RELATION TO COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISES 109 



eration has declared itself in respect to both state and 

 county farm bureaus, as follows: 



"The farm bureau as an organization shall not engage in com- 

 mercial activities nor shall it hold stocks or bonds in organiza- 

 tions undertaking such activities. It may encourage, however, 

 the organization of such activities or industries as may seem 

 necessary or advisable to the board of directors." 



THE COUNTY AGENT *S POSITION 



The attitude which the county agent should take upon 

 the question of engaging directly in buying or selling for 

 farmers is still clearer. If it is not the business of the 

 farm bureau it is certainly much less the business of the 

 county agent to attempt to buy supplies for farmers. 

 Usually no great savings can be made and farmers can 

 make these savings themselves by buying in quantity and 

 paying in cash. The public has no obligation to pay for 

 the time and overhead expense of the county agent in 

 making this small saving which is not of importance in any 

 case. Moreover, as has been pointed out, the county as a 

 unit is not of a character to lend itself well to the distribu- 

 tion of supplies purchased. A county agent, a part of whose 

 salary is paid from public funds, is not justified in spending 

 his time buying or selling in competition with private agen- 

 cies not so subsidized. It has been shown that there are 

 other more important problems for the county agent to 

 spend his time and energy upon, including the teaching 

 of the principles which underlie sound organization and the 

 development of initiative and leadership among farmers. 

 The county agent needs to be careful that he does not spend 

 his time in saving a few cents for farmers where he should 

 be helping them to earn many dollars. 



