THE FARM BUREAU 75 



farm visiting and more conferences with groups of members. As time 

 goes on, we shall doubtless develop a well defined system for main- 

 taining intact the county organization and local units, which are the 

 absolutely necessary foundation for effective state and national or- 

 ganizations for legislative and marketing purposes. That will sim- 

 plify the work; but initiative, resourcefulness, originality, determina- 

 tion and a thoro acquaintance with farm problems will still be re- 

 quired of farm advisers. Probably the principal reason for the prom- 

 inence of Illinois in Farm Bureau affairs is that the men for this work 

 have been rigidly selected and suitably paid and have been expected 

 to secure commensurate results. 



COOPERATIVE MARKETING OF FARM PRODUCTS 



The marketing of farm products is certain to become generally 

 cooperative. We are making rapid progress in this project because of 

 the concerted efforts of county, state, and national associations all 

 along the line. Local shipping associations affiliated with the Farm 

 Bureaus are already an assured success because of their demonstrated 

 economy in consigning live stock to market. Their membership and 

 shipments grow month by month. The cooperative commission com- 

 panies so far established at the markets leave no cause to doubt that 

 they will satisfactorily, economically, and permanently bridge the gap 

 between live-stock producer and manufacturer. The wool pool has 

 weathered a stormy early life and emerged into a smoothly function- 

 ing and efficient marketing partner of the Farm Bureau. The I. A. 

 A. potato pool last fall distributed through the Farm Bureaus the best 

 potatoes ever bought by Illinois farmers and at prices which dealers 

 could not meet. The local cooperative grain companies are gaining 

 in number and prestige through persistent boosting by Farm Bureaus. 

 The next great movement, already well advanced, is the founding of 

 the U. S. Grain Growers, Inc., whose local footing and financial 

 backing are founded upon the county Farm Bureaus. The successful 

 development of this project, in the face of the most powerfully financed 

 opposing propaganda ever confronting American farmers, will surely 

 be accomplished, and that of itself will be worth to the farmers of 

 America all the costs of all the Farm Bureau work for all time. This 

 immense gain will not be secured through domination of markets but 

 through small economies and various small items of profits incident 

 to the transfer of grain from the producer to the consumer. 



