. And they have come to look 

 forward to them as a sort of reunion with friends and as an educational 

 love-feast, and what I want, if possible, is to inspire many others to attend 

 the next annual meeting, take part in the discussion, and assist in trans- 

 acting the business of their association. This is an association of stock 

 men and farmers, and it is their duty as well as their privilege to attend 

 these meetings and have a voice and say who shall be their officers and 

 how their association shall be conducted. If they fail to do this they 

 should not criticise the work done by those who do attend. 



In presenting this, my fourth, and, I trust, my last annual report to the 

 members of this association, I shall endeavor to be frank with you and 

 give you the benefit not only of my observations but also those t)f others, 

 because on retiring from the head of your association as president, I want 

 my successor to have the benefit of all the information I can give him. 



After my election at the last annual meeting, I at once set about ar- 

 ranging for the winter's campaign, with a view to buildiing up the asso- 

 ciation. I had invitations from a number of our farmers' institutes to 

 speak to the farmers on the work of the association, and we always had 

 well-filled houses; and in this way we were able to spread the knowledge 

 of the association among a large number of farmers with very gratifying 

 success. And I would like to suggest that our members see to it at once 

 that they arrange with the farmers' institute people for a joint session, as 

 here is where you will secure the most satisfactory results. Then I also 

 held a great many successful rally meetings when not engaged with the 

 farmers' institutes. But on account of the great amount of corn left in 

 the fields, we had to abandon holding meetings the last of February. This 

 cut the winter's campaign very short, and yet it was very satisfactory, as 

 the meetings on the whole were well attended by a loyal and enthusiastic 

 lot of farmers. 



At the last annual meeting it was very apparent that there must be a 

 change in the system of collecting dues and securing memberships to the 

 association, as the local officers were getting very tired of going to the 

 members year after year and asking them for their dues. On account of 

 this situation and the great amount of work the association was doing, the 

 officers were hampered for funds with which to meet the legitimate ex- 

 penses. A number of plans were suggested and discussed, and finally the 

 matter was turned over to the board of directors to work out. At the 

 board meeting the different plans were discussed both pro and con, and 

 disposed of by a motion being passed to turn the whole matter over the 



