AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION 263 



United States Department of Agriculture, provided "a comprehensive 

 plan for financing such an organization." 21 



One of the earliest such programs to be launched in the western Middle 

 West was that of the Better Farming Association of North Dakota. 22 It 

 came about because the efforts of Seaman A. Knapp in the South had 

 impressed certain business leaders in North Dakota who were anxious 

 to develop a similar program in their state. The association began its 

 operations in the state on November 15, 1911. During the year ending 

 November 30, 1912, the association had received more than $52,000 from 

 counties, districts, railroads, wholesale houses, and the North Dakota 

 Bankers' Association. Shortly, the agricultural college supplanted the 

 Better Farming Association in the supervision of the work, but the general 

 plan was retained. 23 



The Better Farming Association of North Dakota also had much to do 

 with the beginning of county-agent work in Minnesota. The West Central 

 Development Association gave much support to the movement. Donations 

 of various sizes came from bankers, businessmen, farmers, the Office of 

 Farm Management in the United States Department of Agriculture, and 

 the Minnesota Farm Institute. The large part played by the business 

 interests of Minnesota and North Dakota caused many farmers to become 

 openly hostile to it, and the Equity was an outspoken critic. 24 



Obviously, the railroads and bankers financing county-agent work were 

 prompted by ulterior as well as altruistic motives. Many railroads operated 

 miles of lines through areas which they were anxious to develop. Besides 

 encouraging settlers to purchase their lands, they conducted demonstra- 

 tion farms, staged cooperative experiments, employed agricultural experts 

 to advise farmers, and published and distributed literature. 



Commercial institutions depending on agriculture also made generous 

 contributions to demonstration work. Among the greatest contributors 

 were Sears, Roebuck and Company, the International Harvester Com- 



21. Robert H. Moulton, "Revolutionizing Farm Methods," Outloo\, CXII (Octo- 

 ber 26, 1916), pp. 993-96. 



22. F. P. Stockbridge, "North Dakota Man Crop: the Work of Tom Cooper," 

 World's Worf(, XXV (November, 1912), pp. 84-93. 



23. True, A History of Agricultural Extension Wor\, pp. 75-76, 85-86. 



24. Ibid., pp. 92-93; Cooperators' Herald (Fargo, N. Dak.), I (June 12, 1914), 

 pp. I, 3. 



