mure s

-..~--------------------------- ------...•
Vol. 33, No. 1 JA VARY 1, 1955 32nd e r
mure
•
s e
Dairy Festival
Time Feb. 10-19
February 10 to 19 will be Dairy Festival Time in
Michigan to promote the consumption of all dairy products.
How effec ive this' can be was shown in Madison,
Wisconsin, May 7 to 15, 1954, when the newspapers
and grocers cooperated in a trerfiedous advertising and
sales promotion oil dairy products. F or the eight day
period the Madison community consumed an extra 3,-
000,000 Ibs. of milk in dairy products.
In Michigan the Farm Bureau, Grange, Michigan
State College, Michigan Milk Producers Ass'n, Mid-West
Producers Creameries and all parts of the dairy indus ..
try will take part in the promotion. So will newspapers,
radio and television stations, grocers, restaurants
and other groups:
Michigan State College has requested county agr'I
agents to create county dairy committees to assist in
promoting the festival.
The Farm Bureau is requesting the dairy committee
and a member of the Women's Committee of each
County Farm Bureau to serve on the County Dairy
Festival committee. Members of the state Farm Bur ..
eau staff will assist at the state level.
The American Dairy Association has made available
to Michigan newspapers and grocers some 16 newspaper
pages of advertisements to promote the sale and
use' of dairy products during the festival. Appropriate
material will be available lor radio and television sta ..
tions.
Farm Bureau Promotes
Keith •A. Tanner and Norwood Eastman have been
promoted to new responsibilities in the Michigan Farm
Bureau organization, effective january I. The promotions
were announced December 28 by J. F . Yaeger,
executive
secretary.
Mr . Tanner has been promoted from Manager of
the Member Service Division of MFB to be Manager of
Operations for Farm Bureau Services, Inc. This is a
new post in the cooperative farm supplies service. of
the Farm Bureau.
As Manager of Operations, Mr.
Tanner will have over-all responsibility
for accomplishing
the annual manufacturing and
sales goals of Farm Bureau Services.
He will work with and assist
the men in charge of three
Farm Bureau Services operating
divisions; Maynard Brownlee,
manager of the Farm Supplies
Division; Archie Moore, manager
of the Farm Equipment Division;
and John Sexon, acting manager
of the Plant Food Manufacturing
division. .
"The principal reason for creating
the new position of Manager
of Operations for Farm Bureau
Services," said Mr. Yaeger, "is to
enable the executive secretary to
devote his time to long-range
planning and the correlation of
activities of all the Farm Bureau
companies.
"Up to this time the executive
secretary for all Farm Bureau
companies has also been manager
of Farm Bureau Services, Inc.
Now the Michigan Farm Bureau,
Farm Bureau Services, Inc., the
Farm Bureau Insurance Companies
and Farmers Petroleum
Cooperative, Inc., each have a
manager who reports to the executive
secretary"
Norwood Eastman, coordinator
of the Organization Department
and the Junior Farm Bureau Department
of Michigan Farm Bureau,
succeeds Mr. Tanner as
manager of the Division of Mem-
Construction Ahead
chedu e
Z'
THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 27 they were laying face bzick for the front of the Farm Bureau
office building now under construction at 4.000 North Grand River avenue. which is US-16
west of Lansing. The concrete floors have been laid. All of the steel work is up and ready
for roofing soon. The sidewalls of the 200 by 240 feet structure are up about halfway. Aluminum
window frames are going in for walls th at will be about two-thirds window space. Construction
is well ahead of schedule. Unless there is some delay. the building should be ready
for occupancy about April 1. 1955.
Everett Young to
Work in Thailand
Everett J. Young, assistant secretary
of the Michigan Ass'n of
Farmer Cooperatives, has received
an appointment from the Foreign
Operations Administration
of the U. S. government as cooperative
organization advisor to
the government of Thailand. Mr.
and Mrs. Young will leave for
Bangkok January l.
Mr. Young will be on leave of
absence from the Michigan Farm
Bureau. He has been employed
there since 1940.He is a graduate
of Michigan State College and
was at (me time a field representative
for the Farm Bureau in
the south central area of the
state.
•
Whel~eYOUI-
County Stands
In Roll Call
Farmers
Petroleum
Record in '5
Earl Huntley, manager of the
Farm Petroleum Cooperative,
Inc., of Lansing told shareholders
at the 6th annual meeting at
Michigan State College Dec. 10
that their organization had set a
new record in 1954 by distributing
28,202,664 gallons 0 automobile
and tractor fuels to far-'
mers.
On the year's operations. Mr.
Huntley reported that the organization
had returned $149,000 in
patronage dividends to patrons
who are shareholders.
January
"Farmers and the Social Security
Program" Community
Farm Bureau discussion topic
for January will be presented
over these television stations.
Jan. 5, WKAR-TV, Michigan
State College, Channel 60 UHF,
8:30 p.m.; Jan. 12, WNEM-TV,
Bay City, Channel 5, 1:00 p. m.;
Jan. 22, WOOD-TV, Grand Rapids,
12:30 p.m.; Jan. 31, WPAG-
TV, Ann Arbor, 7:00 p.m.
•
at Kills
s·'y
Want to get rid of those cat
tails in your drainage ditches next
summer?
The job's easy with
chemical called dalapon,
ing to a Michigan State
weed control specialist.
B. H. Grigsby, who conducted
extensive tests in the Thumb last
summer, recommends about 20
pounds of the chemical in 100
gallons of water for good control.
•
.~
r • E ell mlth
Is e ny Therapl
Mrs. Euell Smith of Pontiac,
known as the Farm Bureau Therapist,
was honored at a dinner
Dec. 1 and received her certificate
as a Kenny Therapist. Members
of the Sister Kenny hospital
for polio patients at Farmington
and members of the Farm Bureau
Women's Committee attended
ceremonies at Redford. Farm
Bureau women's groups throughout
Michigan contributed to Mrs.
Smith's education as a physical
therapist.
•
•
reau
Farm
Services' ?5th
Yea· ts est
J. F. Yaeger, executive secretary
of Farm Bureau Services,
Inc., of Lansing, farm supplies
cooperative, told representatives
of 1 00 shareho ders at the
25th annual meeting at Kellogg
Center Dec. 9 that the organization
distributed $20,793,000
worth of farm supplies the past
year.
NORWOOD E STMA
Man g•..r of Membership Service Di i ion. M
The larg st Farm Bur au m mb r hip in th
of the organization-I,609,461 famili p rt
as the Am rican Farm ureau F d rati n nd d its
membership year on Nov mber 30.
The n w record for th 48 stat s
marks the 16th year of st ady g in in numb r
effectiveness.
Ha ving Ie ding role in this 0 t andin
ship record w s the Michigan Fa m Bur au
981 families. h second state to r a hits
1954 marked the fifth consecutive y ar th t
has b en honored for ither bing first or s
achieving this honor.
Fif een other states w re also honor d for h vmg
Farm Bureau Services has had
a tremendous growth in the past reached the 1954 AFBF goal. Th y w re lab m ,
ten years, Mr. Yaeger said. In Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, OUIthe
last few years he said farmers
have invested $3,500,000 in siana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New M xi 0, North
the facilities and inventories of Carolina, Oklahoma, T enn ssee, V rmont, and yom ..
Farm Bureau fertilizer plants at
Saginaw and Kalamazoo. The ing.
plant are supplying farmers with I M· hi d f I
100,000 tons of high analyse-s,,' IC igan s t lOU an s 0 vo unteer work r sho Id
granulated fertilizers a year. all feel a sense of accomplishmnent in this recor h y
The Farm Bureau reported di I ibl f h I did f
that its sale of field seeds reach- are irect y responsi e or t e sp n I succ SS 0 reed
an all time high of 7,000,000 vious Roll Calls.
pounds in 19 4.
The present membership campaign off rs Mi hig ri'
loyal workers an opportunity and a chall nge to g In
be the first state in the nation to achieve AFBF 0 1.
The prospects are there ; the need for farm organiz ti
is gr ater today than ever b fore; the Farm Bur u
fills this need. Invite your neighbor. to joen
We're More than
Way to 1955 Goal
The Michigan Farm Bureau Roll Call for 1955 is
well over the half way mark. The December 20 r ..
port from the County Farm Bureaus totaled 37,638
This table shows the position of
Elect S oman
Michigan County Farm Bureaus
memberships. This is 570/0 of the state goal of 65,918.
December 20 with respect to how
MARTEN GARN, re-elected Of this total, 3,301 are new members. This IS 32 ~~
near they were to attaining 100%
President of
of the membership goals they
president 0 Farm Bureau Ser- f h' b I flO 258
vices, Inc., is a dairy farmer and 0 testate s new mem er goa 0 , •
have set for themselves for 1955.
The annual Roll Call for membership
got underway November
F ·F
ogs a t C harlotte R-5, Eaton . .
bhreeder Of pure bred Yorkshire Berrien county won the trophy for signing the high ..
county. He farms 211 acres, and est number of new members dunng the first week of
29.
Charles B. Shuman of Sullivan,
TOTAL % OF
has been a member of the Farm the drive. Berrien mailed 139 new memb rship to
COUNTY GOAL DEC. ro GOAL
Illinois, was elected president of Bureau for 22 years. I .
1 Benzie 230 221 96
the American Farm Bureau at
I the state office the fast week.
2 Cheboygan 2 6 25'1 89
3 Bay 1,510 1,M2 88
the 36th annual meeting at New Maynar d Brownlee. manager of .
4 Alpena 592 471 79\
York, Dec. 14-16.
the Farm Supply Division, said I Cheboygan county won the trophy for reporting the
5 Alcona 361 283 78
that sale of 46,000 tons of poultry I
6 St. Joseph 1,094 847 77
Mr. Shuman succeeds Allan B.
hi h fbI h d f
and livestock feed concentrates; 19 ~st percentage 0 new mem er goa at teen 0
7 Berrien 2,397 1,735 72
Kline of Vinton, Iowa as the
8 All .gan 2,161 1,527 71
9 Branch 1,691 1,131 71
head of the American Farm Bureau,
which has a membership of concentrate feeds with home: or /( 0 Its goa. enzie was In secon p ace WIt
set a new record. He explained the first week. Cheboygan reported 42 new members
10 Waaht enaw 1,620 1,143 71
that when farmers mixed the I 210 (/ f' lB' . d I . h
11 Tu cola 1,871 1,296 69 THOMAS KONING. elected
12 Sanilac 2,138 1,463 68 president of Farmers Petroleum
1,609,000farm families.
13 Macomb 1,162 777 67
grown grains, there would be a' 21 new members or 150 ~ of its new member goal of
14 Oakland 1,145 763 67 Cooperative, Inc., is engaged in
total of 200,000 tons of Farm . . . J h wi h
15 N. W. Michigan 1,065 712 67 general farming on 240 acres at
Bureau formula feeds at the 14. Close behind In thud place came St. osep WI
16 Montmorency 1 6 125 67
17 Livingston 1,191 771 65 Marne R-1, Ottawa county. He
farm. 97 % of its new member goal of 69. These four coun ...
18 Saginaw 2,251 1,460 64 has been farming for 32 years
19 Mason 661 409 62
20 Ottawa 1,567 957 61 and is a long time member of
Archie Moore. manager of the ties will receive trophies at the annual victory party
ber Services for our organization 21 Lap er 1,61 975 60 the Farm Bureau.
farm equipment division, reported
that Farm Bureau now in the spring.
of 63,000 farm families.
22 Kalamazoo 1,212 769 60
.
23 Presque Isle 470 2 3 UO The farmer has become a major
24 Ingham 1,171 696 59
Mr. Tanner has been employed
customer for any petroleum company,
said FPC president Ward
has $21,000,000of tractors farm Still to be decided are the races for the thre trophi
25 Emm t 309 179 5
by Michigan Farm Bureau since 26 Gratiot 1,497 854 67
machinery, and farm ele~trical
27 Calhoun 1,544 865 \)6
equipment in service pn Mich- which go to the counties which report highest perc nt ..
1939. He started as district membership
representative in Gene-
29 Ogemaw 388 216 55 War I, said Mr. Hodge, the num-
G. Hodge of Snover. Since World
28 Barry 1,255 698 56
igan farms. I h h
Mr. Yaeger said that manu- age of overall goal by January 15, as we 1 as t e t r e
see, Lapeer and Oakland counties. 30 Charlevoix 3 3 209 55 ber of farm tractors and trucks
31 Monroe 1,318 721 54
facturing operations of Farm trophies which go to the three counties which r n w
After 1lh years he came into the 32 Iosco 231 125 54 has increased 16 times as farm
state office as director of Community
Farm Bureau groups and 35 Antrim 475 254 53 anized. Farm consumption of
33 Clinton 1,5~2 848 63 operations have become mech-
Bureau Services now include
34 Osc ola 6 7 362 53
fertilizer factories at Kalamazoo the highest percentage of their 1954 memb rs.
district representative for Eaton, 36 Wayn 595 311 52 petroleum fuels is up nine times.
aD:d Saginaw and a major, feed
37 Isabella 1,206 601 50
Ingham and Shiawassee counties.
Farmers are shifting rapidly to
~I1lllat Hammond, Indiana, which
3 M costa 837 419 50
IS
After service in World War II, 39 Midland 621 312 50 oil for heating their homes.
operated in partnership with
Oc ana G OUpS
he became director of organization
for Michigan Farm Bureau, 42 Missaukee 456 222 49 tive now has an interest in 175
40 Genes e 1,491 740 49 Farmers Petroleum Coopera-
oth~r ~arm Bureau supply orgamzatIOns.
The Farm Bureau
41 Ionia 1,302 643 49
and was promoted to director of 43 Oceana 765 367 48 producing wells in Michigan, CHARLES B~SHUMAN Services field and garden seeds
44 Manistee 291 13 48
plant is at Lansing.
ua OJ f r
field services, and in 1~'!Y3to 45 Van Buren 1,933 922 47 Indiana and Illinois, and owns or
manager of the member service 46 Kent 1,600 754 47 controls a daily production of
Mr. Kline told the convention
Two-hundred representatives
47 Gladwin 413 197 47
division.
48 Hillsdale 1,549 720 46
of stockholders were informed G on
• about 1,200 barrels, Mr. Huntley that he was resigning as president
because his health had not
e
49 Arenac 426 199 46 said. This less than half the requirements
of the business. been good of late. His doctor had that the distribution system of
Mr. Eastman came to the Michigan
Farm Bureau in August,
50 Clare 200 93 46
51 Lenawee 1,643 709 44
Farm Bureau Services is made
informed him that he could not
Oceana County Farm Bureau
52 Jackson 1,154 516 44
up of 300 farmer cooperative
1950 as director of the Junior 53 Cass 974 435 44 Shareholders were informed continue to carry the schedule
qualified for Group Life Insurance
on December 17 with nine
54 Muskegon 526 233 44
elevators and other dealers.
Farm Bureau. Before that he was
that in six years Farmers Petroleum
Cooperative, Inc., has be-
American Farm Bureau. Mr.
community Farm Bureaus enroll-
required of the president of the
55 Wexford 300 ·130 43
Marten Garn of Char lotte
active in Jr. FB in Tuscola county 56 Eaton 1,4 7 62 42
57 St. lair 1,460 604 42
was re-elected president, and ing 303 members in the plan.
in the early 1940's.In 1945he was
come one of the largest independent
suppliers of petroleum to serve the one year remaining
This brings the total enroll-
Shuman was elected unanimously
5 ...Jontcalm 1,130 46 41
Ivan Parsons of Grand Blanc was
county Farm Bureau organization
director for Huron and Tus-
59 Shtawassee 1,1 7 4 0 40
re-elected vice-president by the
60 Kalka ka 102 40 39 products to Michigan farmers. of Mr. Kline's term of office.
ment in Farm Bureau's Group
61 ewaygo 738 276 37
new board of directors.
cola counties, and helped organize
Community Farm Bureaus. 63 Ots go 134 45 33 and their cooperative oil com-
and livestock farmer from central
first year. Previously, Barry
Mr. Huntley said that farmers Charles B. Shuman is a grain
62 Huron 1,997 695 35
Life Plan to 957 members in its
Ren A. DeRuiter of McBain
was elected to the board of directors
to succeed Carl E. Bus-
In June, 1953, he was promoted
panies have $965,000 invested in
county had enrolled 654 members
TOTALS Illinois. He has served 9 years
• 65,918 37,638 57%
to head the Organization and
the co pany. Earnings of the as president of the Illinois Farm
in the first attempt ever made to
kirk, retired. These directors
Junior Farm Bureau departments.
$769,000.
has been a member of the AFBE'
rural people.
Company for the six years total Bureau of 201,000 members. He
present group life insurance to
Got Out Vote
were re-elected: Peter H. De-
Weerd of Hudsonville, Marten
•
R. B. 'McKinley of Grant, representing
the Newaygo County were representatives of 65 far-
was president of his County Farm
Attending the annual meeting board of directors since 1945. He
Garn, Char~o~te; Ward G. Hodge, The Farm Bureau Group Life
Ilk
Snover; Phillip Holzhausen, Corunna;
Blaque Knirk, Quincy; Bureau Life Insurance Company.
Plan originated with our Farm
Farm Bureau, presented a set of mers oil companies and individual
stockholders.
inois Farm Bureau board in 1941. Ivan Par-sons, Grand Blanc; Al-
It is patterned after the the group
Bureau when elected to the Ill-
We consumed more than 12 books to the seventh grade pupils
billion quarts of milk last year. at the Grant school. The books Thomas Koning of Marne was Mr. Shuman farms about 200 bert Shellenb.arger, Lake Odessa; life insurance that is available to
But many adults, as well as children,
should drink more for a most "get out the vote" stickers O. Johnson of Freeland was of tenants on another 550 acres.
were given for collecting the elected president, and Kenneth acres and supervises the operation Elton R. Smith, Caledonia. most people who work in industry.
It offers $1~000of i e insu -
better diet.
•
during the recent election.
(Continued on Page 2) He has a commercial Angus herd. Buy Farm Bureau Feed. ance to members and their
alf

u eau
OFFICERS
, Pre .tdent :\V. G. Hodge. Snover
V-Pre Blaque Knirk, Quincy
Exec. V-Pr '. L. Brody, Laru ing
E. ec. ec'v J. F. aeger, Lanstng
MICHIe;
EWS
R-1
It-I
ear Prayer
Dear God, from whose almighty hand we have the gift of days.
We are Thy tenants on the land and once again we raise
Our prayer of honest thanks to Thee. in whom all goodness
dwells.
Hear us today and grant that we may serve as love compels.
Vol. 3
.................... Editor
Associate Editor
January 1, 1955 No.1
PURPOSE OF FARM
BUREAU
The purpose of this Assccta .
tion shall be the advancement
of our members' in~rests educationally,
legislatively, and
economically.
Community
Bureau
TIt>pre.·nting
WOMEN OF FARM BUREAU
Irs. 'arlton D.I1................ lbton, £'-1
WESLEY S. HAWLEY
Coordinator of Community Farm Bureaus for MFB
Dear Community Farm Bureau Members:
It is our sincere wish that each of you, and your groups will have a
happy, interesting and prosperous year during 1955. We hope that your
group meetings will become more and more interesting, and that more
members will participate in Community Farm Bureaus, as that is the
very heart and soul of Farm Bureau.
As mentioned in our article in the December edition, 277 Community
Farm Bureaus held monthly meetings and arrived at conclusions
throughout 1954. Surely these groups will continue to meet regularity
month and set the pattern group, Ha. ttngs, 1 • Irs. ot tlob G tt I, 'Y st Brookfield
for. oth r Community groups, .'Mr.'. Doro~h asteline, Pratt re k Igroup, .h walng.
group, Ha. t ing's. • II'.. Harland . mlth, 'Vest
Following is the list of the Cer- _11'.. Leo Barry, South arlton roup, 'eb wing.
ti i d Award winning groups "roup. Hast lngs. .Ir.', gne: End r, 'ill IV
fo 100% participation in 1953-54 , Irs. H. L ro~:~ Williams group. I' P~~l~'s:a:~Pel:nVoelker, Wolf ton
nd tl eir group secretaries: Fr land. Owend Ie.
Alcona Benzie. !ngham
AI(' ·ancl. r Stpplwn~on. Barton Ity ~Ir.. Emma Kuemin, lmira group, frs. Fra~k • etha vay,
('OllllllUllIly 1', I m Bur au, Barton Empire. group, L slte,
lit . ,\11'., Elinar .l. Ichols, Llverty- Union
II". I urt La.For'g'e, urran roup, group, B nzonta. ~trs.
CIl Hill. - h's. Ida Esch, Rlv I' Road group, group.
· II . I'uu llne Byler, urt lsvtll group. Frankfort.
1 [I. H' le J01ln1'1on. East Day, Berrien
, ]1I\)1 P. • Irs. V rnal Shr ve, .l. orthwest Bu-
_II . .Iohn Rharboneau, Jr.. East chanan, Buchanan.
Ha I,' gIl/UP. Lincoln. Branch
11 • Hpl'yl .\1'eGuire, Klondyke group, , Irs. Rachel Keith, Kinderhook, Fre-
Mlka do, mont, Indiana.
II' , F'lorence Bu: hey, Spruce group, Mr.'. Donna
•'PI'lJ('P.
oldwater.
_II!i, Ka thr-rlne Valnde, Twin Lak •
'IUU}). Lincoln.
h'l.• Je
Gltnnip.
ie Prerit lce, Vaughn Lak ,
Allegan
,II'. Be n
Hamilton.
Elling, Hamilton group,
-II'. Lawrence Pa lmbox, Salem 4
'1II11p lion.
II.
go,
or
.£

MICHIGA
NEWS
• I 1\ •.
• I • 'I' ~..., •.... "r. ~
. . '. , \.
Baby chicks hatch every day in full view of thousands of visitors, in the ill useum of Science and I ndustry
in Chicago. It' 8 one of many interesting features of Swift' 8 dramatic exhibit FOOD FOR LIFE •
" .
.Take eople to t a
• •
~
Here's the new way of taking folks "out to the farm" ... to
show them the important part that farms and farmers play in
their lives.
Actually, it doesn't take city folks to a real farm. Instead,
they see Swift's exhibit-s-soon FOR LIFE. We've called it FOOD
FOR LIFE because it tells about the business you and we are in.
The story begins with the soil-it ends with healthy, happy,
and well-fed people ..AIl sorts of moving and "talking" displays
drive home mighty important facts about the complicated
job of producing food which many folks "take for granted."
For both the farm and city consumer, FOOD FOR LIFE
stresses right eating and good nutrition. After all, "hen people
know more about right eating they will be better buyers of the
foods that contribute to health, strength and longer life. And,
this will create a bigger demand for your products.
We think this is a good way to make friends in the city-for
farmers and ranchers and meat packers. We would like you to
see it, too. Whenever you are in Chicago, stop in at the Museum
of cience and Industry - visit FOOD FOR LIFE. We.
believe you'll like it.
SWIFT & COMPA
UNION
STOCK YARDS. CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
Each day more than 5,000 visitors from all over the country see this dramatic
story of farming, food, and right eating.
The story begins here-with the soil, and how farmers must carefor it to
psoduce thefood for the people of America ..
Animals always fascinate city people. Many are genuinely amazed at the
scientific know-how that farmers must have.
NUTRITION'
IS OUR
BUSINESS

JANUARY
I. 19S5
r
DONALD D. KINSEY
Coordinator of Education and Research for MFB
i th s cond of a eri of articles that will appear in the
Michigan F rm ew during th next few months. Their purpose
i to d velop a b tter und rstanding of the Farm Bureau.
ur rm ur au house was not built in a day. At
this writing we are in the fourth decade of its con truetion
and building is still in progress. For a building of
thi typ , complete plans could not be made in advance.
Th plans had to be altered occasionally to meet changes
in the course of history.
During these thirty - five years are to be found the
ucc ss s and mistakes that normally go into the building
of a house. Some of the foundations proved strong
and firm. In other cases there were rooms that had to
b torn down or reframed so as to be strong enough to
weather economic storms.
The n wly - born Farm Bureau in the 1920's had a
large ta k before it. To be effective it must gain the
r cogmtion of other economic groups and political
parties. Business and labor organizations were already
pow rful.
B farmers lacked an ffectively - organized spokesman.
Neither of the major political parties was willing
to recognize farm problems as being important to our
g n r I economy. It was very difficult to get an audience
before state or national political committees. When
farm people did get a hearing their pleas fell on relatively
deaf ears.
In the latter part of the 20's this picture began to
change. It became evident to national leaders that agriculture
had led a collapse in the economy by sharply
falling farm incomes. For the first time in 1927 and
1928 Congress passed bills sponsored by Farm Bureau,
only to have them vetoed by the President.
In 1929 the Pre ident signed the first important agricultural
bill to aid the farmer. It was the Federal Agricultural
Marketing Act. It was not a solution to farm
problems, but it was a step in the direction of growing
strength. And it afforded a basis out of which more constructive
programs could be developed.
Some sharp contrasts d veloped for flexible price supports on
in the decade of the 1930's. The basic crops. These supports were
nation r ognized the importance to range from 52% to 75% of
of agriculture as a major factor parity in relation to the degree
in our economic health. Other of surplus of the supported crop.
groups became concerned over This Act crowned Farm Bureau's
the farmer's problem. And Farm second decade.
Bureau leaders found it easier The 40's were a war decade.
to get support for the develoP-, The extremely high demand upment
of a needed farm program. on agriculture for its products
Congressional com mit tee s kept farm prices high. Supports
opened their doors and listened. on the basic crops rarely had to
The Federal Agricultural Mar- be used at all. Prices stayed
keting Act was followed by the above support levels. In fact,
stablishment of the AAA pro- farm prices rose by leaps and
gram in 1933. Rigid supports on bounds. Under the needs of the
furm prices at 52% of parity war a new use for support prices
were established. emerged. Federal funds were
The object was mainly to ad- used to increase production
just production so .as to main- rather than to reduce it. Talk
tain a firm market price at pro- was about "incentive and comfitabl
levels. These supports pensatory" payments rather than
were to be paid out of a pro- production control payments.
ccssing tax, but the plan was One marked effect of this philruled
unconstitutional by the osophy was to change the public
U.S. Supreme Court in 1936. attitude from one of sympathy
for the farmer to one of envy
Under arm Bureau sponsorhip
I Congress then 'enacted the
for his prosperity.
011 Con '.tv tio an Domestic As a result of the changing
Allotment Act, and large Congressional
appropriations became had to put up a serious battle
public attitude, the farmers again
necessary to carry the program. to receive consideration for their
Because the crop control featui
s of this Act were without groups began to stand against far-
program in Congress. Opposition
force, a new AAA measure was mers' organizations. Other economic
groups now wanted a
enacted in 1938 to replace the
1936 program. Within the 1938 "say" in how the farm program
measure was the first provision should be set up:
It was an era in which Farm
Bureau membership more than
doubled nationally - and quadrupled
in Michigan. During this
time the level of flexible price
supports was adjusted by law
to the level of 75% to 90% of
parity as a possible protection
against a severe decline in farm
prices on the free market.
• floor to protect him against dangerous
d cline of income. It was
to be an uphill fight.
In the political battle that now
shaped up, sound economics were
forgotten. Congress and the
Government bureaus pushed toward
a larger farm control empire,
or ought to curry votes by
increa ing the "give-away" program
in anticipation of the next
election.
There was lillIe need for the
support program itself before the
1950's. The coming of the Korean
war, too, in 1950, kept farm
the 30's was a mere 2,950 familes
with a low in 1933 of only
1,542.
It should not be assumed that
the program was at a standstill
during this time. Even before
the 30's departments for serving
membership had been developed
by the Michigan Farm Bureau.
At the very outset in 1919, the
members had established their
state board of directors, and administrative
staff, a membership
department, a records department,
a publicity dep't and a
legislative dep't.
prices up for a couple of years In 1920. they set up a Seed
and avoided a showdown with Department. and in 1922 a Feed
the farmer on real production Department. These were excontrols.
panded in 1925 to become the
Farm Bureau membership Seed Service and the Supply
grew constantly under the fight Service. Then in 1929 these serit
was waging over this issue of vices were merged and incorpohigh
supports. The issue emerged rated to form the Farm Bureau
into the clear as one between Services Inc.
a free enterprise capitalist sys-. 1926 ~aw the Michigan Farm
tem and one of state socialism Bureau become a state agency
in the early 50's. fpr the State Farm Mutual Insur-
Farmers are businessmen who ance Company with an Insurance
own their property and work their
Department to direct the work.
But actual member-participation
lands to earn a profit. For generations
they have planned and
programs were as yet to appear.
produced according to their own The membership picture showfree
decisions. The threat to ed some improvement in the last
this freedom by a system that I half of the 30's. And a number
began to say the "Profit Motive" of new programs appeared on the
was evil - a socialist system horizon. Membership averaged
that would police their produc- about 7200 families in these five
tion - caused many to return years. A Farm Machinery Dep't
to Farm Bureau as a means of was formed.
fighting this danger. The Community Farm Bureau
But the government bureaus program was started in 1936.
had become powerful and Con- This program laid the groundgress
was weak and controls work for one of the best membercame
inevitably. High rigid participation programs in the
price controls were continued in- country. It has gained the reto
1953 - in peacetime - for spect of adult educators everythe
Korean armistice had been where, and has been copied by
signed. other state Farm Bureaus.
The incentive payments help- The early 1940's began a period
ed to create a bumper crop of of rapid growth and expansion
wheat in 1953 and staggering in membership and programs.
surpluses developed. It became The war brought better farm
necessary to invoke the control prices. New participation prolaws
to cut production on wheat. grams and member services were
Farmers were asked to vote to ·developed. The average memaccept
or reject marketing quotas bership from 1940 to 1944 was
for their 1954 crops. 16,300 with the numbers in-
Surpluses and the loss of ex- creasing rapidly. 1942 saw the·
port markets had begun to drop Blue Cross hospitalization plan
farm prices seriously in 1953. offered to members through
The government held a tremen- Community Farm Bureau groups.
dous surplus that could be turn- In 1943 the Farm Bureau helped
ed loose on the market at any to organize the Michigan Assotime.
It was a potential threat ciation of Farmer Cooperatives.
to the free market price. Far- From 1945 to 1949 the growth
mel'S were "over a barrel." Re- continued at a goodly pace. The
jection of the marketing quota five year average was 40,600
meant a drop in support levels families. A peak was reached
to 50% of parity - a disaster in' 1947 at 48,100 with a temprice.
In the face of falling porary drop in 1948 due to an
farm prices they voted for the increase in dues from $5 to O.
quotas. The dues increase was to pro-
In the year of 1954 the compli- vide for an expanded program.
cations of the control program
began to appear. The extent of Numerous programs and serthe
controls over production on vices were developed during the
a farm are broader than most last half of the 1940's. 1945 saw
persons realized. Rules requiring the beginning of the program for
"cross-compliance" became part the Farm Bureau Women, the
of the law. They begin to put Research and Information Detheir
finger on the farmer's total partment, the Commodity Relaproduction.
tions Department, and the Legal
Allotments on all supported Division.
crops must be conformed to in In 1946 construction was startorder
to collect the supports on ed on the first fertilizer factory
the critical crop. Penalties must in Saginaw. The Personnel
be paid for overproduction, even Dep't was also organized that
if the farmer plans to feed the year.
excess to his livestock. And all
farmers are subject to the quotas
and controls whether they choos
to be or not.
Thus with the first real encroachment
of the control program
over their farm operations,
Farm Bureau people faced a problem
of growing proportions.
Seer tary Ben on' d cision i
December that "cross-compliance"
could be dropped for 1955
was a welcome relief on the issues
surpluses and crop control.
embersh p
Membership History. Growth
in the membership of the Michigan
Farm Bureau has been a
product of a number of things
since its beginning in 1919. As
we have pointed out, without a
doubt the major farm issues have
had much to do with it in the
later years. In the early years,
however, there were ups and
downs.
During the early 20's less than
two- thirds of the eligible counties
were affiliated with the
1949 marked the incorporation
of the Farmers Petroleum Cooperative,
Inc., and the Farm
Bureau Mutual Insurance Company
of Michigan. The automobile
insurance pro g r am
brought an immediate drop in
rates to farmers by all companies
in the southern
Michigan.
peninsula of
Continued growth of the membership
program during the
early 1950's in spite of dropping
farm prices indicates the growing
health of the organization
and the worth of its services to
the farmer. The five year aver- '
age is about 52,500 families with
a peak reached in 1954 of 62,981
families. Membership goals have
been reached in record time during
this period.
New programs developed during
this period include the formation
of a new Farm Supply
Department in 1950, the Life
Insurance Company in 1951, the
building of a second fertilizer
plant at Kalamazoo in 1953, and
the beginning of new programs
in Fire Insurance and Group Life
Insurance in 1954.
During this period also the
Farm Bureau has been instrumental
in promoting the financing
and organization of livestock
auction yards at Battle
Creek and St. Louis, Michigan.
Similar aids to farmers in or-
But political opportunists were state organization. And a "false
around Washington. The disaster. start" was made. to build a large
of this era lay in the fact that membership. It was an age of
the farm program was fastened "big promoters," so some were
upon by party politicians as a hired to help in the job. They
means to keep or win party promised more than they could
power. They fostered larger appropriations
and larger bureaus The large membership signed
deliver.
to administer the expanding farm for the first year rapidly
program. Congressmen came to dwindled away. Actually the
believe that their political futures
depended upon outbidding five years totaled around 24,000 under way in other parts of the
membership average of the first ganizing marketing programs are
each other for farm appropriations
to keep the support levels
families.
state at the present time.
high and mandatory.
Farm Bureau had yet to build Membership Growth
The 7&% to 90% support program
was never given a trial. few legislative accomplishments 1rear
)!e~ership
a strong program. It had rather In Michigan Farm Bureau
From year to year "temporary" to support a needed prestige. It 1919 •..................... (Organized)
bill were passed holding the had few services. And farm 1920 47,500
support level at a rigid 90% on prices began to fall. In the later 1921 •................................. 21,358
basic crops.
half of the decade of the 20's 1922 28,642
membership fell with them. The 1923 23,897
Farm Bureau had a fight on its average was around 12,400 families.
1925 ...•.............................. 22,749
1924 23,000
hands. It was a fight for freedom.
It was a fight against imposed
controls that were inevita-
years for the farmers and hard 1927 .............................•...... 8,788
Depression years were hard 1926 10, 14
ble under the high support program.
It was a fight for the of the fact that the farmer need-
1929 9,351
for membership as well. In spite 1928 11,355
right to operate one's farm as ed his organization more than 1930 5,419
the farmer himself chose to do. ever, only a few hardy souls 1931 ................................•... 3,705
Th upport levels tood in danger
of b coming a ceiling on the eau alive. The memberhip aver- 1933 ..•.••.•.•..•..•...•.•..•.•••.•••••• 1,542
hung on and kept the Farm Bur-
1932 •......•.....................•...... 1,896
f mer' incom r th
• for the fir t fiv "81'1 of 1934 _ ••••••••• _ ••••• _ ••••_.2,367
oultry arketing
erative OatHemlock
B. P. PATTISON
The Commodity Department
of the Michigan Farm Bureau has
given considerable help in the organization
of the Michigan Poultry
Marketing Cooperative at
Hemlock, Saginaw county, in the
hope of developing a better marketing
program for the poultry
producers of the state.
The idea came from resolutions
presented to the delegate body of
the Michigan Farm Bureau membership
requesting that the Farm
Bureau, Michigan State College
and the Department of Agriculture
give some assistance in developing
a better market for
poultry producers.
The Farm Bureau called a
meeting of poultry producers
from several counties, representatives
of the Michigan State College
and the Department of Agriculture
on July 16 to discuss the
ways and means of assisting
poultrymen. This meeting was
followed by a state-wide meeting
of 100 poultrymen
July 29. '
at St. Louis
The possibilities of acquiring
processing facilities for live poultry
was discussed wth Mr. Grant
Hess of St. Louis who owned
such processing plant at Hemlock,
Michigan. A committee was
appointed to develop a proposition
with Mr. Hess for the purchase
of these facilities and this
committee reported back to a
second state-wide meeting held
at St. Louis on August 13 and
were at that time authorized to
proceed with the purchase of the
facilities at Hemlock.
the installation of the large freezer.
The corporation assumed possession
of the plant on October 1
and has operated it since that
time.
Processing operations since the
first of October were mostly confined
to turkeys, since the production
in the state was in surplus
and the outlook for marketing
not favorable. The Cooperative
in starting so quickly was
confronted with many obstacles,
one of which was the lack of
freezing facilities which placed a
very definite limit on the amount
of live products that could be
processed daily.
rSince the installation of the
blast freezer about the middle of
November, the plant has been in
a position to expand its operations
and turn out an excellent
product. Some 2,000,000pounds
of turkey meat in addition to
some broilers and fowl has been
processed and sold as frozen products.
his amount of turkeys
taken off the live market has had
a stabilizing influence on the
price of turkeys to all producers
regardless of how or where they
were sold in the state.
It is admitted that the cooperative
has rendered a remarkable
service particularly to the turkey
industry while operating under
some adverse conditions as to
time and equipment. The frozen
product has been of a high quality
and has enjoyed an excellent
acceptance on the market. Net
returns to the producers have
been better than anticipated.
MODERN PROCESSING PLANT of Michigan Poultry Marketing
Cooperative at Hemlock. A recent addition to the facilities is
a $75,000blast freezer which will freeze 100,000pounds of poullry
daily to 45 below zero.
It was apparent that if any I _Looking. Ahead in Pbmt Ope!ahelp
was to be given to the tur- bons. WIth turkey marketing
key producers, we would have to problems ~omewhat out of the
act quickly. Accordingly 18 way for this season, the processfarmers
agreed to advance $75- ing facilities are now available
OOO-the money to be used f;r for broiler, fryers and farm flock
the immediate installation of a producers. They are confronted
large blast freezer having a daily wit.h marketing problems just as
capacity to freeze 100,000lbs. of serIOUSas were those of the turpoultry
products to a temperature key produ~e:s. It ha~ been ~xof
45 degrees below O. The 18 in- tremely dlfflCUI~to fmd a hve
corporators held a meeting and market for broilers and fryers
elected a board of directors and and also farm flocks that have
set up the organization of the outlive~ their usefulness for egg
Michigan Poultry Marketing Co- production. . _
operative Inc. Buyers of live poultry are not
Membe~s of the board of direc- availabl~ .and processing plants in
t . larger cities are going out of busors
are. . iness. To improve this market
Marshall MIchaels, Alma; ~er-. situation, it is obvious that large
n.al Burke, Branch; Grant Ging- numbers of poultry must be dinc~,
Barryton; Luthe.r Klager, verted into frozen channels.
Bridgewater; John Chilson, Mason;
Maurice Lee, Deckerville;
Milton Thayer, Deckerville; Kennetb'
Jenkins, Attica; and Max
Gray, Lake.
The board of directors elected
Marshall Michaels president, Max
DRESSED TURKEYS on the line
packaging station and blast freezer.
Gray vice-president, Roy Bortels
treasurer, and B. P. Pattison
secretary. The directors signed
the agreement with Grant Hess
of Hemlock to purchase his processing
facilities and authorized
1935 3,782
1936 7,522
1937 8,173
1938 9,779
1939 6,780
1940 7,420
1941 9,780
1942 14,840
1943 20,539
1944 29,027
1945 38,079
1946 45,108
1947 48.100
1948 .............•.................... 34,382
1949 .............•.................... 36,878
1950 41,922
1951 47,768
1952 •................................. 53,356
1953 .........••...•..•....•....•.••... 56,662
The poultry processing plant
facilities at Hemlock now cooperatively
owned by the farmer producers
are .,in positio to, ender
a valuable marketing service. The
facilities formerly owned by
Grant Hess of St. Louis for his
Michigolden duck operations are
second to none in the state.
We are now urging the broiler,
fryer and farm flock producers to
use the facilities of the cooperative
for processing their fowl. It
will be necessary that you call or
contact the cooperative at Hemlock
and make specific arrangements
for service.
Do not deliver any fowl to the
Hemlock plant without previous
agreement. The processing facilities
are scheduled for the processing
of ducks approximately
two days per week. However, all
additional time is now available
for processing other fowl.
Additional Finance and Membership.
In the organization of
the cooperative, time was the essence.
Only sufficient financing
was requested to install the large
blast freezer.
1954 ••..•.•••.•••••••••..••••••••••••••••••••. 62,981 Plans are now under way to
provide working cap al that wiU
permit the cooperative to purchase
live products for processing.
Producers of broilers, fryers,
turkey growers, farm flock and
hatchery owners will be contacted
throughout the state.
Membership is invited from all
sources in Michigan interested in
providing a better market for all
poultry products.
It is apparent that the next few
months will be extremely difficult
for the poultry industry from
the marketing standpoint. Development
of additional marketing
channels are therefore a must
with present production.
Buyers of live poultry in the
state are becoming less in number
as the months go by. Pro.
ducers who plan on staying in the
business we believe should give
serious thought toward developing
a better market.
Livestock producers have financed
their own marketing facilities.
We believe the poultry
producers can be depended upon
to do likewise when they fully
appreciate the program and operations
of the marketing
cooperative
at Hemlock.
Benson Tells
Why Controls
Were Relaxed
At the American Farm Bureau's
36th annual meeting at New York
Dec. 14-16, Secretary of Agriculture
Ezra T. Benson predicted a
good year ahead for agriculture
and the nation as a whole. He explained
how crop controls were
relaxed for 1955. Mr. Benson
said:
"Last spring before Congress
adopted the basis for a sound
farm support program, there
seemed to be a possibility that
rigid, high price supports might
continue for the 1955 crops. Rigid
price supports must be accompanied
by rigid controls.
"Accordingly, we announced
the intention to require cross
compliance with a total acreage
allotment as conditions necessary
to 'pr.ice stLPort.. ... "', '
"Had it been necessary to put
them into effect, they would have
been the strictest controls ever
imposed on our fann people.
"By September changed circumstances
made it possible to
eliminate the total acreage allotment
requirement from the 1955
program.
"Congress had passed the Agr'I
Act of 1954, moving toward price
flexibility and greater freedom of
operation.
"Congress had also enacted the
Trade Development Act which
gave us new opportunity to move
our accumulated surplus farm
commodities into consumption
abroad.
"In add i t ion, a spreading
drought which at. its peak embraced
949 counties in 18 states
not only reduced this year's crop
yields, but also made it imperative
that iarmers in the stricken
areas be given every opportunity
to make a recovery.
··This combination of events
enabled us to eliminate the total
acreage controls.
"Simultaneously with the relaxing
of restrictions, I anno'~mced
the 1955 level of price support
for oats, barley, rye and grain
sorghums at 70 per cent of parity.
Price support for various of these
grains has fluctuated between 35
and 85 per cent of parity during
the past 15 years.
"Seventy per cent of parity
will be approximately the same
as the price support for corn in
the non-commercial areas.
"The great~r price flexibility
permitted by this action will be
of help to hard pressed dairymen
and poultrymen who buy those
feeds.
"In 1954 producers of feed
grain mcreased their production
by 10-million acres.
"It is clear that farmers desire
. to hqld production of feed grains
at a high level in 1955.It is necessary
to set price supports at a
level which while giving effective
support, will also permit the
great bulk of these feed crops to
move into use,
l'As we adjust our price supports
realistically, it is possible
to relax our controls. At 70 per,
cent of parity for feed grains, the
Commodity Credit Corporation
will support the market rather
than become the market.
"For the year ahead, I believe
the outlook is generally goodboth
for agriculture and the Nation.
Business activity is at the
highest level in our history. This
assures continuing strong demand
for the products of our farms.
Agricultural products are likely
to be somewhat higher."
•
Farmer's Future
Is Up to Him
Dr. Kenneth Hood of the
AFBF told an audience of over
500 Shiawassee county farmers
at Owosso high school October
28, that "Where We Go From
Here in Agriculture Depends on
You."
Dr. Hood challenged the farmer
to work through his extension
program and Farm Bureau organization
for a self-help program.
If good markets are provided
through research and export, the
price support will take care of
itself.
Everyone knows of the success
of a man - but few know his
struggles to win it.
IT PAYS
TO CONSULT
A Professional
Just as you depend on your veterinarian
to protect the health of your
animals, ya.J can depend on your State
Mutual Agent to protect your property.
Insurance is your State Mutual agent's
profession. He can r e com men d the
right insurance pro tee t ion for your
form. and he's backed by a company
with 47 years of experience and assets
of over one and a qucrter million
dollars.
State Mutual "AII-in-One" Protection
Plan is non-assessable. It provides protection
against loss from explosion,
riot, smoke damage, stock killed on
highway or railroad track, and damage
by vehicles .•. at no .](t,o cost.
When fire strikes you wont prompt
settlement in full. Contact your loco'
State Mutual agent or write us direct.
One day's delay can cost a lifetime of
work.
State~
INSURANCE COMPA Y
fLINT. MICHIGAN
702 (hur

y utline .the
gram of Work
(Continued from Michigan Farm News For Dec. 1, 1954)
We' are presenting in our December and January
editions the full text of resolutions on State and Farm
Bureau affairs, as adopted by the voting delegates at
the 35th annual meeting of the-Michigan Farm Bureau
at East Lansing, November 11 - 12, 1954.
T ese resolu ions become Michigan Farm Bureau
policy. In this edition we are completing the presenta ..
tion of resolutions on State affairs, and are publishing
the resolutions dealing with our Michigan Farm Bureau
as an organization.
Resolutions adopted by the MFB convention with \~
respect to national and international matters became ~,
d . h A . F B OFFICERS AND STAFF MEMBERS of the Michigan Junior Farm Bureauu for 1955 are
recommen ations to tel ..men can arm ureau con.., shown in this picture. Front row, left to right: Shirley Estelle, Gaylord, secretary-treasurer:
vention at New ){ork city December 14-16. Resolutions Paul Leipprandt, Pigeon, president: Lois Schmidt, Berrien Springs; historian. Standing, leU to
opted there by delegates from all the states become right: Dick Root, East Lansing, field representative: Hilbert Schulye, Pigeon, camp chairman:
Douglas Sanford, Allen, 2nd vice-president: Dick Arnold Plainwell. Ist vice-president: Nor-
(Michigan Farm Bureau's policy on national and inter- wood Eastman, East Lansing, coordinator of organization, Michigan Farm Bureau.
national issues. The text of the AFBF resolutions will
a menace to human health. Fur- Farm Bureaus we have attained ing fire, chemical, biological and
appear in the January or February edition of the Na- ther T,.B. is showing a slight a voice at the conference table germ warfare as it may be ap-
, increase in Michigan. on matters of interest to the plied to humans, animals, crops,
tions Agriculture. We will support adequate ap- farmers of our country. If we or through bombing or other
fa e
ffairs
Soil Conservation and Soil Conservation
Districts. Responsibility
for land use and improvement
thereof belongs to all citizens,
urban as well as rural. The wellbeing
of all is dependent on conserving
our soil. The annual
increase of population places a
definite responsibility on agriculture
and the nation to sateguard
our needed future food
production facilities. Intelligent
use of land and conservation
thereof by not only individual
farmer-owners and farm renters,
but by urban population as well,
cannot be stressed too much ..
The 72· Soil Conservation Districts
now organized are efficiently
governed and controlled
by volunteer farmers and are
effective units of soil-saving activity.
We recommend use of
our established government
agencies in obtaining supervisory
help to bring about real soil conservation.
We also recommend that the
Legislature increase the appropriation
for the Soil Conservation
districts by the amount of
l' $250 per district, the same to be
matched by local funds, which
would provide a part-time assistant.
Gypsy Moth, Dutch Elm Disease
and Oak Wilt Control Programs.
We support needed State
appropriations for activities to
eradicate Gypsy Moth, Dutch
Elm Disease, and Oak Wilt.
Commodity Promotion. We favor
the promotion of agricultural
commodities by commodity
groups whereby a commodity
group, as necessary, organizes itself
so as to carry out a program
of advertising, promotion
and information which will as-
, sist in the solving of commodity
marketing problems without relying
upon government assistance.
Recognizing the 'Success
with which the promotional efforts
on some agricultural commodities
have met, we further
recommend that agricultural
commodity groups re-evaluate
their programs in the light of
this experience and that the
Michigan farmer take a realistic
approach to this whole problem
of advertising, promotion and information
as a marketing' tool.
MuU:iple-Fortified
Milk. We re-
Farm Bureau Members: Have
you paid your membership dues
for 1955? Remember your County
Farm Bureau Secretary must
have your dues by January 15,
1955, to protect your Blue Cross
service, your Community Farm
Bureau Group roster status, and
Farm Bureau membership qualificafion
for Farm Bureau automobile,
farm liability, nd fire
msurance.
new our 1953 position relative propriations to carry out control allow this voice to diminish in- forms of enemy attack, such 3S
to multiple-fortified milk. We programs, including: stead of growing we can expect sabotage, which would disrupt
commend the Legislature for 1. More frequent testing. We failure. necessary transportation facilipassing,
during its 1954 session, would urge an annual test as Farm Bureau has progressed ties, power and other supply
H. 210 limiting such fortification soon as practicable. with good strides in building necessary for the operation of the
to the ingredients and the 2. Use of the so-called Bang's strength of membership and par- agricultural industry.
amounts thereof recommended by "Ring Test" twice a year. ticipation of that membership in Public Relations. We realize the
the Michigan Department of 3. Marketing of reactors di- the affairs of the organization.
Health, the Michigan State Medi- rectly to slaughter houses, rather The American Farm Bureau Fed- importance of a public relations
cal Spciety and leading nutri- than through regular sales mar- eration, which has reached a program to our organization and
tionists at Michigan colleges and kets. hi f 1 1600000 recommend that County Farm
members ip 0
universities, namely 400 units of in 1954, has maintained
near y
a
"
strong
Bureau Boards of Directors en-
Vitamin D per quart, and that . Financial Responsibility of .\1 influence in high places because courage and stimulate the County
addition, plus 2,000 units of Vita- Buyers of Livestock and Dairy li . .. ti t th Public Relations Committees to
of po icies orrgma mg a e increase their efforts to bring a
min A per quart, in fortified Products. We commend Mich igan grass-roots level. In Michigan our closer working relationshi in the
skimmed milk. lawmakers for thir action in set- membership has reached 62,981. rural-urban areas.
We deplore the executive veto ting up an Interim Committee to We can not expect a great dewhich
prevented this constructive study means by which farmers crease of issues and challenges wwe suggedst Jtha~ FaFrmarmBuBreuaru
I
egis
. I
a
ti
Ion
f
rom
b
ecommg
.
a
lb'
aw. can e given some assurance
fbI t omen an umor -
0 We, therefore, must ever e a er eau continue their fine efforts in
We note with satisfaction that the financial responsibility of and progressive. . public relations.
the Michigan Department of of commercial buyers of dairy We look forward to reaching I
Agriculture has recently revised products. our goal of 66,000 farm families Safety Program. We recomits·
regulations defining fortified We favor action to require a in 1955 as Michigan's share of the mend that all departments of
milk so as to eliminate the addi- bond or other evidence of finan- two-million member A.F.B.F. Michigan Farm Bureau and its
tion of iodine and to reduce the cial responsibility as a prereq- goal. Attainment of this goal is subsidiary companies cooperate
amounts of some of the other uisite to the obtaining of a necessary if farmers are to pro- in the promotion of safety educavitamins
and minerals below the license to buy livestock and dairy tect their best interests and help tion on the farms, in the home
requirements set forth in its for- products commercially. preserve the free enterprise sys- and on the highway in such ways
mer regulations. tern in America. as to make that safety promotion
Gallon Milk Container. We feel
that every means should be used
to increase the use of milk.
Studies are now under way in
Wisconsin and Minnesota WhICh
should give information, not now
available, on the effect of the
gallon container on the quantity
of milk used. We recommend
that the use of this container
in Michigan not be legalized at
this time, and that a report be
made to the 1955 Michigan Farm
Bureau Resolutions Committee.
Michigan. Farm
Bureau Policy is
Based on Resolutions
•
Discussed in 1,364 Community
Farm Bureaus.
•. Drafted by 63 COUlUyFarm.
Bureau Resolutions Committees.
Approved by members in
•
63 County Farm Bureau
annual meetings.
Digested by 16-member
•
State Resolutions Committee,
composed of one
member from each of the
ten districts, plus three
representatives of. the
Farm Bureau Women and
three members at large.
Determined at State Annual
Convention by voting
•
delegates from County
Farm Bureaus-one delegate
for each one hundred
members.
Farm Bureau's Voice is the
Voice of the Member.
•
Cooperative Livestock Market- program most effective for our
ing. We are encouraged at pro- Community Farm Bureaus. organization and the farm ople.
gress which has been made in Michigan is one of the earliest
Michigan Cooperative Livestock states to adopt a Community Farm Blue Cross-BI Shield. The
Marketing. We realize that there Bureau program. Its value has re- e nd abuse of Blue Cross-Blue
are areas that are not adequately ceived wide recognition from Shield service is reflected in the
served, particularly in the north- neighboring states. Each member premium rates thereof and as
ern part of the state. We ask should be well educated on the' they have been increasing in the
the continued cooperation of the basic theory that his participation past and may rise still further in
Michigan Livestock Exchange in in the affairs of the organization the future, we recommend that
providing such needed services. is welcomed and needed. the Michigan Farm Bureau,
Labeling Poultry. We recommend
that all dressed poultry
sold be labeled to classify it as
to whether it is a broiler, fryer,
roaster or stewing fowl.
Rem 0 val and Disposal of
Abandoned Orchards and Vineyards.
Inasmuch as there are
many diseased and abandoned
orchards and vineyards, we recommend
that the program of
condemning diseased and abandoned
orchards and vineyards
for removal and disposal be expedited,
and that the cost of
this removal and disposal be
paid by the owner
and vineyard.
of said orchard
Revision of Apple Act. We support
the action of Michigan
apple growers in their efforts to
revise the Baldwin Apple Act
under which the promotional activities
of the Michigan Apple
Industry function. In the light
of current economic conditions,
this act needs to have certain
basic changes. Principal changes
needed are: Redistricting of the
state in line with changing apple
production and staggering of the
terms of members of the Commission
in order that all terms
do not expire at t~e same time.
Promotio of Use of Dairy Pro- Bean Promotional Program. We
ducts. We endorse the promotion- ask that the board of directors
al work of the American Dairy of the Michigan Farm Bureau
Association and encourage every make a study looking forward
dairy farmer to support this self- to the introduction of a bill in
help program through the year- a future session of the Michigan
around monthly set-aside of two Legislature declaring it to be the
cents per hundred pounds of milk public policy of the State of
or lh cent per pound of butter- Michigan to promote the confat.
sumption and sale of dry edible
We recommend that milk be beans grown in Michigan: (1) by
served at farm meetings and ban- providing for research and pubquets
and that Farm Bureau Iicity, advertising, and an inmembers
encourage improve- formational and sales program to
ments in milk merchandising. increase consumption and im-
We believe in production for prove efficiency of production;
use, not for Government storage (2) by levying an assessment on
and will encourage use of milk dry edible beans and providing
and dairy surpluses for school for its collection; (3) by creating
lunches and domestic and for- a bean commission and vesting
eign-aid programs that will not in it the administration of the
interfere with normal marketing. act and providing for the powers,
Minimum Butterfat Content of d~ti:s and authority of said com-
Milk. The present state legal min-' mISSIOn.
imum for butterfat in milk sold 0 . F B
to consumers in Michigan is 3%. ur. arm ureau
It is estimated, however, that 90% Membership. The same chalof
the milk sold in Michigan lege, "Who shall speak for farmcontains
3.5% or more. In order ers?", is still before agriculture.
to insure consumers a higher Groups, other than farmers, have
quality product, we urge that the many plans for. agriculture.
legal state minimum b~ set at Farmers are and WIll undoubte
3.5% butterfat in all milk sold. ly remain a minority group in
America. Individuals in any
Bang's Disease and T. B. in group can never expect to cope
Cattle. Bang's disease and T. B. with this world of bigness.
in cattle are costly to farmers and Through our state and national
To fulfill these objectives we working in cooperation with
need to encourage more activity Blue C r 0 s s representatives,
in our community groups by: evolve a policy based on the del.
Organizing more groups to ductible idea.
service more members. We feel that adoption of this
2. Plan to issue special invita- type of plan will reduce misuse
tions to non-attending members. of the service and keep rates
3. Encourage and aid a depend- down to a minimum.
able Community Farm Bureau
Committee in every county.
American Farm Bureau Women.
The Michigan Farm Bureau
Women are concerned that the
designation, "Associated Women
of the American Farm Bureau
Federation," implies that they
are a separate organization or
auxiliary. They wish to be an integral
part of the Farm Bureau.
Therefore we urge the American
Farm Bureau to make such structural
changes as are necessary to
provide that the women's affiliation
would be "American F rm
Bureau Women" rather than "Associated
Women."
,Junior Farm Bureau. We realize
that a strong Farm Bureau
must constantly be developing
new leaders. To do this, many
counties have a Junior Farm
Bureau dedicated to leadership
training. These Junior groups
have contributed many presentday
leaders to their County Farm
Bureaus.
In view of the above, we
recommend that every county develop
a Junior Farm Bureau as a
part of its county program.
Citizenship. We dedicate our
Farm Bureau to encouragement
of good citizenship and recognition
of our American heritage.
We urge County and Community
Farm Bureaus to use the
Pledge of Allegiance at meetings
and to properly display our flag.
Good citizens are informed
voters. Farm Bureau members
should participate in all elections
and in the affairs of the political
parties of their choosing.
As Michigan becomes continually
more industrialized, rural
people need to use every opportunity
to express themselves.
Membership Understanding of
Agricultural Programs. We recommend
that the Michigan Farm
Bureau Board of Directors make
a study 00: all agricultural programs
and agencies of U.S.D.A.
and institute an educational program
in the County Farm Bureaus
to assist the membership in
co erating to carry out such
programs.
Proposed Amendment To By-
Laws: We recommend that the
By-Laws of the Michigan Farm
Bureau be amended to read as
follows:
Article IV -Section 3. Class II.
Full-time employees and persons
wh were full-time employees of
this association or of its sub sid i-
ries or affiliated companies, or
cf County Farm Bureaus at the
time of their retirement, may become
Associate members by making
application, and if accepted
by the Board of Directors upon
execution of the membership
agreement, will be entitled to
the rights of membership, excepting
the right to vote.
Commendation of MFB Staff.
We, the delegates to the Michigan
Farm Bureau annual meeting,
desire to take this opportunity
to express to the management.
and staff of the Michigan Farm
Bureau our commendation for
the capable and efficient organization
now performing the work
which has made our ICommunity
Farm Bureaus, legislative and
other activities what other state
Farm Bureaus consider to be
models. They come here to study
our work.
Teamwork being the theme of
this convention, we face the future
with the satisfaction that our
state staff will help us in the
solution of our problems.
Further, we desire to commend
the entire staff of our Public Affairs
Division for its vigorous action
in bringing our views to the
attention of Congress, our Legislature,
and to national and state
officials.
Reaffirmation. We reaffirm the
resolutions adopted at previous
annual meetings that are now in
force, except insofar as they are
modified or supplemented by the
1esolutions adopted at this annual
Our Part In Civil Defense. We
recommend that the Board of Directors
of the Michigan Farm
Bureau establish a Committee on
Civil Defense, the purpose of
which will be to work with the
duly constituted civil defense
authorities of the state and of
local government and with other
departments of government concerned
with civil defense so as to
assure the maximum protection
of the Farm Bureau membership
and other farmers against all
forms of enemy attack, includmeeting.
RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE
District
5-Geo. Fogle, Chairman, Iason
I-Lee. Bakem n, Dowagiac
2-Mrs. uth Day, Clark Lake
3-Wayne Sober, Webberville
4-Hilb't H lleman, Byron Cent r
6-Frank Merriman, Deckerville
7-Carl And r on, Brunswick
8-Herb rt Schmidt, Day City
9-WilJard Wil n, Trav rse Cit
10-Arthur Iclntyre, Harrisville
MFB Women
Mrs. Martin Stockmeyer, Reese
Mrs. Alex Kennedy, P sen
Mrs. Leon Dunning, Delton
At large
James P. Mielock, Whittemore
Gleason E. Halliwi , Gladwin
Alb't Shellenbarger, Lake Odessa
F~ m
AT AFBF CONVE TION
Michigan's delegation was "at
home" in the McAlpin Hotel.
Convention h adquarters were at
t·
Mrs. Haven Smith of Chappell,
Nebraska, was elected president
of the American Farm Bureau
Women's Committee at the 20th
annual meeting of this group at
the American Farm Bureau convention
in New York, Dec. 14-1~.
Mrs. Smith succeeds Mrs. Charles
. DeShazo of Virginia. Mrs.
Smith had been vice-president.
Mrs. Ernest Nedeau of Meredith,
New Hampshire, was elected
vice-president.
The American Farm Bureau
convention voted to change the
status of the women's organization
from an affiliated organization
to a committee of the AFBF.
Formerly called the Associated
Women of the American Farm
Bureau, the group will be known
hereafter as the American Farm
Bureau Women's Committee.
The Michigan Farm Bureau
Women at their annual meeting in
November joined with Farm Bureau
women in other states in
recommending the change of
name. The title Associated Women
implied that the women's activities
were carried on as a separate
organization within the
Farm Bureau. The title Women's
Su~
the New Yorker. "The New
Yorker? Just 2 blocks west," the
man said! Have you seen these
Manhattan blocks? Each one is
3 blocks long!
Beltsville turkeys, the small
white breed of birds, get plump
and meaty while they are still
young. These birds are practically
free from pinfeathers, too.
fORPOULTR
Yo 're Protected, But . •
If your Insurance was bought
five years azo - or even two or
three years ago - there ts a good
chance it's now out-of-date.
Keeping your insurance adjust ..
ed to your needs at all times is
as important as keeping your machinery
in working order and your
buildings in good repair.
o
ta
ce •••
What is your property worth :lodayyour
land, your buildings, your equipment,
your livestock? Does your insurance
cover it adequately?
f
Fir
I ura ce
urance
T e FIP Pro
F au u
07 • r d v •
D
, 0 y ars go my hu band nd
had a terrible automobil accid nt
in Pennsylvania," says Mrs. Benn tt.
"1 went to th hospital ith t 0
broken legs and a fractur d hip.
Lucky for us we had the Blu ro
Comprehensive ontra t and Blue
Shield. My Blue Cror S ompr h n-
sive Contract cov r d my whol hospital
bill for 120 days-and, a y ar
later, paid another big bill for 103
days r salting from th sam accident!
Blue Shield paid a big part of
my doctor bill, too. Ju t that on a~cident
would hav cost us 3,700 if
wehadn'thadtheBlue .ro s omprhensive
Contract and Blue Shield!"
With lIn 3 families f clng ho pital
bills within a year, can you afford to
be without prot ction like this? Over
8 million Michi~an peopl have Blue
Cross - Blue Shield. Probably 80m
of your close friends have it. k
them if they don't agr e: there' no
f!ner protection against hospital and
doctor bills at any price!
It's easy to find out how you can
enjoy low-cost Blue ross - Blue
Shield group enrollment. company
ith as few as 5 employe
aualify 88 • group."'·
m y
-
Contact your ne r 51 Blu
Cross-Blu Shi ld offic , County
Farm Bureau S cret ry, 0
Grange.
Are you Planning to help your sons
get started in farming? nd what
about your daughters' share? Is your
insurance program pI nned so fh t it
will help them?
What about inheritance taxes? H s
your property increased in v lu 0
that inheritance assessm nts w'll
higher? Will your insuranc t k e r
of thes costs?
Talk to your Farm Bureau Insurance
Representative bou your
entire insurance program. Th r t
no obligation, and h ha b n
trained to help you k ep your In..
surance up-to-date.

a
an a y
d M t
· I for Program in January by
oun a ena B n.:__. G
C
it F.•nn ureau IJUH,;U
ommum
510n roup
y p
o}fALJ) D. KINSEY
DE.JI••catioD and Research for MFB
Coordinator of p"
rnt operators are now included
ongress acte. d F8
und
er t
h
e
S
ocia
'I S
ecuri
'ty law. Many
.
farmers do not seem
to r I' h this program IS compulsory-that
ea ize as yet t at
they h They cannot choose to stay out
must pay t e tax,
of the program.
B d I tes over the year had taken a pom
ureau e ega ,
siti . hi I ~&r as a compulsory affair, At the
on opposing t IS a~
d
1954 I ' after the law had been passe -
annua meetmg-r" . hei , . h
they I· 'tive in stating t elf position on t e
were no ess POSI f 11 '
matter. On November 12 they passed the 0 owing
resolution without a dissenting vote:
Incentive for capable older
"C and other persons is cut off. If the older
ompu
1
sory
S'
oCla
1 Security for farmers
. .
person works and earns more
self
-empIoye
d
groups
.s the road to socialism,
J
than a meagre wage, in spite of
the fact that he has paid his
"N If I d person should be forced to pay ino
se -ernp oye , k hi share over the years, his government
benefits are cut off. He
to a Federal fund which promi$es either to rna e I~ a
takes care, therefore, to be rather
ward f h G ent in his old age, or from which
o t e overnm
unproductive of income to protect
his government allowance.
he will never derive benefit.
When he gets close to the allowed
"If f h have been the bulwark of our
$1200 of earnings, he waloff
arrners, w 0 S '1 S ' the job. Yet his allowable income
den- f 1 into compulsory ocia ecunty, is miserably small. He' can earn
••iocracy, are orceo d.'
$1200 a year plus a small monthly
allowance. Let's assume that
th n every other se1f..eJIlploye group will soon be
it averages $78.50a month in government
checks. His total allow-
brOught under the prograJIl.
"W able annual income would then
e recommen
d that the American Farm Bureau
be around $2100 a year, if he
work
aggressive
. 1
y
t reJIlove the compulsory features works up to the maximum allowed
limit. At today's prices and
0 tt
of S ocia 'I S
ecunty
'
In
,
re
~gard to self-employed people.
rents he might not stay too fat
"h • b t'to1te resolution submitted from the on it.
.(rus was a su s I v • ,
flOor. Th d I t rejected a more mildly-stated pOSIe
e ega es b' ,
tion •• In ' passIng . thiISon e'
They wanted to e very positive
in their stand,
lhe Social Security bill was pushed through Congress
at th e
Itt
as momen
b.fore adjournment. It was some-
v ••
hih g f . ove The House bill had Included
&1 0 a surprise m '
far'- ·.1 opera tors, but the Senate bill had held some reser-
V'atio ns about it. TIle Senate originally reported out
the bill without cov rage for farmers, The bill was
lat r h d' ference to include farmers. But
c ange In con
Senators did I succ•.zed in raising the amount that a
Per 0n cou Id earn b fore losing his retirement benefits,
e
Thl' was Increase .. d to $1200. Farm incomes are not
lik••
'"
aft
ac ory payc'
heck and some
.,
brow wrinkling may
be done to figure out where the line exists,
F .. luded. farmer). But any employee who
Ilrm operators are 1J1c h's is paid $100 or more during the
but a farm owner who re~ts ~ year is now to be reported annu-
~~ln. for cash or on shares 1S n~~ ally-not quarterly. Here is the
h ere may be borderlin c~sn newly-published schedule of ben-
A er that will create confUSIOy' efits:
Person will not have 10 pat'
however unless he is eligible 0 A. RETIREMENT BENEFITS
d' per Avg. Monthly Retired
raW payments when his pro Earnings Retired Worker
dat arrives. of After 1950 Worker And Wife
The farmer pays at the rate $ 60 ., 30.00 , 45.00
301 e 100.00 55.00 82.50
10 on his net farm incom - 150.00 68.50 102.80
grh~ income minus all eJCpenset~I' 200.00 78.50 117.80
T un 1 250.00 88.50 132.80
I 3% is to be in effect . to 300.00 98.50 147.80
1970. Then a raise is figur d In 350.00 108.50 162,80
the Percentage. The cost of the B. SURVIVORS BENEFITS
pro ram is expected to increase. Avg. Monthly
Th net income figure can be After 1950 or Widower 1 Child
used that is found on the inCome $ 50.00
$ 30.00 $ 46.00
41.30 82.50
tax form 1040F that the {armer i~g:gg 51.40 102.80
fills out each year. 200,00 58.90 117.80
250.00 66.40 132.80
73.90
F I'm operators who bave a ~~g:g8
147.80
81.40 162.80
gro income of $1800or leSSper Avg. Monthly
rea , may divide this gross f~gUl'ee Earnings Widow, 2
In alf and pay on that flgur After 1950 Children
~ath r than on actual net iJlCOm
6
$ 50.00 $ 50.00
If th y choose. If you had $1~0 ig~:~~ l~g:~g
sro income and half of it flg- 200.00 157.00
ures out as less than the ct~al ~gg:gg g~:gg
Widow, 3
Children
$ 50.00
82.50
120.00
160.00
200.00
200.00
200.00
net inc me found by sUbtrllCtI~1 350.00 200.00
exp nses, you can pay the SOc!a T
Secu ity tax on the small r flg- he farmer under 65 years of
ure.
age, who dies and leaves a widow
T be eligible at all, a !rmer and children under 18 years, will
has to have a gross income from leave them incomes as noted in
f . he the second schedule (B) abovearmIng
of at least $800-th en d if he has participated in the procoul
say that $400 was net, an.
pay n that amount. $400net is gram for 6 quarters or 1% years
th
e tninimum allowable inCOrne after January 1, 1955. This in-
in th program. On the $400the come remains while there are
farm r would pay $12 a year. children under 18 years. She
~e ight not owe any F deral would receive her widow's beneinco
tax, but still have to pay fits alone after she reaches the
on cial Security, age of 65 years.
Th maximum amount on
hi~ a farmer would pa)' is a
net Income of $4,200.This ,'ould
c? t him up to $126 a year S Social
cur it tax.
hange was made in th law
al 0 lating to coverage for farm
hand , The rate remains the arne
-at 1 ast until 1970 (2 0 from
t~e rm hand on wages p id to
him, 2% from the empl ymg
---- :::-
Farmers will need to study this
program to know exactly where
they stand. Michigan State College
Bulletin No. F189 "Social
Security for Farm Families" has
been sent to your discussion leader.
Each of you may obtain one
for yourself by applying to your
County Agricultural Agent. It
contains much of the basic information
that you will need for
ion Topics
ho Jl by your Slat Discussion Topic
'I f Cthe r sulls of the questioDDair. 1'.-
I e rom
y th Comus\lniiYFarm Bureaus.
rmers and the Social Security Prorm
Farm Commercial License
Detroit butcher says,
"My family would be
bard-pressed if WI
didn't bave
Blue Cross-Blue Shield!"
NIt'. when you fUNI4 Blu. Cro--
Blu. Shieldthat you find out what
wonderfulprotection it really ii,"
laft Mr. DIGaetano."Weneededit
thia 1UJl1meI'. My wifewu tat. to
the hospital unexpectedly• • • Ibe
wu there for88 daya.It COlt almoat
'2,200 just for the hOlpital part,
and our Blue CrOSlComprehtDalve
Contract eovered every bit of it.
BlueShieldpaid $277 to our doctor.
My family would be hard-pressed
If It weren't for Blu. Cr08l-
BlueShield."
Will ~our fl.lllJb' be the .,., I"
U&ru that will have • hoapltal bill
withina year? If 10, howwouldyou
pay it? Wouldn'tyou be • lot better
011with the kind of protectionthat
laved over $2,4'60for Mr. DiGaetano'.
family?That kind fathe Blue
CrossComprehensiveContract and
BlueShieldl
It's easy.to ftnd out howyou can
enjoyBlueCross- BlueShieldifOUP
protection for hospital and doctor
bills. A company with u few u 6
IDWl0yeeamaY cwalifY U • IlQUI).
Contact your nearest Blue
Cross - Blue Shield office,
County Farm Bureau Secretary,
or Grange.
stand that he can get aid in his
study of his Social Security Program
by getting Extension Bulle-
Farm Bureau Members: Have
you paid your membership dues Elden Smith
for 1955? Remember your County Coordi~ator of Farm Supply Rellllions
Farm Bureau Secretary must
have your dues by .January 15.
B. P. Pattison
1955, to protect your Blue Cross Coordinator of Commodity Relations
service, your Community Farm
Bureau Group roster status, and
Farm Bureau membership qualification
for Farm Bureau automobile.
farm liability. 1lD4 fire
wuzuce ••••••__ •• iIIiI••• ~~
c
until 1946. For the next two
years he was agricultural official
Use the present to plan your
future or you won't have one.
g a.-.. ..
·._----~--------~~---_._-----------;------------:------------=-:-;-----~----
your study. It was written for Then there are some folks 'who tin No. F189?
of the U. S. military government
you.
have paid for it over the years,
in Germany. He was recom-
Mexican Students
but who have a bit of pride in
2. What p of the Social Security
Program do you find it
vices by Dr. George Scareth of
Joh e.... on mended to Farm Bureau Ser-
Visit In Kalamazoo
Those who hope for great benefits,
from Social Security should
themselves even in their old age.
Suppose one works and earns
hardest to understand?
Through the Kalamazoo County
Farm Bureau Women's Com-
the American Farm Research
not set their hopes too high.
for himself $1500 without help
Farm Bureau folks over the years
3. Do the members know that ctg. gr. 0f Ass'n. •
mittee nine young women and
from the government. He has had
have raised some pointed objections
to the program that would
they can get an application for a
two young men students from
some ambition. The government Special Security number by applying
at their post office?
d · The Farm Bure u Oreed Mexico City were entertained for
bear some thought.
took his Social Security payments,
Plan 00 V. ·'1 have united with these a day at the farms of these members:
the Lawrence Rhoda'S,
Delegates' objections point out but he is penalized for being too
•
friends and Deighbors to enjoy a
that this is a socialization or nationalization
of the insurance busithly
government check.
ed acting manager of the Farm
ambitious. He gets a reduced mon-
, John Sexon has been appoint-
17 a AFBF eet
social hour, to study our common Schoolcraft; Harland Bennett's,
problems, to support through the Fulton; Muir Osborn's and Arch
ness. The government comes into
From Ich gan Bureau Services, Inc., Plant Food
'Farm Bureau folks have protested
against a program that Michigan Farm Bureau was
fort which is essential to the wel-
Farm Bureau lhe organized ef-
Thompson's, Scott; Fred Henson's,
Richland; Fred Gesch- /
Manufacturing 'Division while
unfair competition with the annuity
programs of private insurance
companies.
worthy incentive and ambition to Farm Bureau convention in New
takes from the individual his well represented at the American
Adolph E. Ecklund, manager, is
fare and prosperity of agriculture
wendt's, Walter VanAntwerp's,
on leave of absence due to illness.
The appointment was made
to the end tb t such cooperation
and Carl Bacon's of Kalamazoo.
While the subscriber decides do, With a private insurance York City Dec. 12-16 when 174
may provide a comfortable living
for my family, education for
The students are in Kalamazoo
whether or not he will insure program for which he has paid members made the trip. Michigan
was one of 16 states to be
by J. F. Yaeger, executive secretary
of FBS.
folks were invited to visit them
for a month. The Farm Bureau
with the private company, the over the years, he can work as
my children, and independence
in Mexico City.
government, n the other hand, much as he pleases and find life
honored for having exceeded its
Mr. Sexon has been superintendent
of the FBS plant food
•
for myoid age:'
gives him no choice. He must insure.
with his payments being lost.
interesting-it has nothing to do
1954 quota of the AFBF goal of
2,000,000members.
manufacturing plant at Saginaw.
• Correct It
He came to the plant in 1948 as
By this measure, the government
has taken over potential would rather die with their boots Irrigation
When you are packing sweat-
for more than their share of
And there are those folks who
•
Travel
Farm drivers are responsible
a foreman and later was promoted
to ass't superintendent,
customers that the private companies
might otherwise gain. daily uselessness.
ly as many uses as a farm trac-
on than to recline in a world of An irrigation system has nearers
for travel, fold in the sleeves auto and truck accidents, point
and superintendent.
and roll the sweaters to prevent out safety specialists.
He is a graduate of Purdue ridges. They take less space this
Private companies cannot use
QUESTIONS
university, the school of agronomy,
in 1942. He served in the ists at Michigan State College. To get the best concrete, Keep
•
way, too, advise clothing special-
Best Concreta
force in getting subscribers. I. Does every member under-
armed forces from graduation
•
it damp for five to seven days
tor, claim Michigan State College
agricultural engineers.
•
Courtesy is a coin that will
pass at par in any nation.
after you pour it, advice MSC
agricultural engineers.
Thirty-five years ago Farm -Bureau leaders and agricultural agents met at
what w then Mich-gan Agricultural College and organized Michigan Farm Bur-
, I
eau.
They
Iy spea
asatte
VICES."
had two primary objectives:
First, an organization that. might effectiveor
farmers in the State Legislature a at. the atlon's Capitol, as well
community and county level. Second, the organization of several "SO-
Today we can point ·to considefable progress .In this respect. Most of It with-
In the I t six years. Today we t~lk of the "FARM- BUREAU PACKAGE."
In this is included legislative activities, 'women's activities, youth
commu My groups, Blue Cross services, various Insurance services,
services, and general farm supplies services.
We look ahead with optimism and
Whenever Farm Bureau members and
Is testtf eCi to by their willingness to
,
programs,
petroleum
determination to further expand' services
~ooperators request It, and proof of this
finance and use the facilities.
The uture Is In our hands make It.
th'e ew
of your
J~F. YAEGER
for
ppiness for all and a 'full-
• • your world.
c. L. BRODY
E ecutive Secretary & Treasurer Executive Vice President
MICHIGAN FARM BUREAU FARM BUREAU SERVICES, INC•. FARMERS PETROLEUM COOPERA-
TIVE, INC.
Norwood Eastman
Keith A. Tanner
Manager Member Service Division Manager of Operations
S. M. Powell
Legislative Counsel
E. E. Ungren
Coordinator of Information
W. S. Hawley
Coordinator of Community Farm Bureau
Promotion
Norwood Eastman
Coordinator of Organization De~rtment
& .Junior Farm ~ureau
D. D.-Kinsey
Coordinator of Education & Research
Mrs. Marjorie Karker
Coordinator of Farm Bureau Women'.
Activities
Mrs. Marjorie Gardner
Coordinator of Records It County Office
Services
Boyd A. Rainey
Administrative Ass't to th
Executive Secretary
Miss Gladys Stevens
Assistant Secretary
G. F. Griswold
Assistant Treasurer
Leon S. Monroe
Comptroller
Edwin F. Steffen
General Counsel
Maynard Brownlee
Manager of Farm Supply Division
Archie Moore
Manager of Farm Equipment ·Division
W. Viclor Bielinski
Manager Internal Service Division
John Sexon
Acling Manager Fertilizer
Division
Manufacturing
Earl Huntley
Manager
Jack McKendry
Sales Department
Robert Bruegger
Traffic & Order Dep't
Claude Rasey
Business Service Dep't
Arlo Wasson
Field Promotion Dep·t
FARM BUREAU INSURANCE
COMPANIES
Farm Bureau ,Mutual Insurance Co.
Farm Bureau Life Insurance Co.
Nile L. Vermillion
Ass't Sec'y-Treas and Manager
R. P. Zemke
Ass't Mgr. for Casualty
William C. Conley
Ass't Manager for Life
James Rathbun
Ass'! Manager for Fire
Robert Wiseman
Controller
Robert Tobias
Administrative
.John Leary
Casualty Underwriter
.Jack Harris
Life Underwriter
Coordinator
.Jack Carpenter
Sup't Policyholder Service
Joseph Richard
Sup·! of Claims
Max Crosier
Tabulating SuperintendeD!
Inn Allison. Francis Bust, GleDDWallen
Agency Supervisor.