“ The Growth of an Idea ” 
The Farm Bureau of Broome Co., N. Y., Celebrates 
a Notable Anniversary 
Ten years ago, Mr. B. II. Gitehell, then secretary 
of the Binghamton, N. Y., Chamber of Commerce, was 
casting about for methods of improving the commercial 
relations of that city with its surrounding territory. 
This territory being almost wholly agricultural, it was 
obvious that anything that improved conditions upon 
nearby farms would react directly upon those o'f the 
city, and there was considerable talk nationally at just 
about that time of our decadent agriculture. 
The matter was brought to the attention of the 
Chamber of Commerce by Mr. Gitehell. and a committee 
was appointed to make a survey of neighboring farm 
territory. It was easy enough for this committee to see 
that what it considered ideal farming methods were not 
being followed to any great extent, and the very natural 
conclusion that farmers should he shown was reached. 
“Showing,” to this committee, meant a demonstration 
farm. It meant that to a lot of people at just about 
that stage of the agricultural uplift. A demonstration 
farm was one that had its hair carefully brushed each 
morning and a clean shirt at least twiee’a week. Such 
farms were not unknown elsewhere; quite a number of 
them in care of their nurses could be seen on pleasant 
Summer afternoons in various parks of the country. 
Fortunately, before this Chamber of Commerce, aided 
by the Lackawanna Railroad, which, by this time, had 
joined the enterprise, had selected a site, it was decided 
to visit Washington and consult the Department of 
Agriculture there. Dr. W. .7. Spillman was called into 
the conference. Dr. Spillman acknowledged that he 
knew something about demonstration farms; in fact, 
quite a number that he had started had already demon¬ 
strated their uselessness to him. TTe suggested! instead, 
that a man of real scientific and practical agricultural 
training be employed to go from farm to farm in the 
territory and carry the germs of good farming upon his 
boots. This plan was already being tried out in the 
South, and it was spreading quite a lot of contagion. 
Dr. Spillman’s suggestion was adopted. Mr. John II. 
Barron, now connected with the State Agricultural Col¬ 
lege at Cornell University, was chosen to become what 
he has. since discovered was the first Farm Bureau 
Agent in the North, A few farmers had joined the 
Chamber of Commerce, and it was then a hybrid organi¬ 
zation. After nearly three years of this sort of work 
the question came up as to who should support the 
growing infant. It was amicably decided then that the 
Chamber and the Farm Improvement Association should 
be divorced and that the care of the child should be given 
tin 1 latter. Thus the first Farm Bureau, with its agent, 
came into existence. 
The notion spread, and spread rapidly. The first 
Farm Bureau, born in 1911, has now 1.200 descendants 
in the counties of the Northern and Western States, 
while 1.100 close relatives are operating in the South. 
More than that, there are State federations of County 
Bureaus in 33 Northern States, and an American feder¬ 
ation which welds them all together. In addition. 20 
Home Bureaus have been organized in as many counties 
in New York, beginning with Erie, and a State federa¬ 
tion of these has been formed. These Home Bureaus 
derive their support from the same sources that nourish 
the Farm Bureaus. 
In view of the importance of the Farm Bureau move¬ 
ment, it was fitting that the tenth anniversary of its 
birth should be celebrated in the county and city of its 
origin, and such a celebration was held in Binghamton 
on March 21. The beautiful auditorium of Kalurah 
Temple was made the scene of an historical pageant, 
participated in by those who actually constructed the 
first Farm Bureau, and the gathering place of about 500 
Farm Bureau agents, representatives of State and 
National agricultural institutions, and interested 
farmers. 
The program, of which the pageant formed only a 
part, included some excellent addresses by men of 
prominence in agricultural affairs. No attempt can be 
made here to reproduce the addresses given, some of 
which will doubtless be published later. Only a few 
outstanding features can be touched upon. S. L. Striv¬ 
ings, president of the State Federation, presided and 
gave a formal address. Few are given the power to 
present their ideas with the eloquence commanded by 
the head of the State organization, and Mr. Strivings 
was listened to with close attention. He made it clear 
at the outset that he regards the important work of the 
Farm Bureaus as educational in character. He repeat¬ 
edly deprecated the placing of too much stress upon the 
economic side of farming, stating that farm organiza¬ 
tions should keep in mind and keep to the front the real 
values in rural life. These values lie classified as educa¬ 
tional. social and spiritual. Farm Bureaus cannot, said 
Mr. Strivings, afford to base their educational and 
investigational force upon the economic phases of farm¬ 
ing. Much the same thought was later presented by 
Dean A. R. Mann, of tin 1 State Agricultural College, in 
his statement that productive agriculture was the basis 
of true values in country life. 
Dr. Spillman, of the Federal Department of Agricul¬ 
ture, gave a most interesting account of his connection 
with the events which led up to the formation of county 
Farm Bureaus and of other phases of his work. We 
regret that lack of adequate notes prevents the giving 
of a synopsis of his address. W. A. Lloyd, of the same 
department, followed with a paper that will repay read¬ 
ing in its published form. An address by Mrs.’ A. E. 
Brigden, president of the State Federation of Home 
Bureaus, was closely listened to. not only by the men, 
but by the large number of Home Bureau directors 
present. 
Mi Gitehell, who played so large a part in the form¬ 
ation of the first Bureau, was present, and spoke of the 
importance to farmers of a powerful organization 
capable of looking after their interests, as commer¬ 
cial and labor organizations look after the interests of 
their members. Mr. Gitchell’s thought was elaborated 
in a splendid talk by O. E. Bradfute. vice-president of 
the American Farm Bureau Federation. Mr. Bradfute 
apparently had no idea that the economic side of agri¬ 
culture was not now worthy of the closest attention of 
American farmers. He urged the use of the same 
methods in protection of agricultural interests that 
banking, commercial and industrial organizations pur¬ 
sued. He frankly admitted that neither he nor his 
brother farmers possessed the technical knowledge of for¬ 
eign markets, exchange, industrial statistics, banking, etc., 
that is needed when representatives of agriculture go 
before legislative bodies, and he urged that farmers hire 
men with this knowledge to represent them when neces¬ 
sary. just as other industries hire them. Brains can be 
purchased, as hogs can be purchased, said Mr. Brad¬ 
fute, meaning, of course, that the expert output of other 
brains than our own can be placed at our disposal if 
we are willing to pay the price, and. as this output is 
needed in the business of agriculture, he urged that 
farmers, through their organizations, pay the price. 
Tht RURAL NEW-YORKER 
To the man on the bleachers there are evident two 
lines of thought in the discussion of present and future 
activities of Farm Bureau organizations. One might 
be termed the pacifist and one the militant. The advo¬ 
cates of one would cling to the wide and well-trodden 
road which leads through the valleys of easy complais¬ 
ance, avoiding the fields where rival industrial forces 
have set up their artillery, ready to give battle to the 
now thoroughly awakened desire of the farmer for 
economic justice. 
The other, which seems to come in a refreshing breeze 
from the West, has the tang of fight in it. The con¬ 
sciousness of newly acquired power and the vigor to use 
it in securing the same opportunities for financial re¬ 
ward that other industries have long enjoyed. And with 
this has come the realization that, other industries have 
been wiser in their generation than have farmers and 
that they have developed methods which farmers must 
adopt if they are to reach an economic level with these 
other industries. 
May the Farm Bureaus lead in the fight, backed by 
farmers, financed by farmers, unhampered by alliances 
which would tie their hands the moment they leave the 
old paths and strike out for the same rewards to brain 
and brawn that other men demand. M. b. d. 
Price of Hides 
I take several farm papers, but I get more from The 
R. N.-Y. that is helpful than all the others. I did not 
know that millet was bad for horses until I saw it in 
The R. N.-Y., and many other things. I think it was 
in The R. N.-Y. that I saw where a man sent a 15-lb. 
calfskin and got a return of 30c. I think I can beat 
I)i\ Iioscoe IF. Tliatclier, New Director of Geneva, 
N. y., Experiment Station 
that. 1 killed a Jersey cow two weeks ago, paid a 
man $2 to help me skin it. took hide to the Butcher’s 
Rendering Company myself, and got $1.44 for it; 
weight 36 lbs., a very nice, thin, even skin. T bought 
a pair of rough leather shoes for the farm work; no 
lining or straps to pull them on with, and paid $7 for 
them. There must be some mistake somewhere. 
Bristol Co., Mass. Joshua. T. durfee. 
Inclosed find,statement of returns I have received for 
a green cow hide ($1.04 for a hide weighing 47 lbs.). 
Wo shall soon have to pay dealers to take them off our 
bands. The next one I have I shall bury. 
Pennsylvania. eare seamans. 
It was not a mistake but a misdeal. Similar re¬ 
ports are coming all the time. The hide market had 
its hide taken off by the immense imports of hides 
from South America. They were brought in by the 
million during and after the war. While the army 
shoes were being made the price kept up fairly well. 
Then came the end of the war. Not only did shoe 
manufacturing let up, but millions of army shoes 
were thrown on the market. Most workmen were 
getting big wages and they bought freely. The man¬ 
ufacturers were able to regulate the output and dis¬ 
tribution of leather goods.. Thus they held prices up 
for what they sold, while the immense stocks of for¬ 
eign hides kept down the price of the American 
product. The result is that farmers got nothing for 
the hides they have to sell, while they still pay ex 
tortionate prices for what they are forced to buy 
As we see. the imports of these foreign hides have 
placed the manufacturers in the opposite position 
exactly of a low price for what they buy and a regu¬ 
lated higher price for what they sell. 
A Study of the Educational Meeting 
It was held in the Brick Church. Rochester, N. Y., 
March Id, conducted by the Committee of Twenty-one. 
Notice of this meeting was sent to the seven counties 
in the vicinity of Rochester. As a result about 200 
people were present, nearly all of whom were from the 
country. About three-quarters were educators; that is, 
district superintendents, teachers and ex-teachers. The 
537 
remaining one-quarter were fathers and mothers, who 
furnish the children and the money to keep the schools 
running. On the program were six educators, who may 
be called our expert advisers. There was one woman, 
and there were two editors whose fingers are constantly 
on the pulse of the country people. 
Of course, in a movement of this kind we expect the 
educators to take the lead at first. They are the explor¬ 
ers who blaze the trail to the new settlement. But 
after them must come the sturdy settlers, who with ax 
anil hammer will hew and fashion the abiding structure. 
I his start was well made at the Rochester meeting. 
The educators gave us a lot to think about. They 
pointed out mistakes, blunders, failures. They sug¬ 
gested improvements and ideals. They gave us the 
model of a meeting which we may have’at home. And 
it was suggested that these general education meetings 
he held in the small rural communities back on the 
farm. 
l’he fathers and the mothers did not have much to 
say. In the first place, it is not so ea«y for us to 
express our thoughts in public. In the second place, 
we had not had time to prepare for discussion, as we 
did not know just what the subjects were to be. But 
at the little meetings we will feel at home, and can 
say what we want. 
The spirit of the meeting was marked by intense 
interest and haste and honesty. There were many 
subjects. There was consequently too little time for 
discussion. Remarks must be made hurriedly. They 
were. It was like a Fourth of July celebration, with 
all the old-fashioned fireworks and no sign “Safety 
hirst. . What was said from the floor was right to 
the point, but for lack of time every discussion was 
left unfinished. However, these discussions will give 
iim the needed material for our smaller community 
meetings. The Committee of Twentv-one are all busy 
people. They suggest that we go ahead and have these 
meetings without their help. 
As to the undercurrent which surges back and forth 
in every earnest gathering, there was a feeling of ap¬ 
prehension lest some attempt be made to tie us up 
again to the township law. whose evil odor is still in 
the vestibule of every rural school. There was also a 
distinct stiffening against this attempt. There was 
distrust lest this old law be presented dressed up in 
new war paint and feathers, and the subject was 
brought tip under the name of “township unit of taxa¬ 
tion. This was the only time when feeling ran high 
enough to be called anger. 
I can hear our people saying: “Well, what was 
suggested What plans were made?” The members 
of the committee were not there to make plans, and 
very rightly did not attempt it. Had they done so, we 
very likely would feel that tliev were trying to put 
something over. The rest of us. as T have’said before, 
did not have our plans ready. There were, however, 
some broad suggestions made. 
First, that all the wealth of the State be taxed (ot 
school purposes, and that every child in the State have 
the same school advantages. 
Second, that we demand trained teachers for country 
schools. 
Third, that we want for country children the best 
* here is, and that it. is our own fault if we do not have it. 
But the keynote of the meeting was sounded toward 
the close of the program. I am sorry that it did not 
come early in the morning. This speaker, with his 
keen knowledge of humanity, his great love for little 
children, and his experience with them, held up before 
ns the child. All this machinery of teaching this 
equipment of buildings, this training of teachers, is for 
the child. We must take home with us and keep con¬ 
stantly in mind our responsibility to the children, both 
°"vr° wn anf * t* 1080 who come to ns from foreign lands 
Now is the time for all good settlers with ax and 
liammei to.take up in earnest the work of constructing 
a substantial, an abiding, an inspired school system 
for the children. F G r 
Handling Feed From the Co-operative 
Exchange 
Speaking of ways to handle feeds from the G. L. F 
Exchange, that mentioned by Mr. Dunkle, page 3S5’ 
certainly has advantages. I just came across another 
almost like his mentioned. We find that no considerable 
investment is required for a warehouse, at least at the 
start, and we prefer the warehouse plgn for several 
reasons, one being the dollar a ton saved by itr ^We 
can unload from the car if desired just the same 'The 
plan of ordering and paying is not original with us, and 
is said to come from Now Hampshire. 
There are sheets about 6xS with printed forms. These 
are made in triplicates, and the three are printed on 
paper of different colors. The original is always one 
color, the duplicate always the same, but different from 
the original, and the triplicate of still another shade. 
The words “original.” “duplicate” and “triplicate” are 
printed in the upper left-hand corner. Two carbons 
are used in filling out the blanks. All read the same, 
ot course, and are as follows: 
. “To. Dairymen’s League Co-operative 
Association. Inc.. New York. 
. Purchaser. Order No...... 
the following: 
No. Cars 
Quantity 
Item 
Price 
Per 
Amount 
The undersigned agrees that the title to the merchan¬ 
dise above described and hereby ordered shall not vest 
in him until the note signed by him and hereto attached 
shall be paid in full. 
On demand after 
., 19. 
date I 
promise to 
$.. 
pay to 
the order 
.Dairymen’s League Co-operative 
Association, Inc., the sum of.! ..... . / dollar: 
at its office.. 
value received, 
No. 
as 
per attached order. 
Sign here. 
Only the original is valid, and may he used at the 
bank if desired. The person who orders has the dupli¬ 
cate, and the purchaser for the association keeps the 
triplicate. This is being used in our county, and is 
likely to be used considerably. ‘ u. 
