FARM BUREAU: RELATION TO COUNTY AGENT 217 



In the South the average cost per county is usually much 

 lower. Funds are derived more largely from federal and 

 state sources than in the North and West. County appro- 

 priations provide the remainder, no membership fees be- 

 ing available in most counties. 



Nearly 90 per cent of the counties employing county 

 agents in twenty-three states in the North and West have 

 membership associations with a fee. In 1919 the $1 fee 

 was decidedly the most popular, 370 out of 687 counties, or 

 54 per cent, having it. Six counties had a fee of fifty cents ; 

 22, a fee of $1.50; 40, a fee of $2 ; 74, a fee of $2.50 or $3 ; 

 117, a fee of $5; and 54 counties in Illinois had a fee 

 of $10. 



In 1921 after the organization of the state and national 

 federations all this had changed and materially larger fees 

 were the rule. Only one state had a fee of $1 in all its 

 counties. Six states had a fee of from $1 to $10; eight 

 from $2 to $10; six from $5 to $10; nine, $5; and fifteen 

 states $10 for each member. 



ADVANTAGES 



The advantages of existing relationships between the 

 county agent and the farm bureau most frequently men- 

 tioned are : 



(1) The local responsibility, and hence the greater local 

 interest, of farmers when they have a part in the financing 

 and management of the work. 



(2) The relationship develops the power of a local organi- 

 zation and a local leadership, and provides a way for the 

 full utilization of these. 



(3) It brings public institutions into direct contact with 

 farmers and localities, and vice versa. 



