x PREFACE 



present forces we must await with such patience as we can. 

 Great movements are not worked out in a decade. 



While we cannot see the events of the future, we can 

 study the past and the present, and gather from them an 

 interpretation and suggestion for our guidance in the fu- 

 ture. In spite of the fact that we are all living in the 

 midst of these events, many of us have but a hazy and 

 indefinite knowledge of them. Others have knowledge of 

 details but do not fully understand their relationship or 

 significance. Still others are confused by conflicting events 

 and ideals. If this book is of service in better understand- 

 ing the aims and ideals of the movement, it will have served 

 its chief purpose. 



It is hoped that county agents, executive and community 

 committeemen engaged in the work will find it helpful as a 

 record and interpretation of the facts, a technical aid in 

 their work, and perhaps somewhat of a guide. Students 

 of the movement, whether sympathetic or critical of it, will, 

 the author hopes, find it a useful reference and a help in 

 understanding its origin and early ideals. Farmers gen- 

 erally should find Part I, especially the chapters dealing 

 with the farm bureau organization, county, state and na- 

 tional, useful in trying to understand and to judge of its 

 future. Observers and critics will find herein expressed 

 a point of view and ideals which it is hoped may have had 

 some small part in shaping up the movement. Indeed, 

 the opportunity to record these ideals and points of view is 

 one of the chief incentives to the writing of this volume. 



Without any desire to be personal but in simple justice 

 to the reader who may consider whether he is likely to be 

 justified in perusing these pages further the writer feels 

 that he should state his experience and qualifications. This 

 book is written out of knowledge gained through per- 

 sonal contact with the movement since its inception; and 



