THE 



ILLINOIS AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION RECORD 



To advance the purpose for which the Farm Bureau was organized, namely, 

 to promote, protect and represent the business, economic, social and educa- 

 tional interests of the farmers of Illinois and the Nation, and to develop 

 agriculture. 



THE STATE FARM 

 BUREAU iniBUCATION 



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. . TO SEE OURSELVES AS OTHERS SEE US 



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vSu J-^ resident L^liarleS VD. ^li 



uman 



SPRINGTIME brings to the farms of Illinois a mixture 

 of rain and mud and beauty. Twenty-five years ago, 

 as a high school student, I remember the spring 

 months with their sea of mud and 

 ruts through which our horse and 

 buggy plowed each day. My memory 

 of April, a few years later, is a vision 

 of feeding twenty-five cent corn to $3 

 hogs in a muddy feed lot. 



Too often we who live so close 

 to nature fail to see and appreciate the 

 beauty which comes with the rain and 

 mud. As the "green" returns again 

 this spring, it might be well for us to 

 look carefully at our nearby landscape. 



Recently as I rode the Panama Limited through some 

 of the best farm land in our state, I overheard a fellow 

 passenger comment that while Illinois had good farm land, 

 it certainly must have many poor farmers. 



He reasoned that only a poor farmer would be will- 

 ing to live in such unattractive surroundings. Anger and 

 resentment were my first reactions. Then I looked critical- 

 ly at the farm homes as they flashed by. Some were well 

 kept and beautiful — but too many gave the general im- 

 pression of a small scale junk yard. 



Every farm home and its surrounding grounds may, 

 with a little effort and very small expense, be made into a 

 place of beauty. Native plants properly placed, a little 

 planning of fences, a few gallons of 

 paint and a thorough clean-up job on 

 ever)' farm would give nature a chance 

 to convert rural Illinois into a place of 

 beauty. 



Every year thousands of people 

 travel far and wide to view widely 

 publicized beauty spots. Too often 

 they return home to their own drab 

 surroundings and never see the pos- 

 sibilities for improvement. We are 

 creatures of habit and most of us be- 

 come so accustomed to our home surroundings that we do 

 not even see the need for change. 



I would like to suggest that every farm family in Il- 

 linois stop their car on the road as they approach their 

 home place some day soon, and discuss ways in which it 

 can be made more attractive. We should have the most 

 beautiful farm home grounds in the nation. We have 

 some of the richest land, many of the best farmers and 

 a great group of wonderful young pyeople who may choose 

 to live on these more attractive farms. 



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APRIL, 1948 • VOLUME 26, NUMBER 4 



ILLINOIS AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION OFFICERS and BOARD OF DIRECTORS (By Congrauienol DUtricH) 



President. ChaiUs B. Shuman SuUivom 



Vice-Pratidenl. Fiord E. Moiris. BuHalo 



Sacretorr, Paul E- Malhios .Hiiudal* 



Field Sec, Geo. E. Metsger Chicogo 



Tiecuurei. R. A. Cowlee Jloomington 



Comptroller. C. C. ChapoUe Chicago 



General Couniel. Donald Kirkpotrick Chicago 



Ut to nth Earl M. Hughei. Wooditock 



12th - _ C. J. Elliott. Streatoi 



13th Homer Cur<iu, Stockton 



14th O«o Stefiey, Stronghurat 



15th Edwrin Gtimm, Galesburg 



16th -....BuueU V. McKee, Varna 



17th E. T. Culnan. Lincoln 



18th John T. Evans. Hoopeston 



19th Millen W. Warren, Mansfield 



20fh X. T. Smith. Greenfield 



21st _ - Dan L. Clarke. New Berlin 



22ad - I. King Eaton. Edwardsnlle 



23rd _ .Chester McCord, Newton 



24th Lrmon Bunting, EUery 



25th Albert Webb. Ewing 



MItor, Cretton Fester. Ass't. Editor, James C. Themsen. Field Editor, Lewis A. Reiuier. 



The niineis Agricultural Association RECORD is published monlhlr by the Illinois Agricultural Association at 1501 W. Washington Road, Mendeta. 

 ri- Editorial Offices. 43 East Ohio St.. Chicago, 111. Entered as second class matter at post office. Mendota. III.. Sept. 11. 193S. Acceptance <or mail- 

 ">g at special rate oi postage prorided in Section 412, Act of Feb. 28. 1925. authorized Oct. 27. 1935. Address all communications lor publication to 

 Editorial Offices, Illinois Agricultural Association RECORD, 43 East Ohio St.. Chicago. The indiTidual men^bership iee oi the Illinois Agricultural As- 

 uciation is fiTe dollars a yai. The iee includes payment oi fifty cents for subscription to the Illinois Agricultural Association RECORD. Postmaster: 

 Send notices on Form 3578. UndeliTerable copies returned under Form 3579 to editorial offices. 43 E. Ohio St.. Chicago 11. HI. 



APRIL, 1948 



