THE ORGANIZATION OF RURAL INTERESTS 569 



A farmers' institute. 



A community day. 



Pure-bred livestock improvement. 



Community celebrations Christmas, July 4th, Thanksgiving. 



Plays and pageants. 



A public forum. 



A town agricultural fair and exhibit. 



The keeping of farm accounts. 



Home and public grounds improvement contest. 



The Group Plan. 'In every town there are people whose in- 

 terests are the same and who can work together for particular 

 improvements with the community idea in mind before it is 

 possible to get the town as a whole together on a larger and more 

 thorough development plan. This is called the group plan of 

 work. It differs from the first in that it is not usually done 

 through existing organizations but often results in the form- 

 ing of a new organization for some specific purpose. Like the 

 first plan, it should be thought of as a step toward the larger 

 and more complete community development. Some things that 

 have been done under this plan are: 



Formation of a farmers' cooperative exchange for buying and 

 selling. The third year business amounted to $21,000. 



Organization of a home makers' club directed by the women's 

 section of the farm bureau. 



Starting of a cow test association. 



Organization of a cooperative creamery. 



Formation of a local breeders' association. 



3. The Community Council. As has been stated, the two 

 plans just mentioned should not be thought of as the end. They 

 are good, in and of themselves, and well worth doing, but let 

 us not lose sight of the fact that the work to be done requires 

 an all-around community development. It may be necessary to 

 do these specific pieces of work but let us think of them as a part 

 of the preparation for a complete organization of the community. 

 We believe the following to be the more complete plan. It is 

 the result of several years' trial in this state and has been an 

 evolution born of the experience of common folks. It will 



