Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 60, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 April 1917 — EIGHT FARMERS’ CLUBS FORMED [ARTICLE]

EIGHT FARMERS’ CLUBS FORMED

Within Past Ten Days In Accordance With Policy to Work Together In Better Farming Interests. In-accordance with the plan o? the Jasper County Better Farming Association’s plan of benefiting all the people of the county, eight farmers’ clubs have been formed in as many communities in the last ten days, with the hope that they will all work together to develop the resources of the county. In addition to the clubs already’ mentioned, the Bowling Green Farmers’ Club was organized last Tuesday evening in the school house five miles northwest of town. John Zimmer was elected president and Erhardt Wuerthner was elected secreThe nexi fneetring will be held in the school house on the evening of .April 24 th.

On Thursday evening at the Parr school house a meeting was held at which the Parr Community Club was organized. Trustee George Hammerton presided and introduced County Agent Learning, who spoke briefly upon the purpose and benefits of such organizations. C. E. Lakin made a few well chosen remarks in which he stated that other communities were making headway and thought that the people of the vicinity of Parr were as progressive as any and that they should organize by all means. Joseph Kosto said that he, for one, was not tob< old to learn and he felt that the people should mingle together and benefit each other as much as possible by their experience. ‘Several others also expressed the sentiment of the meeting as desirous of having the community in the foremost rank of progress. C. E. .Lakin was elected president and George Hammerton was elected secretary. The next meeting will be held in the new school building at Parr on the evening of April 12th, at which time an interesting program will be rendered. One of. the most promising clubs in the county was formed at Kniman 'Friday evening. W. A. Lake presided and called on the county agent to take charge of the organization. Guy Dooley emphasized the fact that a wider acquaintance among farmers was highly desirable and thought that the farmers’ clubs offered the best means of bringing the people together. Jud Michaels held the &.me views and expressed them in a few words. Wm. Middlecamp brought out the fact that a club might be made very educational and suggested that a fuller appreciation of new discoveries on the part of farmers might -be found to their advantage. A vote was taken and it was discovered that those present were unanimous in their support of the new movement. The officers elected are as follows: A. F. Rice, president; Wm. Middlecamp, vice-president; Mrs. H. B. Brown, secretary-treasurer.

Following the business session the club was entertained by several selections by the Kniman girls’ quartet, which were well received. F. J. Plipal, of Purdue, gave a demonstration of the methods of oat smut control and stated that in the neighborhood of SIOO,OOO could be saved annually in this county if farmers would only treat their seed oats. Arrangements were made with Mr. Reese, of the Bardwell farms, Henry Smith;/ Wm- Middlecamp, Guy Dooley, Jud Michaels, Rue McMurray, Albert Graham and W. A. .Lake to conduct demonstrations of the value of the method advocated by Mr. Pi pal, .... The meeting waa completed by a short talk by John O’Connor. In the course of hts remarks Mr. O’Connor brought out the idea that the mobilizing of the agricultural industry to improve conditions was simplv a part of the national program of preparedness and that if this nation should become engaged in war, the products of the farmers would be the most valued of her resources. He stated that this country should be the best prepared in all the wojld. Its battlehave no superiors in the navies of the world and by placing agriculture on its highest plane, the country should be able to hold its own agairfst any enetny with which it might become engaged. The next meeting will be held in the Kniman schoolhouse on the evening of April 19th, at which time everyone in the community is invited to be present.