COUNTRY LIFE ORGANIZATIONS 233 



of the Association. Officers are elected, constitution and by- 

 laws are drawn up, and an advisor is employed. 



The main aims of the Association, working through the 

 advisor, are economic, looking to improved agricultural con- 

 ditions ; but more and more these associations are concerning 

 themselves with the social, educational, and other rural life 

 problems needing the cooperation which such a strong organ- 

 ization can render. 



The county advisors usually work under state leaders, and 

 these, in cooperation with the State College of Agriculture 

 and the United States Department of Agriculture, tie up the 

 whole system into one of the strongest and best financed 

 and manned farmers' organization in the country. The pas- 

 sage of the Lever Bill in 1915 made available a large federal 

 fund to be distributed to the counties organizing agricultural 

 improvement associations, supplementing the fund raised 

 by the farmers of the county. 



Some activities of country life organizations. The his- 

 tory of farmers' organizations shows many lines of activities, 

 ranging from local community cooperation in economic, so- 

 cial, and educational interests, to state and national influence 

 in constructive legislation for rural progress. The following 

 are some of the more common forms of local activities carried 

 on by farmers' organizations: 



1. Providing entertaining and instructive programs for 

 community meetings. 



2. Cooperating with the Extension Departments of Col- 

 leges of Agriculture in arranging short courses in agriculture 

 and household science for the community. 



