THE ORGANIZATION OF RURAL INTERESTS 519 



dividuality. It is a nonpolitical, nonsectarian, nonsecret organi- 

 zation representing the whole farming population, men, women, 

 and children, and as such it acts as a clearing house for every 

 association interested in work with rural people. 



While the original conception of the farm bureau was to 

 develop county-agent work, it soon filled a broader field and it 

 is now rapidly coming to be recognized as the official rural or- 

 ganization for the promotion of all that pertains t6 a better 

 and more prosperous rural life. It cooperates directly with the 

 State and the Federal Government in the employment of county 

 agents, home-demonstration agents, boys' and girls' club leaders, 

 and other local extension workers. The services of the farm 

 bureau are available to all extension agencies desiring to work 

 within the county. It is quite as much interested in home- 

 economics demonstrations, boys' and girls' club work, farm- 

 management demonstrations, and the work of the various insti- 

 tutional specialists as it is in the demonstrations carried on 

 directly by the county agent. Thus while an outgrowth of 

 county-agent work it has become broader than county-agent 

 work, and is now the federating agency through which all groups 

 of rural people, whether organized or unorganized, are able to 

 secure a hearing. 



The primary purposes of the farm bureau are : 



1. To encourage self-help through developing and exercising 

 leadership in the rural affairs of each community. 



2. To reveal to all the people of the county the agricultural 

 possibilities of the county and how they may be realized. 



3. To furnish the means whereby the agricultural problems of 

 the county and the problems of the farm-home may be system- 

 atically studied and their solution attempted through a county 

 program of work to secure the well-being, prosperity, and happi- 

 ness of all rural people. 



4. To coordinate the efforts of existing rural agricultural 

 forces, organized or unorganized, and to promote new lines of 

 effort. 



5. To bring to the agents representing the organization, the 

 State agricultural college, and the Federal Department of Agri- 

 culture the counsel and advice of the best people in the county 

 as to what ought to be done and how to do it. 



