By Albert Sandqiiist 

 Paxton, m. 



J^ AM a member of the Farm Bureau 



Ui for the reason that I would be unfair 

 ^^ to my own interests as a farmer not 

 to be affiliated in this day and age with a 

 farmers' organization. And, of course, the 

 Farm Bureau being the most influential and 

 aggressive, with its personnel of .unselfish, 

 capable and trustworthy leaders, it is only 

 simple reasoning that I should go along. 



As a charter member of the Ford County 

 Farm Bureau, I will say the reasons for be- 

 longing then were not exactly the same as 

 now. In the early days of organization, with 

 almost unlimited demand for what we could 

 produce, the progressive farmer was thinking 

 mostly along the lines of "improved agri- 

 culture" for still greater production. As an 

 individual he was making slow progress in 

 getting together information for that pur- 

 pose. His problem was also^ his neighbor's 

 problem. So the need began to be felt and 

 understood that getting together would con- 

 tribute to the common good. The help of 

 the county agent for crop improvement, bal- 

 ancing rations for more economical use of 

 feeds, livestock breeding and many other 

 services brought returns in those days to 

 more than offset membership costs. That 

 was a matter of good business. 



However, as time went on, other problems 

 began to present themselves. Organized 

 groups were springing up all around and 

 many were exploiting agriculture for their 

 own selfish ends. Again the need of stand- 

 ing firmly together for the common good. I 

 felt it my duty to go along even though a 

 tenant on % small farm. Not to do so would 

 be much like a deserter from an army fight- 

 ing for home and loved ones. 



Today the Farm Bureau services cover 

 every kind of farm problem, both economic 

 and social. To not use it is to not get 



the most possible out of our farm life. The 

 savings or refunds from one service depart- 

 ment alone used by a quarter section farmer 

 more than offset the membership costs. 



Perhaps the competitor pays as much for 

 our butterfat, our hogs or cattle, our chickens 

 or our grain as our own cooperative does. 

 But what was he paying, according to market 

 values, before we went into business? And 

 what would he be offering now if we weren't 

 in business? That's just another business 

 reason I'm in the Farm Bureau today. 



However, such services having a consider- 

 able monetary value, in my opinion, are 

 second to the big fight being waged for "Ag- 

 ricultural Equality" that we farm folks may 

 have our fair share of the comforts and hap- 

 piness in life that come from the benefits of a 

 modern civilization. As an individual I can 

 get nowhere to solve such a problem. Work- 

 ing together we can do anything within rea- 

 son. The fight has just begun. Unlike the 

 army in action, our leaders are on the front 

 line giving the best they have for our wel- 

 fare. We enjoy the benefits they gain for 

 us. It costs us nothing to support them. The 

 savings from using our local service depart- 

 ments take care of membership costs. 



How can any thinking farmer a£Ford not 

 to belong to the Farm Bureau ? I can't. The 

 great day for agriculture is not on any future 

 calendar date. If we are to have a better day 

 to come, it will depend on what we are doing 

 about it NOW. Therefore the opportune 

 time, the important time, the big day is here 

 now — TODAY. The future will have in 

 store for us according to what we are putting 

 into it today. 



How can any thinking farmer, whether 

 landlord or tenant, refuse to do his fair share 

 of this important work before us? I can't. 



S^^^^^^^5^^^^^^5^^^^^^^E^^^^^^^ 



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L A. A. RECORD 



