Vol. 33, No. 1 JA VARY 1, 1955 32nd e r • mure s e r • E ell mlth Dairy Festival Construction Ahead chedu e Is e ny Therapl Mrs. Euell Smith of Pontiac, Time Feb. 10-19 Z' known as the Farm Bureau Ther- apist, was honored at a dinner Dec. 1 and received her certifi- cate as a Kenny Therapist. Mem- February 1 0 to 19 will be Dairy Festival Time in bers of the Sister Kenny hospital for polio patients at Farmington Michigan to promote the consumption of all dairy pro- and members of the Farm Bureau ducts. Women's Committee attended ceremonies at Redford. Farm How effec ive this' can be was shown in Madison, Bureau women's groups through- NORWOOD E STMA out Michigan contributed to Mrs. Man g•..r of Membership Service Di i ion. M Wisconsin, May 7 to 15, 1954, when the newspapers Smith's education as a physical and grocers cooperated in a trerfiedous advertising and therapist. • The larg st Farm Bur au m mb r hip in th sales promotion oil dairy products. F or the eight day • of the organization-I,609,461 famili p rt period the Madison community consumed an extra 3,- 000,000 Ibs. of milk in dairy products. Farm reau as the Am rican Farm ureau F d rati n nd d its membership year on Nov mber 30. In Michigan the Farm Bureau, Grange, State College, Michigan Milk Producers Ass'n, Mid-West Michigan Services' ?5th The n w record for th 48 stat s marks the 16th year of st ady g in in numb r Producers Creameries and all parts of the dairy indus .. try will take part in the promotion. So will news- Yea· ts est effectiveness. J. F. Yaeger, executive sec- Ha ving Ie ding role in this 0 t andin papers, radio and television stations, grocers, restau- retary of Farm Bureau Services, Inc., of Lansing, farm supplies ship record w s the Michigan Fa m Bur au rants and other groups: cooperative, told representatives 981 families. h second state to r a hits Michigan State College has requested county agr'I of 1 00 shareho ders at the .~ 25th annual meeting at Kellogg 1954 marked the fifth consecutive y ar th t agents to create county dairy committees to assist in THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 27 they were laying face bzick for the front of the Farm Bureau Center Dec. 9 that the organiz- has b en honored for ither bing first or s promoting the festival. office building now under construction at 4.000 North Grand River avenue. which is US-16 ation distributed $20,793,000 west of Lansing. The concrete floors have been laid. All of the steel work is up and ready worth of farm supplies the past achieving this honor. The Farm Bureau is requesting the dairy committee for roofing soon. The sidewalls of the 200 by 240 feet structure are up about halfway. Alum- year. Fif een other states w re also honor d for h vmg and a member of the Women's Committee of each inum window frames are going in for walls th at will be about two-thirds window space. Con- Farm Bureau Services has had struction is well ahead of schedule. Unless there is some delay. the building should be ready a tremendous growth in the past reached the 1954 AFBF goal. Th y w re lab m , County Farm Bureau to serve on the County Dairy for occupancy about April 1. 1955. ten years, Mr. Yaeger said. In Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, OUI- Festival committee. Members of the state Farm Bur .. the last few years he said far- mers have invested $3,500,000 in siana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New M xi 0, North Everett Young to eau staff will assist at the state level. The American Dairy Association has made available Work in Thailand Farmers January "Farmers and the Social Se- the facilities and inventories of Carolina, Oklahoma, Farm Bureau fertilizer plants at T enn ssee, V rmont, and yom .. Everett J. Young, assistant sec- Saginaw and Kalamazoo. The ing. to Michigan newspapers paper pages of advertisements and grocers some 16 news- to promote the sale and retary of the Michigan Ass'n of Farmer Cooperatives, has receiv- Petroleum curity Program" Community Farm Bureau discussion topic for January will be presented plant are supplying farmers with 100,000 tons of high analyse-s,,' granulated fertilizers a year. I M· hi IC igan s t lOU an s 0 d all feel a sense of accomplishmnent f I vo unteer work r sho Id in this recor h y ed an appointment from the For- use' of dairy products during the festival. material will be available lor radio and television sta .. Appropriate eign Operations Administration of the U. S. government as co- operative organization advisor to Record in '5 over these television stations. Jan. 5, WKAR-TV, Michigan State College, Channel 60 UHF, The Farm Bureau reported that its sale of field seeds reach- are di ed an all time high of 7,000,000 vious Roll Calls. I ibl f h I irect y responsi e or t e sp n I succ SS 0 did f re- tions. the government of Thailand. Mr. Earl Huntley, manager of the 8:30 p.m.; Jan. 12, WNEM-TV, pounds in 19 4. and Mrs. Young will leave for Farm Petroleum Cooperative, Bay City, Channel 5, 1:00 p. m.; The present membership campaign off rs Mi hig ri' Bangkok January l. Inc., of Lansing told shareholders Jan. 22, WOOD-TV, Grand Ra- Farm Bureau Promotes Mr. Young will be on leave of absence from the Michigan Farm at the 6th annual meeting at pids, 12:30 p.m.; Jan. 31, WPAG- Michigan State College Dec. 10 TV, Ann Arbor, 7:00 p.m. that their organization had set a • loyal workers an opportunity and a chall nge to g In be the first state in the nation to achieve AFBF 0 1. Bureau. He has been employed The prospects are there ; the need for farm organiz ti Keith •A. Tanner and Norwood Eastman have been there since 1940. He is a graduate new record in 1954 by distrib- at Kills promoted to new responsibilities in the Michigan Farm of Michigan State College and uting 28,202,664 gallons 0 auto- mobile and tractor fuels to far-' s·'y is gr ater today than ever b fore; the Farm Bur u was at (me time a field represen- Want to get rid of those cat fills this need. Invite your neighbor. to joen Bureau organization, effective january I. The pro- tative for the Farm Bureau in mers. tails in your drainage ditches next motions were announced December 28 by J. F . Yaeger, the south central area of the On the year's operations. Mr. summer? state. Huntley reported that the organ- The job's easy with executive secretary. Mr . Tanner has been promoted from Manager of Whel~e YOUI- • ization had returned $149,000 in chemical called dalapon, patronage dividends to patrons ing to a Michigan State who are shareholders. weed control specialist. We're More than alf the Member Service Division of MFB to be Manager of Operations for F arm Bureau Services, Inc. This is a County Stands B. H. Grigsby, who conducted extensive tests in the Thumb last summer, recommends about 20 Way to 1955 Goal new post in the cooperative farm supplies service. of pounds of the chemical in 100 The Michigan Farm Bureau Roll Call for 1955 is gallons of water for good control. the F arm Bureau. In Roll Call • well over the half way mark. The December 20 r .. This table shows the position of Michigan County Farm Bureaus Elect S oman port from the County Farm Bureaus totaled 37,638 memberships. This is 570/0 of the state goal of 65,918. December 20 with respect to how near they were to attaining 100% of the membership goals they President of MARTEN GARN, re-elected president 0 Farm Bureau Ser- vices, Inc., is a dairy farmer and 0 testate Of this total, 3,301 are new members. f h' b s new mem er goa 0 I flO 258 , This IS 32 ~~ • have set for themselves for 1955. The annual Roll Call for mem- bership got underway November 29. F ·F bhreeder Of pure bred Yorkshire ogs a t Charlotte R-5, Eaton 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 . . Charles B. Shuman of Sullivan, has been a member of the Farm the drive. Berrien mailed 139 new memb rship to TOTAL % OF 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 Maynar d Brownlee. manager of . 3 Bay 1,510 1,M2 88 the 36th annual meeting at New 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 Mr. Shuman succeeds Allan B. that sale of 46,000 tons of poultry I hi h fbI h d f 6 St. Joseph 7 Berrien 1,094 847 77 2,397 1,735 72 and livestock feed concentrates; 19 ~st percentage 0 new mem er goa at teen 0 Kline of Vinton, Iowa as the 8 All .gan 2,161 1,527 71 head of the American Farm Bur- set a new record. He explained the first week. Cheboygan reported 42 new members 9 Branch 1,691 1,131 71 10 Waaht enaw 1,620 1,143 71 eau, which has a membership of that when farmers mixed the I 21 0 (/ f' lB' . d I . h 11 Tu cola 1,871 1,296 69 THOMAS KONING. elected concentrate feeds with home: or /( 0 Its goa. enzie was In secon p ace WIt 12 Sanilac 2,138 1,463 68 1,609,000farm families. 13 Macomb 1,162 777 67 president of Farmers Petroleum grown grains, there would be a' 21 new members or 150 ~ of its new member goal of 14 Oakland 15 N. W. Michigan 1,145 1,065 763 67 712 67 Cooperative, Inc., is engaged in total of 200,000 tons of Farm . Bureau formula feeds at the 14. Close behind In thud place came St. . . J osep WI h wi h 16 Montmorency 1 6 125 67 general farming on 240 acres at 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 Archie Moore. manager of the ties will receive trophies at the annual victory party 20 Ottawa 1,567 957 61 and is a long time member of As Manager of Operations, Mr. ber Services for our organization 21 Lap er 1,61 975 60 the Farm Bureau. farm equipment division, re- Tanner will have over-all re- of 63,000 farm families. 22 Kalamazoo 1,212 769 60 ported that Farm Bureau now in the spring. sponsibility for accomplishing . 23 Presque Isle 24 Ingham 470 1,171 2 3 UO 696 59 The farmer has become a major has $21,000,000 of tractors farm Still to be decided are the races for the thre trophi Mr. Tanner has been employed customer for any petroleum com- the annual manufacturing and 25 Emm t 309 179 5 pany, said FPC president Ward machinery, and farm ele~trical sales goals of Farm Bureau Ser- by Michigan Farm Bureau since 26 Gratiot 1,497 854 67 equipment in service pn Mich- which go to the counties which report highest perc nt .. 27 Calhoun 1,544 865 \)6 G. Hodge of Snover. Since World vices. He will work with and as- 1939. He started as district mem- 28 Barry 1,255 698 56 igan farms. I h h bership representative in Gene- 29 Ogemaw 388 216 55 War I, said Mr. Hodge, the num- Mr. Yaeger said that manu- age of overall goal by January 15, as we 1 as t e t r e sist the men in charge of three 30 Charlevoix 3 3 209 55 ber of farm tractors and trucks Farm Bureau Services operating see, Lapeer and Oakland counties. 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 divisions; Maynard Brownlee, 33 Clinton 1,5~2 848 63 operations have become mech- Bureau Services now include manager of the Farm Supplies state office as director of Com- 34 Osc ola 6 7 362 53 fertilizer factories at Kalamazoo the highest percentage of their 1954 memb rs. munity Farm Bureau groups and 35 Antrim 475 254 53 anized. Farm consumption of Division; Archie Moore, manager petroleum fuels is up nine times. aD:d Saginaw and a major, feed district representative for Eaton, 36 Wayn 595 311 52 of the Farm Equipment Division; ~I1lllat Hammond, Indiana, which and John Sexon, acting manager of the Plant Food Manufactur- Ingham and Shiawassee counties. After service in World War II, he became director of organiza- 37 Isabella 3 M costa 39 Midland 40 Genes e 1,206 837 621 1,491 601 50 419 50 312 50 740 49 Farmers are shifting rapidly to oil for heating their homes. Farmers Petroleum Coopera- IS operated in partnership oth~r ~arm Bureau supply or- with Oc ana G OUpS ing division. . 41 Ionia 1,302 643 49 gamzatIOns. The Farm Bureau "The principal reason for creat- ing the new position of Manager tion for Michigan Farm Bureau, and was promoted to director of field services, and in 1~'!Y3to 42 Missaukee 43 Oceana 44 Manistee 45 Van Buren 456 765 291 1,933 222 49 367 48 13 48 922 47 tive now has an interest in 175 producing wells in Michigan, Indiana and Illinois, and owns or CHARLES B~SHUMAN Services field and garden seeds plant is at Lansing. ua OJ f r Mr. Kline told the convention G on • e of Operations for Farm Bureau manager of the member service 46 Kent 1,600 754 47 controls a daily production of Two-hundred representatives 47 Gladwin 413 197 47 about 1,200 barrels, Mr. Huntley that he was resigning as presi- Services," said Mr. Yaeger, "is to division. 48 Hillsdale 1,549 720 46 of stockholders were informed enable the executive secretary to 49 Arenac 426 199 46 said. This less than half the re- dent because his health had not that the distribution system of Mr. Eastman came to the Mich- 50 Clare 200 93 46 quirements of the business. been good of late. His doctor had devote his time to long-range 51 Lenawee 1,643 709 44 informed him that he could not Farm Bureau Services is made Oceana County Farm Bureau planning and the correlation of igan Farm Bureau in August, 52 Jackson 1,154 516 44 up of 300 farmer cooperative qualified for Group Life Insur- 53 Cass 974 435 44 Shareholders were informed continue to carry the schedule activities of all the Farm Bureau 1950 as director of the Junior elevators and other dealers. ance on December 17 with nine Farm Bureau. Before that he was 54 Muskegon 526 233 44 that in six years Farmers Pe- required of the president of the companies. 55 Wexford 300 ·130 43 troleum Cooperative, Inc., has be- American Farm Bureau. Mr. Marten Garn of Char lotte community Farm Bureaus enroll- active in Jr. FB in Tuscola county 56 Eaton 1,4 7 62 42 "Up to this time the executive 57 St. lair 1,460 604 42 come one of the largest inde- Shuman was elected unanimously was re-elected president, and ing 303 members in the plan. secretary for all Farm Bureau in the early 1940's. In 1945he was 5 ...Jontcalm 1,130 46 41 Ivan Parsons of Grand Blanc was county Farm Bureau organiza- 59 Shtawassee 1,1 7 4 0 40 pendent suppliers of petroleum to serve the one year remaining This brings the total enroll- companies has also been manager 60 Kalka ka 102 40 39 products to Michigan farmers. of Mr. Kline's term of office. re-elected vice-president by the ment in Farm Bureau's Group of Farm Bureau Services, Inc. tion director for Huron and Tus- 61 ewaygo 738 276 37 new board of directors. cola counties, and helped organ- 62 Huron 1,997 695 35 Mr. Huntley said that farmers Charles B. Shuman is a grain Life Plan to 957 members in its Now the Michigan Farm Bureau, 63 Ots go 134 45 33 and their cooperative oil com- and livestock farmer from central Ren A. DeRuiter of McBain first year. Previously, Barry Farm Bureau Services, Inc., the ize Community Farm Bureaus. was elected to the board of di- In June, 1953, he was promoted panies have $965,000 invested in Illinois. He has served 9 years county had enrolled 654 members Farm Bureau Insurance Com- TOTALS • 65,918 37,638 57% the co pany. Earnings of the as president of the Illinois Farm rectors to succeed Carl E. Bus- in the first attempt ever made to panies and Farmers Petroleum to head the Organization and kirk, retired. These directors Junior Farm Bureau depart- Company for the six years total Bureau of 201,000 members. He present group life insurance to Cooperative, Inc., each have a ments. Got Out Vote $769,000. has been a member of the AFBE' were re-elected: Peter H. De- rural people. manager who reports to the exec- Weerd of Hudsonville, Marten utive secretary" • R. B. 'McKinley of Grant, rep- resenting the Newaygo County Attending the annual meeting board of directors since 1945. He were representatives of 65 far- was president of his County Farm Garn, Char~o~te; Ward G. Hodge, The Farm Bureau Group Life Norwood Eastman, coordinator Ilk Farm Bureau, presented a set of mers oil companies and individ- Bureau when elected to the Ill- Snover; Phillip Holzhausen, Cor- unna; Blaque Knirk, Quincy; Plan originated with our Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company. of the Organization Department We consumed more than 12 books to the seventh grade pupils ual stockholders. inois Farm Bureau board in 1941. Ivan Par-sons, Grand Blanc; Al- It is patterned after the the group and the Junior Farm Bureau De- 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 partment of Michigan Farm Bur- But many adults, as well as chil- were given for collecting the elected president, and Kenneth acres and supervises the operation Elton R. Smith, Caledonia. most people who work in indus- dren, should drink more for a O. Johnson of Freeland was of tenants on another 550 acres. eau, succeeds Mr. Tanner as manager of the Division of Mem- better diet. most "get out the vote" stickers during the recent election. (Continued on Page 2) He has a commercial Angus herd. • Buy Farm Bureau Feed. try. It offers $1~000of i e insu - ance to members and their MICHIe; EWS OFFICERS u eau , 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 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. We thank Thee for the year just past. It was a prosperous one. By Thy kind help we have amassed a wealth of work and sun. .................... Editor PURPOSE OF FARM OFFICERS of the American Farm Bureau Federation for 1955 TIt>pre.·nting We thank Thee. Lord, for beads of sweat instead of tears of gall. Associate Editor BUREAU are: Walter L. Randolph (left) vice-president. of Montgomery, WOMEN OF FARM BUREAU Be ours the strength to labor yet, before the night shall fall. The purpose of this Assccta . Irs. 'arlton D.I1................ lbton, £'-1 Alabama: Mrs. Haven Smith. chairman of the AFBF Womt!n's tion shall be the advancement of our members' in~rests edu- We thank Thee too for health and friends; for liberty and peace. Committee. of Chappell, Nebraska: Charles B. Shuman, president, cationally, legislatively, and Vol. 3 January 1, 1955 No.1 economically. on Thy blessed mercy never ends: nor shall our praises cease. of Sullivan. Illinois. We feel Thy kindness as a dome, protecting us from harm, And sense Thy power in every home: Thy hand on every farm. Fr eland; Fred King, Blissfield; Elwell-Sumner Hoxie. Blaque Knirk, Quincy; Thomas Owen ale-Roland Gettel. Community We thank Thee for Thy Holy Word, and may we ever seek Us comfort when the day is hard and we are tired and weak. Direct us through: the comi year, our hearts are prone to stray. 11'.. Shiawassee Tel'l sa Proudfoot, Antrim Koning, Richland. Marne; Russell E. Hazel,' Shelby-No Akron-Harrison J. Fox & Son. • Forshee. ' group, ITY. Community Farm~ Bureau But by Thy help and in Thy fear we yet shall keep Thy way. So may we do each one his part that this good soil may be By every tongue: in every heart: the homeland of the free. ~1rl:;.0 'car Davls\ B nnington group, Owosso. Mr. group, Y le. Birdema St. Clair .urown, Brockway ew 0 tlets Bureau wards In order to win a Star Awards Coordinator WESLEY S. HAWLEY of Community Farm Bureaus for MFB Lord, bless Thy children everywhere. Transfuse our souls again, That f ..Ir. Leon Gordon, Tyrone Hills group, Hillsdale. ,-, group, I·'enton. l\lrs. Gladys King. \Y.lght Twp. .drs. Mary • liller, Unadilla group, group, Vi'aldron. tockbridg . onsider the time s ved in 1\1rs. Florenc \Ve. tphal, West Cen- t r group, P nton, barn chores when you have a Beach },oIl'S. C. P. It ed, 'V "t Marlon group, concrete paved barnyard and Howell. group, .lr '. Ii e Canfield, West Handy n1tary floors in the dairy group, l!'owl rville. Bingh m Macomb barn. t i easy to see where 11'.. :Madeline Dou"la ,Davi group, oner te dairy improvements ntral al:3hington. Mr '. Julius braham, Lenox Center lp r duce the co t of pro- 'roup, Richmond. ucing quality milk. An ea y- )<11'8.Lewis Kitley, • eade group, )It. I m n", to-keep-clean concrete mil Mrs. Halph Beaufait, _ orth Avenue group, .\-It. Clem n'. ou e and a milk coolin tank Irs. Harry Tincknell, Orchard 1 0 help do better job. group, Rom o. • Ir. .\loni Livermor, Ray Cent I' Fir af, anitary, concrete group. !tomeo. , II' . Edwin Blackman, 700th group. improv ment co t little to Richmond. build, last for generations. Pleasanton f ou need help see your on rete contractor, ready i d concrete producer or uil in material d aler. TIro ks, TRACTOR PARTS MICHIGA NEWS Baby chicks hatch every day in full view of thousands of visitors, in the ill useum of Science and I ndus- try in Chicago. It' 8 one of many interesting features of Swift' 8 dramatic exhibit FOOD FOR LIFE • • I 1\ •. • I • 'I' ~...., •.... "r. ~ . . '. , \. " . • • .Take eople to t a ~ Here's the new way of taking folks "out to the farm" ... to drive home mighty important facts about the complicated farmers and ranchers and meat packers. We would like you to show them the important part that farms and farmers play in job of producing food which many folks "take for granted." see it, too. Whenever you are in Chicago, stop in at the Mu- their lives. For both the farm and city consumer, FOOD FOR LIFE seum of cience and Industry - visit FOOD FOR LIFE. We. Actually, it doesn't take city folks to a real farm. Instead, stresses right eating and good nutrition. After all, "hen people believe you'll like it. they see Swift's exhibit-s-soon FOR LIFE. We've called it FOOD know more about right eating they will be better buyers of the FOR LIFE because it tells about the business you and we are in. foods that contribute to health, strength and longer life. And, The story begins with the soil-it ends with healthy, happy, this will create a bigger demand for your products. SWIFT & COMPA and well-fed people ..AIl sorts of moving and "talking" displays We think this is a good way to make friends in the city-for UNION STOCK YARDS. CHICAGO, ILLINOIS Each day more than 5,000 visitors from all over the country see this dra- The story begins here-with the soil, and how farmers must carefor it to Animals always fascinate city people. Many are genuinely amazed at the matic story of farming, food, and right eating. psoduce the food for the people of America .. scientific know-how that farmers must have. NUTRITION' IS OUR BUSINESS JANUARY I. 19S5 •floor to protect him against dan- the 30's was a mere 2,950 fam- them into effect, they would have gerous d cline of income. It was to be an uphill fight. In the political battle that now iles with a low in 1933 of only 1,542. It should not be assumed that oultry arketing been the strictest controls ever imposed on our fann people. "By September changed cir- r shaped up, sound economics were forgotten. Congress and the Government bureaus pushed to- the program was at a standstill during this time. Even before the 30's departments for serving erative OatHemlock cumstances made it possible to eliminate the total acreage allot- ment requirement from the 1955 DONALD D. KINSEY ward a larger farm control em- membership had been developed pire, or ought to curry votes by program. Coordinator of Education and Research for MFB by the Michigan Farm Bureau. B. P. PATTISON "Congress had passed the Agr'I increa ing the "give-away" pro- At the very outset in 1919, the the installation of the large freez- provide working cap al that wiU i th s cond of a eri of articles that will appear in the gram in anticipation of the next er. The corporation assumed pos- permit the cooperative to pur- Act of 1954, moving toward price members had established their The Commodity Department Michigan F rm ew during th next few months. Their purpose election. state board of directors, and ad- session of the plant on October 1 chase live products for process- flexibility and greater freedom of i to d velop a b tter und rstanding of the Farm Bureau. of the Michigan Farm Bureau has ing. Producers of broilers, fryers, operation. There was lillIe need for the ministrative staff, a membership given considerable help in the or- and time. has operated it since that turkey growers, farm flock and "Congress had also enacted the ur rm ur au house was not built in a day. At support program itself before the department, a records depart- ganization of the Michigan Poul- ment, a publicity dep't and a hatchery owners will be contact- Trade Development Act which try Marketing Cooperative at Processing operations since the this writing we are in the fourth decade of its con true- 1950's. The coming of the Korean legislative dep't. Hemlock, Saginaw county, in the first of October were mostly con- ed throughout the state. gave us new opportunity to move war, too, in 1950, kept farm our accumulated surplus farm tion and building is still in progress. For a building of prices up for a couple of years hope of developing a better mar- fined to turkeys, since the pro- Membership is invited from all In 1920. they set up a Seed keting program for the poultry duction in the state was in sur- commodities into consumption sources in Michigan interested in thi typ , complete plans could not be made in advance. and avoided a showdown with Department. and in 1922 a Feed producers of the state. plus and the outlook for market- providing a better market for all abroad. the farmer on real production Department. These were ex- The idea came from resolutions ing not favorable. The Coopera- "In add i t ion, a spreading Th plans had to be altered occasionally to meet changes controls. poultry products. panded in 1925 to become the presented to the delegate body of tive in starting so quickly was It is apparent that the next few drought which at. its peak em- Farm Bureau membership Seed Service and the Supply braced 949 counties in 18 states in the course of history. grew constantly under the fight Service. Then in 1929 these ser- the Michigan Farm Bureau mem- confronted with many obstacles, months will be extremely diffi- bership requesting that the Farm one of which was the lack of cult for the poultry industry from not only reduced this year's crop During these thirty - five years are to be found the it was waging over this issue of vices were merged and incorpo- Bureau, Michigan State College freezing facilities which placed a the marketing standpoint. Devel- yields, but also made it impera- high supports. The issue emerged rated to form the Farm Bureau and the Department of Agricul- very definite limit on the amount tive that iarmers in the stricken ucc ss s and mistakes that normally go into the build- into the clear as one between opment of additional marketing Services Inc. ture give some assistance in de- of live products that could be areas be given every opportunity channels are therefore a must ing of a house. Some of the foundations proved strong tem a free enterprise capitalist sys-. 1926 ~aw the Michigan Farm veloping a better market for processed daily. with present production. to make a recovery. and one of state socialism Bureau become a state agency poultry producers. and firm. In other cases there were rooms that had to in the early 50's. fpr the State Farm Mutual Insur- r Since the installation of the Buyers of live poultry in the ··This combination of events Farmers are businessmen who ance Company with an Insurance The Farm Bureau called a blast freezer about the middle of state are becoming less in num- enabled us to eliminate the total b torn down or reframed so as to be strong enough to Department to direct the work. meeting of poultry producers November, the plant has been in ber as the months go by. Pro. acreage controls. wea ther economic storms. own their property and work their But actual member-participation from several counties, represen- a position to expand its opera- ducers who plan on staying in the "Simultaneously with the re- lands to earn a profit. For gen- programs were as yet to appear. tatives of the Michigan State Col- tions and turn out an excellent business we believe should give laxing of restrictions, I anno'~mc- The n wly - born Farm Bureau in the 1920's had a erations they have planned and lege and the Department of Agri- product. Some 2,000,000pounds serious thought toward develop- ed the 1955 level of price support produced according to their own The membership picture show- culture on July 16 to discuss the of turkey meat in addition to ing a better market. large ta k before it. To be effective it must gain the for oats, barley, rye and grain free decisions. The threat to ed some improvement in the last ways and means of assisting some broilers and fowl has been Livestock producers have fi- this freedom by a system that I half of the 30's. And a number sorghums at 70 per cent of parity. r cogmtion of other economic groups and political poultrymen. This meeting was processed and sold as frozen pro- nanced their own marketing fa- Price support for various of these began to say the "Profit Motive" of new programs appeared on the followed by a state-wide meeting ducts. his amount of turkeys cilities. We believe the poultry parties. Business and labor organizations were already was evil - a socialist system horizon. Membership averaged grains has fluctuated between 35 of 100 poultrymen at St. Louis taken off the live market has had producers can be depended upon and 85 per cent of parity during pow rful. that would police their produc- about 7200 families in these five July 29. ' to do likewise when they fully tion - caused many to return years. A Farm Machinery Dep't a stabilizing influence on the the past 15 years. The possibilities of acquiring price of turkeys to all producers appreciate the program and oper- "Seventy per cent of parity B farmers lacked an ffectively - organized spokes- to Farm Bureau as a means of was formed. processing facilities for live poul- regardless of how or where they ations of the marketing coopera- fighting this danger. The Community Farm Bureau will be approximately the same try was discussed wth Mr. Grant were sold in the state. tive at Hemlock. man. Neither of the major political parties was willing But the government bureaus program was started in 1936. Hess of St. Louis who owned as the price support for corn in had become powerful and Con- This program laid the ground- the non-commercial areas. to recognize farm problems as being important to our such processing plant at Hem- It is admitted that the coopera- g n r I economy. It was very difficult to get an audi- gress was weak and controls work for one of the best member- came inevitably. High rigid participation programs in the lock, Michigan. A committee was tive has rendered a remarkable appointed to develop a proposi- service particularly to the turkey Benson Tells "The great~r price flexibility permitted by this action will be price controls were continued in- country. It has gained the re- tion with Mr. Hess for the pur- industry while operating under ence before state or national political committees. When farm people did get a hearing their pleas fell on relative- to 1953 - in peacetime - for spect of adult educators every- the Korean armistice had been where, and has been copied by signed. other state Farm Bureaus. chase of these facilities and this some adverse conditions as to committee reported back to a time and equipment. The frozen second state-wide meeting held product has been of a high quali- Why Controls of help to hard pressed dairymen and poultrymen who buy those feeds. ly deaf ears. "In 1954 producers of feed In the latter part of the 20's this picture began to The incentive payments help- The early 1940's began a period ed to create a bumper crop of of rapid growth and expansion at St. Louis on August 13 and ty and has enjoyed an excellent were at that time authorized to acceptance on the market. proceed with the purchase of the returns to the producers have Net Were Relaxed grain mcreased their production by 10-million acres. change. It became evident to national leaders that ag- wheat in 1953 and staggering in membership and programs. "It is clear that farmers desire surpluses developed. It became The war brought better farm facilities at Hemlock. been better than anticipated. . to hqld production of feed grains riculture had led a collapse in the economy by sharply necessary to invoke the control prices. New participation pro- at a high level in 1955.It is neces- falling farm incomes. For the first time in 1927 and laws to cut production on wheat. grams and member services were sary to set price supports at a Farmers were asked to vote to ·developed. The average mem- level which while giving effective 1928 Congress passed bills sponsored by Farm Bureau, accept or reject marketing quotas bership from 1940 to 1944 was support, will also permit the for their 1954 crops. 16,300 with the numbers in- great bulk of these feed crops to only to have them vetoed by the President. Surpluses and the loss of ex- creasing rapidly. 1942 saw the· move into use, In 1929 the Pre ident signed the first important agri- port markets had begun to drop Blue Cross hospitalization plan l'As we adjust our price sup- farm prices seriously in 1953. offered to members through cultural bill to aid the farmer. It was the Federal Agri- The government held a tremen- Community Farm Bureau groups. ports realistically, it is possible dous surplus that could be turn- In 1943 the Farm Bureau helped to relax our controls. At 70 per, cultural Marketing Act. It was not a solution to farm ed loose on the market at any to organize the Michigan Asso- cent of parity for feed grains, the problems, but it was a step in the direction of growing time. It was a potential threat ciation of Farmer Cooperatives. Commodity Credit Corporation to the free market price. Far- From 1945 to 1949 the growth will support the market rather strength. And it afforded a basis out of which more con- mel'S were "over a barrel." Re- continued at a goodly pace. The than become the market. structive programs could be developed. jection of the marketing quota five year average was 40,600 MODERN PROCESSING PLANT of Michigan Poultry Market- "For the year ahead, I believe meant a drop in support levels families. A peak was reached ing Cooperative at Hemlock. A recent addition to the facilities is the outlook is generally good- Some sharp contrasts d veloped for flexible price supports on to 50% of parity - a disaster in' 1947 at 48,100 with a tem- both for agriculture and the Na- in the decade of the 1930's. The basic crops. These supports were price. In the face of falling porary drop in 1948 due to an a $75,000blast freezer which will freeze 100,000pounds of poullry daily to 45 below zero. tion. Business activity is at the nation r ognized the importance to range from 52% to 75% of farm prices they voted for the increase in dues from $5 to O. highest level in our history. This of agriculture as a major factor parity in relation to the degree quotas. The dues increase was to pro- assures continuing strong demand in our economic health. Other of surplus of the supported crop. In the year of 1954 the compli- vide for an expanded program. It was apparent that if any I _Looking. Ahead in Pbmt Ope!a- help was to be given to the tur- bons. WIth turkey marketing for the products of our farms. groups became concerned over This Act crowned Farm Bureau's cations of the control program Agricultural products are likely the farmer's problem. And Farm second decade. began to appear. The extent of Numerous programs and ser- key producers, we would have to problems ~omewhat out of the act quickly. Accordingly 18 way for this season, the process- to be somewhat higher." Bureau leaders found it easier The 40's were a war decade. the controls over production on vices were developed during the farmers agreed to advance $75- ing facilities are now available At the American Farm Bureau's • to get support for the develoP-, The extremely high demand up- a farm are broader than most last half of the 1940's. 1945 saw OOO-the money to be used f;r for broiler, fryers and farm flock ment of a needed farm program. on agriculture for its products persons realized. Rules requiring the beginning of the program for the immediate installation of a producers. They are confronted 36th annual meeting at New York Dec. 14-16, Secretary of Agricul- Farmer's Future "cross-compliance" became part the Farm Bureau Women, the Is Up to Him Congressional com mit tee s kept farm prices high. Supports ture Ezra T. Benson predicted a of the law. They begin to put Research and Information De- large blast freezer having a daily wit.h marketing problems just as opened their doors and listened. on the basic crops rarely had to good year ahead for agriculture their finger on the farmer's total partment, the Commodity Rela- capacity to freeze 100,000 lbs. of serIOUSas were those of the tur- Dr. Kenneth Hood of the The Federal Agricultural Mar- be used at all. Prices stayed production. tions Department, and the Legal poultry products to a temperature key produ~e:s. It ha~ been ~x- and the nation as a whole. He ex- AFBF told an audience of over keting Act was followed by the above support levels. In fact, of 45 degrees below O. The 18 in- tremely dlfflCUI~ to fmd a hve plained how crop controls were 500 Shiawassee county farmers stablishment of the AAA pro- farm prices rose by leaps and Allotments on all supported Division. crops must be conformed to in In 1946 construction was start- corporators held a meeting and market for broilers and fryers relaxed for 1955. Mr. Benson at Owosso high school October gram in 1933. Rigid supports on bounds. Under the needs of the elected a board of directors and and also farm flocks that have said: 28, that "Where We Go From furm prices at 52% of parity war a new use for support prices order to collect the supports on ed on the first fertilizer factory set up the organization of the outlive~ their usefulness for egg "Last spring before Congress Here in Agriculture Depends on the critical crop. Penalties must in Saginaw. The Personnel were established. emerged. Federal funds were Michigan Poultry Marketing Co- production. . _ adopted the basis for a sound You." The object was mainly to ad- used to increase production be paid for overproduction, even Dep't was also organized that operative Inc. Buyers of live poultry are not farm support program, there if the farmer plans to feed the year. Dr. Hood challenged the farmer just production so .as to main- rather than to reduce it. Talk Membe~s of the board of direc- availabl~ .and processing plants in seemed to be a possibility that to work through his extension tain a firm market price at pro- was about "incentive and com- excess to his livestock. And all 1949 marked the incorporation t . larger cities are going out of bus- farmers are subject to the quotas rigid, high price supports might program and Farm Bureau organ- fitabl levels. These supports pensatory" payments rather than and controls whether they choos of the Farmers Petroleum Co- ors are. . iness. To improve this market continue for the 1955 crops. Rigid ization for a self-help program. were to be paid out of a pro- production control payments. operative, Inc., and the Farm Marshall MIchaels, Alma; ~er-. situation, it is obvious that large to be or not. price supports must be accom- If good markets are provided ccssing tax, but the plan was One marked effect of this phil- Bureau Mutual Insurance Com- n.al Burke, Branch; Grant Ging- numbers of poultry must be di- panied by rigid controls. ruled unconstitutional by the osophy was to change the public Thus with the first real en- nc~, Barryton; Luthe.r Klager, verted into frozen channels. through research and export, the pany of Michigan. The auto- Bridgewater; John Chilson, Ma- U.S. Supreme Court in 1936. attitude from one of sympathy croachment of the control pro- mobile insurance pro g r am son; Maurice Lee, Deckerville; "Accordingly, we announced price support will take care of for the farmer to one of envy gram over their farm operations, The poultry processing plant the intention to require cross itself. brought an immediate drop in Under arm Bureau sponsor- for his prosperity. Farm Bureau people faced a pro- rates to farmers by all companies Milton Thayer, Deckerville; Ken- facilities at Hemlock now cooper- compliance with a total acreage hip I Congress then 'enacted the blem of growing proportions. netb' Jenkins, Attica; and Max atively owned by the farmer pro- allotment as conditions necessary in the southern peninsula of Gray, Lake. Everyone knows of the success 011 Con '.tv tio an Domestic As a result of the changing Seer tary Ben on' d cision i Michigan. ducers are .,in positio to, ender to 'pr.ice stLPort.. ... "', ' of a man - but few know his Allotment Act, and large Con- public attitude, the farmers again December that "cross-compli- Continued growth of the mem- The board of directors elected a valuable marketing service. The "Had it been necessary to put struggles to win it. gressional appropriations became had to put up a serious battle ance" could be dropped for 1955 bership program during the Marshall Michaels president, Max facilities formerly owned by necessary to carry the program. to receive consideration for their was a welcome relief on the is- early 1950's in spite of dropping Because the crop control fea- program in Congress. Opposition sues surpluses and crop control. farm prices indicates the grow- tui s of this Act were without groups began to stand against far- ing health of the organization IT PAYS force, a new AAA measure was mers' organizations. Other eco- embersh p and the worth of its services to TO CONSULT enacted in 1938 to replace the nomic groups now wanted a Membership History. Growth the farmer. The five year aver- ' 1936 program. Within the 1938 "say" in how the farm program in the membership of the Michi- age is about 52,500 families with measure was the first provision should be set up: gan Farm Bureau has been a a peak reached in 1954 of 62,981 A Professional It was an era in which Farm product of a number of things families. Membership goals have Bureau membership more than since its beginning in 1919. As been reached in record time dur- doubled nationally - and quad- we have pointed out, without a ing this period. rupled in Michigan. During this doubt the major farm issues have time the level of flexible price had much to do with it in the New programs developed dur- supports was adjusted by law later years. In the early years, ing this period include the for- to the level of 75% to 90% of however, there were ups and mation of a new Farm Supply parity as a possible protection downs. Department in 1950, the Life against a severe decline in farm During the early 20's less than Insurance Company in 1951, the prices on the free market. two- thirds of the eligible coun- building of a second fertilizer ties were affiliated with the plant at Kalamazoo in 1953, and But political opportunists were state organization. And a "false the beginning of new programs around Washington. The disaster. start" was made. to build a large in Fire Insurance and Group Life of this era lay in the fact that membership. It was an age of Insurance in 1954. the farm program was fastened "big promoters," so some were During this period also the Just as you depend on your veteri- upon by party politicians as a hired to help in the job. They Farm Bureau has been instru- DRESSED TURKEYS on the line narian to protect the health of your means to keep or win party promised more than they could mental in promoting the finan- packaging station and blast freezer. animals, ya.J can depend on your State power. They fostered larger ap- deliver. cing and organization of live- Mutual Agent to protect your property. Gray vice-president, Roy Bortels Grant Hess of St. Louis for his Insurance is your State Mutual agent's propriations and larger bureaus The large membership signed stock auction yards at Battle treasurer, and B. P. Pattison Michigolden duck operations are profession. He can r e com men d the to administer the expanding farm for the first year rapidly Creek and St. Louis, Michigan. secretary. The directors signed second to none in the state. right insurance pro tee t ion for your program. Congressmen came to dwindled away. Actually the Similar aids to farmers in or- the agreement with Grant Hess We are now urging the broiler, form. and he's backed by a company believe that their political fu- membership average of the first ganizing marketing programs are with 47 years of experience and assets of Hemlock to purchase his pro- fryer and farm flock producers to tures depended upon outbidding five years totaled around 24,000 under way in other parts of the of over one and a qucrter million state at the present time. cessing facilities and authorized use the facilities of the coopera- dollars. each other for farm appropria- families. tive for processing their fowl. It tions to keep the support levels State Mutual "AII-in-One" Protection 1935 3,782 will be necessary that you call or high and mandatory. Farm Bureau had yet to build Membership Growth 1936 7,522 Plan is non-assessable. It provides pro- In Michigan Farm Bureau contact the cooperative at Hem- tection against loss from explosion, The 7&% to 90% support pro- a strong program. It had rather 1937 8,173 lock and make specific arrange- riot, smoke damage, stock killed on gram was never given a trial. few legislative accomplishments 1rear )!e~ership 1938 9,779 ments for service. highway or railroad track, and damage From year to year "temporary" to support a needed prestige. It 1919 •.....................(Organized) 1939 6,780 by vehicles .•. at no .](t,o cost. bill were passed holding the had few services. And farm 1920 47,500 1940 7,420 Do not deliver any fowl to the When fire strikes you wont prompt support level at a rigid 90% on prices began to fall. In the later 1921 •................................. 21,358 1941 9,780 Hemlock plant without previous settlement in full. Contact your loco' 14,840 agreement. The processing facili- State Mutual agent or write us direct. basic crops. half of the decade of the 20's 1922 28,642 1942 One day's delay can cost a lifetime of membership fell with them. The 1923 23,897 1943 20,539 ties are scheduled for the pro- work. Farm Bureau had a fight on its average was around 12,400 fam- 1924 23,000 1944 29,027 cessing of ducks approximately hands. It was a fight for free- ilies. 1925 ...•.............................. 22,749 38,079 two days per week. However, all dom. It was a fight against im- Depression years were hard 1926 10, 14 1945 1946 45,108 additional time is now available State~ posed controls that were inevita- years for the farmers and hard 1927 .............................•...... 8,788 1947 48.100 for processing other fowl. INSURANCE COMPA Y ble under the high support pro- for membership as well. In spite 1928 11,355 1948 .............•.................... 34,382 Additional Finance and Mem- gram. It was a fight for the of the fact that the farmer need- 1929 9,351 fLINT. MICHIGAN 36,878 bership. In the organization of 1949 .............•.................... 702 (hur