Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 102, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 March 1917 — WILL BOOST BETTER FARMING [ARTICLE]

WILL BOOST BETTER FARMING

Association Formed Saturday to Be of Great Benefit. A meeting was held at the courthouse Saturday afternoon at which the Jasper County Better Farming association was formed. About seventy farmers from all parts of the county were in attendance and a great amount of enthusiasm was displayed. After an outline of the purpose of the meeting by County Agent Learning, C. Henry, assistant county agent leader, took the floor and explained the value of organizations in the development of the counties of the state. He stated that in the last four years some general plans for conducting the county agent work have been formulated. The problems found in any county are not individual, but county wide. A county agent could work with individuals for years and accomplish nothing in a constructive way,> but working with and for communities, problems of live stock, soil and community life can be definitely worked out through demonstrations. It is impossible to do this community work without adequate organization. Problems which relate strictly to commiuinities can be worked out best through community organizations while other problems are county-wide, making a county organization necessary. An organization is the only method by .which all the community can be reached. The following officers were elected: President, Henry Paulus, Marion; vice-president, W. A. Lake, Walker; secretary, P. H. Hau ter, Marlon.

The meeting adjourned until next Saturday afternoon, March 24, at 1:30 in the court room, where the governing body will be elected and the demonstration the coming year will be outlined. Every one in the county is invited to be present and suggest lines cjf work to be developed. s The following ? constitution and by-laws were adopted: For the purpose of interesting Our people in tne development 01 the agricultural resources oi our county and the improvehient of social conditions connected therewith we, the citizens bl' Jasper county, adopt this constitution: ARTICLE I. Section 1. The objects of this association shall be: (a) the organization 'of the forces of Jasper county that are interested in the development oi agriculture and country life that they may study the best methods of procedure and harmonize their efforts in bringing ■ about the development of tnese interests. (b) to develop a community spirit and an interest in agriculture and country life. -., ■ ~L tc) to co-operate with the county agent in furthering the development of the agricultural resources. ARTICLE n. I Section 1. The membership of this association shall include all persons of the county who are interested in the agricultural and country life development. Section 2. The affairs of this association shall be governed by delegates chosen as follows: (a) The president and secretary of each Farmers’ Institute association or other farmers’ clubs or agricultural. societies, such as 1 the Grange, Gleaners, etc., shall be members of the governing body of the Jasper county agricultural so-, ciety. • I (b) In townships not having an organized, farmers’ club or farmers’’ institute association, the ’governing board shall select two practical farmers to serve as members of the governing body of the Jas-, per County' Better Farming asso-l elation; these members to be' Chosen annually to serve until such time as a farmers’ organization can be organized in their respective townships. (c) The members .of the governing body shall hold two meetings per year at the county seat of Jasper county, one to be held in March, at which time a president, a vice-president and a secretary of the Jasper County Better Farming association shall be elected; these officers to serve for one year or until their successors are elected and qualified. At this meeting the principal needs of the county shall I be determined and methods of work outlined. Another meeting shall be held in October of each year, at which time the development work outlined by tihe committees and carried on through the county agent shall be summarized and ■ methods adopted whereby this~ in-' formation may be brought to the attention of all people of the county interested in the development of agricultural and country life. , •

' article in. Section 1. This constitution may be amended at any regular March meeting by a vote of two. thirds of the members of the governing body. BY-LAWS Section 1. Duties of officers: (a) The duty of the president shall be to preside at all regular and called meetings of the Jasper County Better Farming association and perform the usual duties involved with said office. (b) The duty of the vicepresident shall be to preside in the absence of the president. . (c) The duty of the secretary ghall be to keep records of the proceedings of all meetings of the Jasper County Better Farming association. (d) The three above named officers, together vgth a like number appointed from the county board of education, shall constitute the advisory committee, to co-operate with the county agent in the development of the general projects. (e) Other standing committees shall be appointed to assist in the development of special projects. For example, a committee on drainage, legumes, dairying, live stock, soil improvement, young people’s clubs, rural organization, etc.