THE EVOLUTION OF THE MOVEMENT 189 



1915 to sixty-one per cent in 1920. So farmers themselves 

 consider that one of their most important needs lies in this 

 field of cooperative organization for economic ends, and J 

 have expressed their point of view that county agent work 

 should have as one of its most important ideals the meas- 

 urable fulfilment of this need. 



Not only was there a need for the organization of the 

 farm forces for cooperative buying and selling, but there 

 was also need for their organization to make possible the 

 better application of scientific methods and modern ideas tc/ 

 production. The cow testing groups, seed improvement and 

 breeding associations are good examples of the results of 

 the county agent's organizing ability applied to this field. 

 The bringing together of the best breeders, the most skilful 

 growers in the county improvement or of farmers generally 

 in farm bureau association itself, as a federation of forces 

 for a better and more efficient production, is a powerful 

 force toward improvement. 



Efficient production still offers the best incentive and the I 

 largest opportunity for individual gain. Every good 

 farmer wants to get the largest crop obtainable with a 

 reasonable expenditure of time and money. And it is 

 usually true that those farmers who have found their busi- 

 ness most profitable and most satisfying are the ones who 

 have been able to secure crops above the average without 

 excessive costs of production. The county agent then 

 should not neglect this part of his field because of the great 

 stress put upon marketing at the present time, but strive to 

 maintain a well-balanced effort. 



RURAL LEADERSHIP 



Leadership is hard to define because it so often consists 

 of the intangible. And yet it is very real and vital to 



