102 THE COUNTY AGENT'S SERVICES 



WHAT COUNTY AGENTS DO NOT DO 



V 



While believing in and advocating the principles of co- 

 operative action, county agents should always avoid urging 

 such action on the part of farmers or any propaganda to 

 bring about cooperative organization. There should be a 

 real need for cooperative action and there should be a 

 strong desire for such action by a group, before county 

 agents are justified in helping the group to organize. 

 Neither does the county agent aim actually to do the busi- 

 ness for these organizations. Even if it were legitimate 

 for him to do so it would not be advisable because it 

 would be likely to defeat the essential principle of local 

 initiative and local responsibility. County agents should 

 never be associated with such cooperative organization in 

 any business way. 



It cannot be asserted that there are not some agents 

 who, as a result of their own zeal and the enthusiasm of 

 the moment, or more likely under the pressure of certain 

 individuals or groups of farmers who have not thought 

 the question through carefully, taking into consideration 

 all its future bearings, have not at times violated these 

 principles and rules of action. Such violations are the 

 chief basis of complaint and they are the only grounds 

 that those complaining have to stand on. However, smch 

 cases are not common and as a rule these principles have 

 been, as they should continue to be, guiding ones 

 throughout the history of the movement. 



While the county farm bureau is an independent local 

 association of farmers and has a perfect right to engage 

 directly in cooperative buying and selling, it is not be- 

 lieved that it is usually good policy for it to do so, for 

 reasons pointed out elsewhere. It can probably function 



