224 BACKGROUND AND MEANS OF SERVICE 



point an editor from the association to write all the organi- 

 zation and most of the editorial material. It should be 

 the function of the county agent to prepare all agricultural 

 information and news. Practically, the county agent is 

 usually compelled to do this, as he is the best qualified, 

 though it does draw heavily upon his time. If he will 

 always remember that he is a public and an educational 

 agent, refrain from taking sides on argumentative ques- 

 tions, and from making criticisms which are likely to 

 jeopardize his wholesome influence with his constituencj^ 

 which many agents either cannot or do not do he may 

 continue to edit the "News" without more harm than good 

 by so doing. 



THE ANNUAL MEETING 



The annual meeting of the association has two main 

 functions : To elect officers and transact the necessary busi- 

 ness of the organization for the ensuing year, and to furnish 

 the occasion for a rousing get-together or mass meeting of 

 the farmers of the whole county to hear reports of ac- 

 complishment, live problems discussed, and to make plans 

 and record suggestions for their solution. Essentials for 

 its success are a suitable meeting place, a businesslike pro- 

 gram not too long, music and a good community song 

 leader, and one inspirational speaker who can discuss 

 briefly and intelligently some of the live farm problems of 

 the day. It is also well to have some one usually a county 

 agent leader review farm bureau ideals so as to keep them 

 constantly before the members. 



The mistake is often made by the program committee of 

 crowding the program, which then gets behind schedule 

 time, tires out the crowd and loses much of the value of 

 the whole meeting. Well-planned advertising consistently 

 carried out well in advance, is the only way, besides having 



