THE FARM BUREAU 77 



county publication or circular letter which is sent to all of the mem- 

 bers, not only supplies the information and encouragement which 

 every individual should have, but it furnishes material for the active 

 member to use in boosting the Farm Bureau among his indifferent as- 

 sociates. The more any member knows about the aims, methods, and 

 accomplishments of his organization, the greater his loyalty will be 

 and the more he will profit from it. Greater knowledge will also 

 fortify him against the insidious influence of propaganda from dealers 

 who oppose him. 



The boys' and girls' clubs carry this publicity idea into the 

 future. They train the next generation of farmers to appreciate the 

 vast improvement which is possible in general agricultural practise. 

 Club work cultivates a high appreciation of fellowship and mutual 

 interest in the projects and problems of the farm. The young folks 

 learn to keep cost accounts, which are certain to stimulate a desire for 

 economical and profitable marketing. The club members now will 

 undoubtedly become the Farm Bureau leaders a few years hence. 

 Their present-day interest and enthusiasm are also sure to spread to 

 their parents and their associates, so that the benefit of club work is 

 far-reaching. 



Publicity in the local and county newspapers is also necessary in 

 order to give the general public a fair understanding of the purposes 

 of the farmers' organizations. There are many who profess to be- 

 lieve that a farmer's sole duty to himself and the nation is to produce, 

 to take up his position between the corn rows and in the feed lot and 

 limit his operations to the confines of his line fences. The general 

 public has been imposed upon so much in the past by various trade 

 monopolies and trusts that there is natural suspicion of any new mark- 

 eting venture and opposing interests make the most of this prejudice 

 in their propaganda. Fortunately, there is no occult objective for 

 farmers' cooperative organizations. Efficient and economical mark- 

 eting is the aim, and that cannot injure the consumer. It will hurt 

 only those who now profit unduly at the expense of both producer and 

 consumer. Consequently, it is best for all concerned to give general 

 publicity to the purposes for which farmers are organized. An 

 honestly enlightened consuming public will welcome and assist their 

 advance. Those whose present business may be encroached upon may 

 then see the light and readjust their operations along lines of greater 

 service to the community. 



