.~. MDCHDGAN _FARM NEWS THE ACTION PUBLICATION OF THE MICHIGAN FARIV£_BUR£AU '/01. 43, No. 12 Published Monthly by Michigan Farm Bureau December 1, 1965 I UNBELIEVABLY HUGE - is this crowd attending the banquet program FIFTEEN-HUNDRED PERSONS - one of the largest dinner-crowds ever of the Michigan Farm Bureau annual meeting, November 10. Featured served in lansing's Civic Center, witnessed presentation of awards was a hard-hitting speech by AFBF President, Charles B. Shuman. for "Distinguished Service" and saw a parade of farm "Queens." Predicted Crowd Takes Part When plans were announced Farm Bureau Women re- Zeeb was selected Michigan's for "the largest crowd ever" to elected Mrs. Wm. Scramlin to most Outstanding Fanner in 1963. attend the Annual Meeting of the another term as chairman of the Finch served with distinction as Michigan Farm Bureau, there Farm Bureau Women's Commit- delegate to Michigan's Constitu- were those who doubted that tee and named Mrs. Clare Car- tional Convention. Ford serves large numbers of Michigan farm- penter of Cass City, vice chair- as Delta county Farm Bureau ers could tear themselves away man. president. from pressing Fall work to attend. Three incnmbent directors did Re-elected to serve additional But when the voting delegates not seek re-election. They were two-year terms were: Donald and guests began to arrive, it be- 'Valter Wightman, Fennville, in Ruhlig, District 3; David Morris, came obvious that the planning the position of Director-at-Large; District 5; Kenneth Bull, District committee was right, Michigan Max Hood, Paw Paw, represent- 7; Eugene Roberts, District 9 fanners had lost none of their in- ing District 1 and Edmund Sager, and Raymond Kucharek, repre- terest or enthusiasm in supporting Stephenson, representing District senting Farm Bureau Young Fann Bureau. 11. People. A large crowd took part in the Elected to the at-large position The three-day session was cli- unusual "open session" of the after a number of ballots was maxed by the passage of a com- Resolutions Committee - a Robert Zeeb, young Clinton coun- prehensive slate of resolutions to period of free-wheeling discussion ty dairyman. Elected director guide farmers in state and na- and debate on issues included in from District 1 was Francis tional actions in the 1966 year. the "proposed resolution" booklet Finch, Mattawan, Van Buren A complete text of these reso- compiled by the committee from connty. Elected from District 11 lutions will be carried in the hundreds of resolutions submitted was Clayton Ford, Cornell, Delta January issue of the FARM by counties. county. NEWS. TWO December 1, 1965 MICHIGAN FARM NEWS , f-RO' Tli Preside :'s volumn HUNGRY HORDES Billion FREE FARMING Penons EXPLOSION Search as they may, no one will find Amer- For a long time I wondered why there were ica's abundant farm production in any country so many places in the world where people of the world where agriculture is under the 6 shouted at Americans, "Yankee Go Home!" I strict controlling hand of a central government. was shocked to find that the answer lay so close This idea was central to the annual address to my own business of farming. of Michigan Farm Bureau president Elton Smith 5 Actually it is a lot closer to our U. S. Govern- before the recent 46th annual meeting. ~'Sixty ment's farm policy. two per cent of the food-deficient areas of the The government has used the excuse of "sur- world lie in Communist-controlled areas of 4 pluses" to impose all manner of limitations on Asia," Smith reminded those present. our farm production. Farmers are being paid Even as he spoke, Radio-Liberty announced about $2 billion a year to produce less. Pro- monitoring a Moscow report telling of planned grams have idled 50 million acres of our farm abandonment of the Soviet Union's "Virgin 3 land. The programs may destroy the capacity Lands Territory" as an administrative unit, sig- of our farms to produce abundantly. nalling a possible end to this heart breaking and Every such move is in conflict with the food impractical project. 2 needs of much of the world. The policy of put- The move affects an area that a few years ting -the clamps on farm production can strike back swarmed with millions of Soviet youth im- sparks in the pOJVdel'-ma{!azine of world conflict. pressed into Russia's ambitious project to re- 1 The people of the world beyond our shores do lieve its chronic grain shortage. not face food "surpluses" - they face food short- The young men and women lived in tents at ages! The "hungry nations" of the world contain 50 below zero as they shared in the dream of first Stalin, and later, Khrushchev, to cause the o SOO 1500 1900;.!2000 2.4 billion people who suffer from malnutrition. One billion of them are. starvin{!. We may sit 19601 Kazakhstan, Western Siberia, Ural and Volga complacently, counting our "surpluses," but let regions to bloom with flourishing crops of wheat us not consider that we can sit and count them and other cereals. in peace ... The gamble of destroying the root-cover and plowing under the thin layer of fertile soil in the virgin lands - an area the size of California, Arizona and Colorado combined, paid off with .lets go to Chicago! Every other year, the "odd-numbered" ones, the big The population explosion going on in our world today isn't just a cold matter of figures. It is taking on the heat and power of an atomic bomb. bumper crops in 1956 and again in 1958. From the beginning of history, to our Civil But drought, progressive impoverishment of annual meeting of the American Farm Bureau Federation War, man populated the earth with only one the upturned marginal soil, and wind erosion, is held in the heart of the Midwest at Chicago. On even- billion people . .T ust a hundred years after the combined with bureaucratic bungling in at- numbered years the four-day convention is located at such Civil War we find nearly 3 billion people on tempts to correct the problems, led to five years distant spots as California, Georgia, Philadelphia (last year) our globe. In another 35 years. there will be of decreasing yields, terminating with the 1963 and Las Vegas (1967). six billion, at present rates of increase. crop fiasco, which many think led to the down- . This year the convention will again be held in Chicago, Regardless of what is aiding this "explosion," fall of Khrushchev. m the Conrad Hilton Hotel - formerly the Stevens, on the it means that we will have to double ou'r world For as the virgin lands project entered the dates of December 13-16, Monday through Thursday. A output of food just to keep the oresent amount 1960's it became increasingly obvious that Vesper Service will open the informal convention program of food-per-person available. That would still Khrushchev had underestimated the scope of S~nday "afternoon, December 12, followed by a "Talent leave 2 billion starving people and 4.8 billion secondary measures needed to keep the area ?lsplay presented by Farm Bureau Young People, includ- hungry to threaten the peace of the world. productive,' particularly irrigation and the mg an entrant from Michigan. It is sheer folly to expect that such people planting of forest belts to reduce wind erosion. On the years when the convention is relatively nearby, it will just sit around and "starve quietly." They Parts of the once-fertile lands became a "dust is usual for Michigan Farm Bureau members to take ad- highly resent American talk of over-abundant bowl." vant~ge of the fact by attending in greater n~mbers, adding food and "surpluses" and production cut-backs. Perhaps corn was the answer, and it was a conSiderably to the five or six thousand-member crowd of Hungry. frantic people will seek any escape from worried Nikita who hid his concern as he farmers from all parts of the United States. their miseries. For many of them, there are no journeyed to America and the heart of the Special buses are planned for those attending from more notches to take up in their belts. corn-belt. There he was treated much as visit- Michigan, leaving from Lansing through arrangements made by the "Community Programs" department of the Such people will listen to anyone who prom- ing royalty with no production secret withheld. ises them a full stomach. They lack land to Wistfully he fingered the l?road leaves, meas- Michigan Farm Bureau under the direction of J. Delbert Wells. For hotel and bus reservations, contact should be produce food. It means little that they do not ured the heavy ears and stomped through the know how to -use what they have to good ad- fields followed by newsmen and his worried made direct with Mr. Wells. All meetings of the convention will be held in the Hilton vantage. More land would be worth fighting throng of official aids. He heard speeches about for. The struggle for land is as old as the his- com, and delivered some of his own, and including the Vesper Service scheduled for 3:00 p.m. Sun~ day, December 12. American Farm Bureau Federation tory of man. finally, loaded with every manner of produc- Communist China holds out the prospect of tion bulletin and the finest of hybrid seed, he president Charles B. Shuman, will give his annual address Monday morning, December 13. conquest to the hungry peoples of eastern Asia. returned to the Soviet Union and the impos- The idea is not hard to sen. Viet Narn is only a sible problem of trying to fit American produc- Nationally-known speakers are scheduled on the general convention program, including Senator Everett Dirkson, fuse which China hopes will set off the whole tion knowledge and techniques into the anti- world struggle. China and its neighbors hold quated agricultural system buried under nearly Senate Minority Leader, from nlinois; a director of the Crime Division of the F.B.I.; and Roger Fleming, Secre- sixty-two percent of the hungry people of the a half-century of communist controls. tary- Treasurer of the American Fann Bureau Federation. world. South America has many more. After the relatively good harvest of 1964, the virgin lands region seems to have lapsed into The final two days of the convention will be devoted The United Nations? It could not hold back another cycle of "five lean years" - iudging to business sessions, the adoption of resolutions to guide such a tide of conflict as the food situation be- from the extent of Soviet wheat purchases this the organization in 1966 and the election of members to the came more and more desperate. Our influence year. It has become obvious that the region A.F.B.F. board of directors .. there would blow before the hurricane of ris- will not meet its harvest quota this year, the The ~fichigan Farm Bureau Information Division has ing world hunger. first year of the Brezhnev-Kosygin administra- been asked to assist in televising portions of the conven- Our present, so-called "surpluses" are a mere tion. tion for nation-wide news coverage. drop in the bucket. They could be gobbled up But unlike Khrushchev, the new regime may now in a flash by the maior famine areas of the well have decided not to go out on a limb with ~ world. The U. S., Canada, Australia and Argen- the unpredictable land and the administrative tine hold all the world's carryover of wheat, and MICHIGAN FARM NEWS the U. S. }ws over half of it-650 million bushels. pull-back may signal the beginning of the end THE ACTION P'U.L1CATION 0,. THE MICHIOAN ,.ARM BUREAU • for this gigantic program. The MICHIGAN FARM NEWS is DmECToRs: District 1, Max K. Little will reach other lands in 1966. The wet- Thus the record remains - one Soviet farmer published . m~mthly, on the first day, by the ~hchJJtan Farm Bureau, at its Hood. Paw Paw. R-1; District 2 Wil- b~r H. Smith, Burlinjtton. R-1; District season left a shortage of feed grains in this feeds himself and five others. One American publication office at 109 N. Lafayette 3 •. Donald L. RuhliJ;t. Dexter; Dis- country. So wheat will be fed to livestock. Less Street. Greenville, Michiltan. tnct 4. E It 0 n R. Smith. Caledonia farmer feeds himself and 31 others. Editorial and J;teneral offices at 4000 R-1; District 5. David Morris. Grand for the hungry nations. North Grand River Avenue, Lansinll:. LedJ;te. R-3; District 6, Ward G. HodJ!e Returning to the speech by Elton Smith: "Our Michill:an. Post Office Box 960. Tele- Snover, R-1; District 7, Kenneth Bull' We need more concentration on how to feed phone, Lansing, 485-8121, Extension Bailey, R-1; District 8, Harvey Leuen~ job is to see that the American public knows 317. be riter, Sal1:inaw, R-6; District 9 the hungry nations - less on how to close down Established January 12. 1923. Sec- E~'J!ene Roberts, Lake City, R-1; Dis~ the importance of keeping our farms efficient ond Class Postage paid at Greenville, tnct 10. Edgar Diamond, Alpena, R- o.n production. We might better give those na- Michigan. Subscription price. 50t per 2; District 11, Edmund Sager and our farmer-initiative free! year. Stephenson. ' tions broad credits and let them buy our excess "Our strong position is clear. We must help EDITORIAL: Woell; Staff Photographer, Editor. Melvin L. Charles DmECTORS AT LARGE: Walter foods tha~ to pour billions into programs aimed the American people understand that our Bailey; Staff Artist, Sam Bass. Women's Material. Mrs. Donna Wilber. Frahm. Frankenmuth; Montg~mery. Dean Prid2eon. R-1; Walter Wightman, at stranglmg production .• abundant production of food is one of America's OFFICERS: MichiJ!nn Farm Bu- FennVIlle. R-l. And we cannot just wag a finrTer at the world reau; President. Elton R. Smith, Cale- WOMEN OF FARM BUREAU: Mrs. strongest cards in the game of world diplomacy. donia, R-1; Vice President, Dean William Scramlin, Holly; FARM BU- and say, "Look here, you must quit adding to Pridgeon, Montgomery, R-1; Secretnry- REAU YOUNG PEOPLE: Raymond "As farmers we have to make this message Manalter, Clarence E. Prentice. Okemos. Kucharek. Gaylord. your population!" heard across the land, for surely no one else POSTMASTER: In using form 3579, mail to: Michigan Farm News, ...000 N. How do you stop an explosion when it is will give voice to this truth for us ... " Grand River, Lonsing, Michigan. happening? Second cia.. postage paid at Greenville, Michigan M.W. Elton Smith MICHIGAN FARM NEWS December 1, 1965 THREE II President Smith Says: "WE MUST TAKE A CRITICAL LOOK. "There has been a great void in program-building in most Farm Bureau leaders were con- in the technicalities of keeping •• tees, with definite assignments, County Farm Bureaus" - warns Elton Smith, president of the fident that attracting new mem- an office going, and most of us with budget, if needed, to carry 1\fichiganFarm Bureau. In his annual address given before the bers voluntarily through programs have been guilty. We spend en- out that assignment, and with a recent 46th annual meeting, Smith called for a "frankly critical of benefit to them, is a far better tirely too much time deciding deadline attached to their proj- way. whether to have ham or chicken ects. look at ourselves." at a dinner or picnic or debating But it does require a high level They should be expected to He said that farmers must build fences around the pitfalls of leadership, and it requires for a half hour whether to pay report, and they should be told which have prevented them from being as effective as they providing some answers. some little bill. when. The chairman of the com- should be. Other significant statements from the speech which In their own way, these things mittee should be hand-picked for American Farm Bureau president Charles Shuman called "the HOW ARE WE DOING? are important, but much of it is the job, and told so. The job best State President's annual address I have ever encountered" committee work and concentra- should be big enough and impor- County board members must tion on such things by the entire - follow: tant enough to tax his talents. take a look at their ways of op- board is not the way to build a The people picked to work with Christ warned against the folly it should be adequate to do big erating. What answers do you strong Farm Bureau. him should be of equally high of "putting new wine into old jobs. have to such questions as these: Instead, boards of directors are calibre. Finally, when the job is bottles," and we are getting some In the August Special Delegate How many member-centered ac- designed to guide the action and done, the committee should be "new wine" ready. But first we Session, it was agreed that a por- tivities has your board planned the development of their organ- dissolved. must dispose of a lot of old bot- tion of the new dues money- and developed in the last five ization, to work at the hard tasks tles. years? Did your programs tackle Even if it means undoing some. three of the additional dollars per of policy and purpose. True, they of what has already been done, One big bottleneck is the way membership - would go toward some of the main needs and prob- must administer the finances and lems of farmers in your county - we should start this year to set we run our county Farm Bureaus. county Farm Bureau program- the offices, but the basic work up our county committees accord- A good county Farm Bureau ming. This represents the first or were these programs on the of the board is to develop and lighter, "social" side? ing to program need, picking the must be structured for success. increase to county Farm Bureaus implement action .programs to in- kind of committee leaders that It must be made up of successful since 1945! How many times during a nor- crease farm incomes and to make will make our programs move! officers and committees. It must mal year does the average Farm the community a better place for Years ago, when Farm Bureau Bureau member come in contact - Farmers have always done best have successful activities which farm family members to live. If was less than half as old as it with Farm Bureau - for reasons when they made their own way, attract membership and finances. you don't do this, your county .\ is now, far-sighted leaders agreed other than getting his membership beginning in the communities in This successful county Farm Farm Bureau is on the way out. that the strength of our organiza- dues? which they live. Bureau will then become the true One sure way to tell is by ex- tion must lie in member-financing This being true, then why "voice of agriculture" in that How does your county Farm amining the pointless way in to assure member-control. aren't Farm Bureau leaders found county. It will represent pro- Bureau board spend the time in which we establish committees in ducer interests, it will be active That these leaders were right its meetings? Do they start late? many counties. . more often on our Town Boards? legislatively, it will involve mem- has been proven many times dur- Are they jammed with trivial de- We name committees in many \Vhy not on the County Board bers in many local programs and ing the years. And how odd it . cisions that make them end up at cases, whether we need them or of Supervisors? Why aren't they projects. is that now, even as farmers work midnight and beyond, without not, whether there is important more active on school boards? In the very least, the member- for more membership control and really getting much done? work for them to do, or whether Why don't we get involved in .......\ ; ship should represent a majority for an expanding voluntary mem- If we are honest with ourselves, they are simply "standing" com- our local political party activities? of all farmers in the county. The bership within Farm Bureau, we will admit that many county mittees without definite assign- Leadership is a development officers should be representatives labor unions have been working boards have done more of the ment process - it doesn't just happen. of the membership, and reflect for laws to compel workers to thumb-twiddling sort of things It's a misuse of time and talent Farm leaders are shaped through their interests. Finances should join the union and pay union than serious program building. It to appoint standing committees. meaningful work and opportuni- be through that membership and dues against their will! is remarkably easy to get caught They should be working commit- ties to do it.... Here is your own special copy of an important message about the "New Farm Bureau" from Elton Smith, president of the Michigan - Farm Bureau. Another historic "first" for the Michigan Farm News, the re- corded voice of Mr. Smith allows each Farm Bureau home in Mich- igan to receive a "personal visit" from the state's number-one farm leader. - ... To play your recording, remove it from the page and play at 33% revolutions-per-minute on any phonograph. It may be help- ful to tape it atop any other record already on the machine. Since Farm Bureau is a family affair, it is suggested that playing your record become a family project, allowing everyone to hear about the "new" Farm Bureau and of plans for expanded pro- grams. Another suggestion is that the record be played as part of the program at the next Community Group meeting, and that it be ." played on other occasions when Farm Bureau people gather, such as at a board session, Roll-Call or new-member meeting. In the recording, Smith tells of new Farm Bureau programs al- ready started or now on schedule. He suggests areas of local work to be detennined by each County Farm Bureau. Pressed by the Eva-Tone Cor- poration of Deerfield, Dlinois, the nearly 70,000 records produced for this issue were made possible through the leadership and pro- duction assistance of the Farm Bureau Insurance Group of Mich. FOUR December 1, 1965 MICHIGAN FARM NEWS Annual Report From. The Secretary-Manager Excerpts from the Annual Report of the Secretary-Manager, Clarence Prentice, to the delegates attending the 46th Michigan Farm Bureau Annual ~feeting at ~fichigan State University on \Vednesday, November 10, 1965. The Spirit - and the Fact of my report to you for the year just past, can be summed up in this statement: «Farm Bureau is moving ahead." As President Smith has indicated, this forward motion was given a great boost by this delegate body on the 16th of August. We are gratified that the way has been opened for advancement. But, we have not voted ourselves into automatic success. Our job, in a sense, is just starting. We now have to undertake what is necessary to build both membership and programs- and do so on a wide front. Our Michigan Farm Bureau This close work with allies has Also after many years of strug- Information Division is at work become more important in these gle, we now have a Michigan President Smith mentioned the importance of maintaining a making a survey of public service days of dwindling farm numbers Bean Commission to aid in the high level of membership under the $20 dues structure, if we television time on which to tell and a reapportioned Legislature. marketing of this important crop. are to realize an actual improvement in our financial base for our story of American farming. Staff members have been en- Our Legislative and Market De- county programs and for programs at the state level. The picture looks favorable and couraged to work closely with velopment staff members worked History is in Ollr favor. 1Vhen dues were doubled between we are getting ready to move as groups and people who hold aims as a team in each of these issues, the years 1946 and 1947 -an initial drop in membership finances make such programs pos- similar to our own. lending a combined strength to amounted to nearly thirty-percent. But in five years, by 1952 sible. We have been in repeated con- our Farm Bureau effort. But in no programs can we ad- And although tax reform failed - we had more than regained this lost membership. In fact, vance without knowing that we tact with groups such as the for this year, we did make a sig- five sh01t years after that dues increase, our membership en- can pay for them. We must make Michigan Health Council, Mich- nificant gain in this area. Farm rollment had increased 5,256 families ABOVE where we were sllre that the programs are what igan United Conservation Clubs, Bureau initiated the idea of assess- when the dues increase was made. farmers want and need. We mllst all branches of the Michigan De- ing fann land as farm land, - as partment of Agriculture and the vVhat is the important point that we can learn from this? put our strength where the prob- College of Agriculture. Staff long as it is used for this purpose. This membership gain was partly the result of member-dedica- lems press hardest. Experience shows that it normally members work with the Michigan tion, member-loyalty, and the strong will to grow .. Farm Bureau in Michigan has. takes a while before such ideas Press and the Broadcasters' Asso- had 46 years of continuous ac- bear fruit, but the seed is planted. But the real key to the advance was that better programs ciation. complishment. The year just past Farm Bureau supported the attract more members. Good programs give members good adds to the long list of Farm Your state Farm Bureau board action revising the state aid reasons to join. Good programs at the county, state and, yes- Bureau results. Farm Bureau re- of directors has met recently with formula for schools, and although at the national levels. Such programs must be financed. It is mains unique in its legislative ef- representatives of the American it involves a rather complicated at this stage we now stand. fectiveness on behalf of farmers Dairy Association, with the board formula, the result means more And "Let's Go" - is the watchword for an of us in this of Michigan. of the Michigan Livestock Ex- money for school districts, aver- annual meeting today, and for years to come. In the Michigan Considering that we have a change, ancI with the board of aging a two and one-half mill Farm Bureau we have already made a number of necessary predominantly urban Legislature, the Michigan Milk Producers As- saving on property taxes at the moves in this direction. We have begun to expand our Field we may truthfully say that we sociation. These contacts keep us local level. have had a highly successful leg- "in tune" with each other. Districts with lower valuations Service force to give added aid to. county Farm Bureaus in pro- islative year. We have been on will be receiving the larges~ gram building in the member's home community. Through such united effort and the job in every session, and often amount of state school aid in his- Program building in the county is going to be one of the are the only farm organization through our determination to tory - and a distinct improve- biggest factors in the advancement of our organization in terms there. Every bill is examined by work with anyone who will work with tiS - we now have a ment in the school aid formula. of membership, membership interest, and membership activity. our Legislative staff to check its Some county Farm Bureaus have state-wide meat inspection law, President Smith stressed the importance of such loyal pro- meaning for farmers in relation been weak in the active support something sought by farmers for gram-building in recognition that the real strength of a county to our policy resolutions. many years. The new law means of local schoolY. Much more Farm Bureau lies within that county. Some members have be- After a struggle of many years, needs to be done. that meat products can now move come concerned that Farm Bureau will somehow become "big we have a uniform statewide freely into many markets formerly We must never discount the farmer" oriented - that it will overlook or ignore smaller dairy inspection program in Mich- many instances where Farm Bu- closed. igan, eliminating the duplication reau action has prevented the farmers. that has existed. Farm Bureau We were successful too, in get- passage of legislation harmful to These concerned members have only to remember that they has worked hand-in-hand with the ting a state marketing-order en- agriculture. Many undesirable are Farm Bureau. They help make the decisions I This remains Michigan Milk Producers Asso- abling act passed. This new law tax measures, for example, were true even as we look ahead to a new kind of farming and a new ciation and other dairy producer permits producer groups to estab- kept in the committee - meas- kind of Farm Bureau. groups, keeping in close touch lish state marketing programs ac- ures such as one cutting gasoline vVe still have some of the same financial problems. How- with the developments when rep- cording to their own decisions to refunds to farmers by five per- ever, I can say that these programs will advance rapidly as we resentatives of these organizations do so, and largely under condi- cent, and another to eliminate resolve the financial situation which prompted the calling of could not be on hand one-hundred tions which producers themselves local tax assessors in favor of the Special Meeting in August. We shall move ahead just as percent of the time. establish. county or state assessors. fast as improving finances make such movement possible. But even now we are moving on a number of vital fronts- and each of these moves bears within itself a tremendous po- tential for improved farm income. One dramatic example is found in the millions of bushels of windfall apples which lay in heaps on the ground under trees of many orchards. This dropped fntit, for which there were no pickers - almost at any price, represents many thousands of dollars of lost income in the difference between fresh-apple prices and the price for windfalls, if indeed any market could be found in time. Ia other parts of Afichigan, the fields were yellow with ripe cucumbers -left to rot in the fields long past the pickling cucumber stage, because of lack of pickers. No matter where one looked in lU iclzigall th is past lzarvest season, the story was much the same. And when farmers pleaded with \Vashingto1J, they were told that the problem was imaginary. We, in Farm Bureau, must study and work out the best possible ways in which our growers may regain control of an adequate labor supply to do the necessary field work and harvesting of our crops before they are lost to both the farmers and to the consuming public. It is evident that we c~nnot rely on the government to do a responsible job in this area. An investigation of the farm labor situation is about com- THE ttNEW" FARM PROGRAM pleted by our Market Development Department. MICHIGAN FARM NEWS December 1, 1965 FIVE NEW PROGRAMS UNDERWAY Fanner's Petroleum had an- Others Crushed By. other successful year and has WE again expanded its operations. New production was purchased Political Steamroller! to give stability to the program, giving our company an interest in Nationally, a number of Farm Bureau proposals have been 528 oil wells in 4 states. A "water crushed, at least for now, under the wheels of the Administra- flood" operation has begun in tion's steamroller. The Omnibus Farm Bill, which Farm Bureau some of our oil-wells to boost opposed, is one result. Although designed to cover a four-year production, and results are prom- period; most \Vashington observers doubt that it will last any- ising. The new diesel fuel is \~here nea~ that long. popular with fanners beyond ex- pectations. The tremendous $18 billion dollar w;jce tag alone, is sure to Farmers Petroleum had a gross cause second thoughts. We must remember that there is another sales to Michigan fanners total- Congress in 1966 - that laws can, and often are, changed. This ling $7,400,000 in the last fiscal "new" farm program is nothing more than the same kind of pro- year. Dividends and patronage gram that has failed us in the past. refunds have been paid to fann- ers and cooperatives on this in- Economics education and local political action are two key creased business amounting to programs in our moves toward voter understanding. Our Com- $384,000. munity Programs department Las done exceptional work in this Think this over, - What other important direction. Last year 70 Farm Bureau members and gas dealer shares his earnings leaders attended a ~eries of Local Covenlment Seminars. with his patrons? Farm Bureau's three insurance Another 120 key persons participated in a series of six Eco- A great deal of interest has be no need for these' many new companies - Farm Bureau Mu- nomic Seminars. Two-dozen more local leaders took training in tual, Farm Bureau Life and Com- been shown by many commodity activities in which we are en- the Speaker's Bureau. Each of these programs is designed to munity Service - have grown groups in using the MACMA ap- gaging. But fanners are realists. increase farmer's effectiveness in important areas of local mem- into dynamic, complex corpora- proach. They like the careful \Ve know there will be storms ber action. manner in which MACMA started and heavy financial weather tions with assets of over $35 mil- and the businesslike operating ahead, in a future that requires This is also true of the Citizenship Seminar and annual Free- lion dollars. The companies have methods. united action. dom Conferences. A lctter from one of Ollr county Farm Bureau become known as Michigan's I am pleased to announce that Perhaps this is one of the most fastest growing insurance group. leaders gives the deserved emphasis to these programs. It re- This year the companies have several weeks ago the Michigan ignored, but most important rea- ports an incident at the county annual meeting where a member registered several notable achieve- Fann Bureau Board and the sons for joining Farm Bureau. heard a youngster who had attended the citizenship seminar. ments, not the least among them ~fACMA Board approved a new Together, the future looks bright. He said that any organization which gave young folks such help, being the tremendous support MACMA division-one for «Con- Separate, failure is obvious. deserved his support. So he paid his dues. The reports of those they gave those insured persons tract Vegetable" crops. To be The ancient scientist-philoso- included in the new division are pher, Archimedes, was the first who attend these conferences speak for their value. stricken in the terrible Palm Sun- pickling cucumbers, snap beans, to prove that the world was day tornadoes. All of these activities must be built on a basis that will per- peas, carrots, peppers, red beets, round - that we live on a globe The growing auto accident rate petuate Farm Bureau as the farm organization through which - as well as the rising cost of green lima beans and cabbage. instead of an unending table-top. these objectives will be reached. The finding of potential leaders, This new division will allow He declared «Give me a place repairing or replacing damaged training them, and involving them, becomes our challenge and property, medical service and lia- producers of contract vegetable to stand on, and a place to rest crops to negotiate with proces- my lever on, and I can move the responsibility . bility judgments - continues to sors, using MACMA's proven earth." Our Young People's Committee is dedicated to this task. be a problem for Farm Bureau's techniques. We are planning a We in Farm Bureau have de- Eighty young couple C0!TImunity Croups, 200 young farmers in auto insurance operations. membership campaign for the termined where we stand. In 1965, approximately three informational meetings, 30 young couples at a 3 day seminar new division, and from all ap- The lever that gives power to and a half million dollars have our action is our will, and our are part of this program. pearances, the new division will been paid to Farm Bureau in- soon be self-supporting. skill to do what needs to be done. The challenge is in the counties - to put these young folks sureds involved in vehicle acci- If the road ahead were simply The power of Fann Bureau will to work, in Farm Bureau. They will solve some of these prob- dents. The hvo auto insurance a path of «sunshine and daisies", increase to the degree that we lems, if we give them just half a chance. companies now provide protec- farmers could forget the need for unite in placing leverage behind Value is found too, in the programs of our cooperative service tion for nearly 75 thousand ve- a strong farm organization such our programs. hicles - about eighteen thousand Clarence E. Prentice affiliates, as they build service and supply programs to keep as Farm Bureau, and there would new vehicles will be insured dur- pace with the needs of the modem farm. But cooperatives, like ing 1965 alone. the farmer, face the impact of inflation, rising labor and other Many fanners will be required operating costs. to provide Workmen's Compen- Cooperative mergers, expansions, and improvements become sation benefits for employees. a necessary requirement to their existence. All of these things Your company will be able to pro- have helped these cooperatives stay highly competitive. Fann vide that protection. Bureau Services this past year has opened more local service MACMA - our aggressive points and improved ties to inter-regional supply cooperatives. «Michigan Agricultural Coopera- tive Marketing Association" has Our Farm Bureau cooperative companies continue to make a been humming like a beehive in greater dollar return to farmer members and patrons than any spring. Two main things are other cooperative or private business organization in the State happening. First, it is successfully of Michigan. selling apples, at the prices es- Farm Bureau Services did a gross volume of business of over tablished as realistic through 76 million dollars in the last year. However, margins had to be MACMA research, and secondly - it is building up valuable expe- shaved sharply to help your local farmer-cooperatives be com- rience that will soon be used by petitive. At the same time you can imagine what would happen other growers as they organize to the prices farmers would pay for supplies and service without to bargain for price and other this competition. tenns of trade. The Egg Marketing and Michigan Elevator Exchange di- visions continue to grow rapidly. The Elevator Exchange mar- kets more grain and beans on a world front than any other marketing operation in Michiganl SIX December 1, 1965 MICHIGAN FARM NEWS NEWLY-ElECTED OffiCIALS - study news coverage given the Michigan farm Bureau annual meeting by state papers. Shown backstage at the M.S.U. Auditorium are (left to right): Robert Zeeb, Bath, director-at.large; Francis Finch, Matta- wan, Dist. 1 director; Mrs. Clare Carpenter, Farm Bureau Women's vice-chairman, and Clayton Ford, Cornell, Dist. 11 director. Colorful Annual Meeting! The stimulation of good de- to the American Farm Bureau an- sons with outstanding service rec- bate, the excitement of competi- nual meeting in Chicago in mid- ords. tion, the enjoyment of good food December. Runyon was cited for his sig- among good companions, all these Those attending the main ban- nificant news analysis and edi- were values and impressions quet program saw awards for torial com men t. His years of gained as part of the 46th annual "Distinguished Service to Agricul- experience as a foreign corre- meeting of the Michigan Farm ture" presented by Michigan Farm spondent was mentioned as help- Bureau, November 9-11. Bureau president Elton Smith to ing him gain insight and under- The competition produced three recipients present at the standing of problems which "Talk Meet" and "Talent Find" event, and another award made farmers face locally: nationally winners, a new Farm Bureau "in absentia" to an honored per- and on the international scene. Queen and a slate of vigorous son who was unable to attend. Mrs. Karker's many years of Farm-Bureau officers for positions Selected for this highest dis- work with Farm Bureau brought on the Michigan Farm Bureau tinction of the Michigan Farm her many distinctions, Smith said, board of directors. Bureau were: Charles ]. (''Jack'') pointing out that «nationally she The debates resolved into an Little, Extension Dairy Specialist was recognized as 'one of' if not impressive slate of 125 policy res-' from Chatham, in Michigan's 'the most outstanding' Women's olutions which will guide the or- Upper Peninsula; Radio news- Program Coordinator in the ganization in months ahead, while man, Robert N. Runyon of station United States." the food and jovial visits mean WILS, Lansing; former Women's The leoadership Mark West- new friends gained. Coordinator for the M i chi g an. brook has shown in the fields of Afiss 10 Ann Erickson, daughter Farm Bureau, Mrs. Marjorie Kar- farm credit and marketing were of Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Erickson ker, and Mark Westbrook, long- highlighted, with Smith citing MISS JANET HIll of Whittemore, took top honors time Ionia Farm Bureau and farm Westbrook's 26 years as an officer in the talent competition with a leader. of a prominent local Production Janet, who calls herself a "tomboy" helps out on her parent's solo rendition of "Moon River" In m a kin g the presen ta tions Credit Association. Also lauded sung in a style which Miss Erick- Smith pointed out that the awards was Westbrook's many years of farm near Vermontville where she drives tractor and helps make son describes as "a slow and easy were the result of a desire on the Farm Bureau leadership which in- part of the hay necessary for a herd of beef cattle. kind of music." part of Michigan farmers to un- clude ten years as president of the A Freshman at Alma College where she is majoring in ele- Mike Satchell, 22-year-old son derscore the work of those in- Ionia county Farm Bureau. mentary education, the raven-haired and hazel-eyed beauty has of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Satchell of dividuals, who by their thoughtful "No small amount of credit is plans for working in the field of special education for the handi- rural Caro, impressively argued. actions have contributed much to due Mr. Little for the agricultural capped. the case against government con- the welfare of Michigan agricul- progress noted in the Upper trols from the viewpoint of a ture. Peninsula" Smith said in making Earlier this year she participated in the Vermontville Maple young farmer, convincing the He pointed out that nomina- the award to Charles Little. Syrup festival. Since accepting her crown, she has made a judges of a "superior" rating and tions were made by many fmm, "\Vere it not for his work and number of radio and television appearances at stations in Lan- the first place award in the. "Talk education and cooperative groups foresight, there is no doubt that sing, Jackson and Detroit. Her picture has been carried by a Meet" program. Both successful who joined. county Farm Bureaus farm incomes in the U.P. would state-wide wire-photo service. contestants win expense-paid trips in suggesting the names of per- be substantially less." "FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE" TO AGRICULTURE .::::~. ROBERT RUNYON - of radio station WILS, Lansing, was CHARLES LITTLE- Extension Dairy Specialist, Chatham, re- ~AR~ WESTB~OOK - f~rm leader from Ionia county, was honored along with recognixed for his "significant news analysis and editorial ceived his award for distinguished service to farmers of the hiS .wlfe, for hIS I~adershlp in the fields of farm credit and marketing. The former comment." His distinguished service to agriculture award Upper Peninsula. He was cited for his work in improving IOnia Cou.nty Farm Bureau. president received recognition for his years of service was based on his insight and understanding of problems dairy, poultry and other products to raise the income per as an officer of a Production Credit Association. President Elton Smith presented faced by farmers. farm. the awards at the Michigan Farm Bureau annual banquet. MICHIGAN FARM NEWS December 1, 1965 SEVEN THA T'S F!JJ~ PI/ When Dale and Mary vVeidmayer of Washtenaw The Weidmayer farmstead is a cluster of neat, red county joined Farm Bureau in early September, they buildings huddled around a neat, white home. There didn't know that theirs would be the FIRST member- is orderliness everywhere. 'Vhen he came home to farm ship application to reach the Michigan Farm Bureau in 1964, Dale became the fourth generation to farm on for 1966.. the home place. Not that it \vould have made any difference, for to Earlier, Dale had earned the Future Farmers of the newly-married 'Veidmayers, joining Farm Bureau America "State-Farmer" degree. He and ~lary are was just as natural as working together. "After 4-H active in the Bridgewater Lutheran Church where Dale and Future Farmer activity, joining Farm Bureau was teaches Sunday School. They work together in the the next logical step for us," they said. Farm Bureau Young Farmer program. And as most successful farmers, the 'Veidmayers are "Our folks have always enjoyed the Farm Bureau logical people. This month Mary will receive her de- spirit of cooperation which helps farm people get gree from M.S.U.'s School of Education, majoring in things done. To us, Farm Bureau is an adventure in mathematics. Dale nlet Mary while exhibiting dairy cooperation, and as far as we're concerned, that's a calves at the state fair. Later they attended Michigan good enough reason for anybody to keep an ACTIVE State toge~her, and were married last summer. membership." EIGHT December 1, 1965 MICHIGAN FARM NEWS Needed "Positive Attitude and Faith in the Future" The nearly 600 women who attended the 21st annual meeting morning to attend the meeting "COUNTRY KITCHEN COOKBOOK" - first copy off the presses - was presented of the Michigan Farm Bureau Women, November 9, Kellogg shuddered at the thought of to Elton Smith, Michigan Farm Bureau president, by Mrs. Wm. Scramlin (left), having to prepare and serve a chairman, Form Bureau Women, and Mrs. Jerold Topliff, outgoing vice-chairman, Center, East Lansing, were urged to accept the challenge of a and "editor" of the cookbook, at the 46th annual meeting. It features Michigan- broadeI~:d role in the expanded program of the "New Farm meal with one pot, one ladle and grown commodities .. Bureau. ------------- one water container which serves In a message to the Farm Bu- Mrs. Carpenter (Florence) has the needs of each family in the reau Women, president Elton long been active in Farm Bureau. India villages. They were Smith requested their continued She has served as Women's dis- shocked by the custom of not efforts to build a strong organ i- zation and listed "telling the story of agriculture completely and of- ten, so the public accepts and trict vice-chairman, Community Croup discussion leader, Roll Call manager, Information Committee chairman and as a member of the washing babies for one full year after birth - and bringing the cows into the family dwelling each night. NURSING SCHOLARSHIP understands," as one of their state Resolutions Committee. The family is the unit around The Michigan Fann Bureau Women remind mem- important jobs. She is active in 4-H work, in which everything rev 0 I v e sin bers that applications are now available for a $200 He stressed the need for a her political party, and represents India, Litta reported, then, look- Practical Nurses' scholarship, awarded each year by "positive attitude and faith in the the Tuscola Farm Bureau on the ing across the sea of faces which packed the Kellogg Centers Big the committee. future" on the part of Farm Bu- Christian Rural Hospitality reall Women to keep the voice of Council. Ten room, she added, "Of course, Requirements for the scholarship are: (1) the appli- agriculture strong. Past state chairmen, Mrs. ther.e ~re no meetings to go to in IndJa. .cant must be a Michigan resident and a member of State chairman, Mrs. Wm. Esther Kennedy, Alpena county, Scramlin, in her annual report to and :Mrs. Marvel Whittaker, La- The story of her efforts in Farm Bureau, (2) must show proof of having been the women, listed highlights of peer county, conducted the in- health education, her work with accepted by a School of Practical Nursil)g, (3) be will- the 1965 year including: news stallation of officers. the eye camps, and her very evi- ing to show Financial need) and (4) submit a written media dinner-meetings featuring dent love of the people of India, application and be personally interviewed by the LITERACY VillAGE REPORT was fittingly climaxed with a Mrs. Haven Smith, chairman of Scholarship Committee. the American Farm Bureau Wo- "Living and Learning in India" prayer. The prayer is used in the men's Committee; the Washing- was the topic of Mrs. Litta Ro- beautifully-simple chapel in Lit- Application blanks may be obtained from Miss Helen ton Air Tour, Speaker's Bureau, berson's address. Dressed in an eracy Village where Hindu, MQ- hammedan, Christian and Muslin Atwood, Michigan Farm Bureau, 4000 N. Grand River the newly-formed Public Informa- attractive native costume, the worship together. Ave., Lansing, ~{ichigan. tion and Understanding Commit- energetic Litta told of her experi- tee, and the fine work of the ences in Litenicy Village, India. In this chapel, they kneel in The Practical Nurses' schoiarship is one of three Safety Committee. Not satisfied to "sit and rock" prayer around a pool of water which signifies Life. On the pin- awarded each year by the Michigan Farm Bureau NEW VICE CHAIRMAN following her retirement from the Heading the Farm Bureau Wo- Ohio Farm Bureau Federation as nacle of the chapel, reaching Women. A Michigan State University scholarship in men's Committee for the next \Vomen's Director, Litta em- toward the sky, is a spire pointing the amount of $324) and a cooperative Elevator and two years will be Mrs. Wm. barked upon an "adventure in to God. Farm Supply scholarship for $100 are also available Scramlin, re-elected as chairman, humanity:' Each experience of It was with His help that Litta through the efforts of the County Farm Bureau and Mrs. Clare Carpenter, elected this adventure provided her au- performed "miracles" in Literacy "Vomen's Committees, vice-chaitman. Mrs. Carpenter dience with an exercise in emo- Village. That the blind'may see, replaces Mrs. Jerold Topliff, tions - from humor to horror, the sick become strong, the lost Members of the state Scholarship Committee are: whose term ended this year. near-disbelief to spiritual reawak- ones find meaning to Life - Mrs. Wm. Scramlin, Holly; Mrs. Tom Wieland) Charle- The new vice-chairman is from ening, pride in womanhood per- these were the "miracles." And Cass City, Tuscola county, where sonified by Litta, and a sense of though Litta has returned to her v~ix, and Mrs. Robert Baccus, Lake Linden. she and her husband operate a inadequacy when viewing the homeland, the prayers of those dairy and general farm. They deeds of this dedicated woman. kneeling in the chapel at Literacy have three children, one married, The women who had left their Village will surely follow her two at home, and one grandchild. bright, modem kitchens that wherever she may go. un A ROBERSON - from Literacy Village, India, gave a report to the large crowd at the Michigan Farm Bureau Women's CHAIRMAN AND VICE-CHAIRMAN of the Michigan Farm Bureau Women for the annual meeting, Nov. 9, of her experiences in the project they helped support. Also shown at the head table are (left next two years are: Mrs.. Wm. Scramlin, Holly, re-elected chairman (right), and Mrs. to right): President Elton Smith, Mrs. Wm. Scramlin, Mrs. Jerold Topliff, and past state chairmen, Mrs. Margaret Muir and Clare Carpenter, Cass City, newly-elected vice-chairman. Election of officers waS Mrs. Alex Kennedy. part of the action ot the Form Bureou Women's 21 st annual meeting, Nov. 9. MICHIGAN FARM NEWS December 1, 1965 NINE "BEAN FUDGE? CARROT COOKIES?" - They're in the new Farm Bureau Women's FARM BUREAU QUEENS - from "24 counties porticipated in this year's state contest. They were introduced at the Mich- "Country Kitchen Cookbook," explains Mrs. Virgie Galbavi to Mrs. Andrew igan Farm Bureau annual banquet, held at the Lansing Civic Center, Nov. 10. Nomed 1966 Farm Bureau Queen was Miss Meyer, Calhoun county, at the display table outside the Michigan State University Janet Hill, Eaton county entrant (center); Mrs. Craig Hearn, Gratiot (left center), was chosen "first runner-up." Miss Hill will Auditorium, scene of the 46th annual meeting . represent the Michigan Farm Bureau at the Americon Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting in Chicago in mid-December. ..Storm is no Stopper This Year 'Mom" Was QtlJe91li Stormy weather and hazardous driving did not prevent the NEW RULES Farm Bureau Women of District 10E from attending their an- -A NEW LOOK nual fall meeting, October 28. Sixty-six delegates gathered at More than half of the entrants the Mikado Township Hall, where they were greeted by their in this year's "Farm Bureau hostesses from Alcona County. Queen" contest were married. Eoyal Call of the Market Development Department, Michigan Most had two or three children, - Farm Bureau, presented a film on "Marketing - a Family and judges were continually amaz.ed at their chic looks, smart Affair," and explained the activities of the Michigan Agricultural apparel and ability to handlr . Cooperative Marketing Association (MACMA). themselves in trying circum- Following a potluck dinner, the women were entertained by stances. the Alcona Community School mixed chorus. The excellent per- A change in age-limits from 17 formance of the singers was a highlight of the meeting. to 18 years minimum, with a maximum age of 30 for the upper A report on county projects indicated that Alpena's two main limit, was undoubtedly respon- activities were the "share-a-Ioaf' program and the strawberry sible for much of the "new look" - festival. Alcona's projects were the cancer fund canvass, and of this year's event which at- sending a girl to the Citizenship Seminar. Iosco reported on tracted 24 contestants from as their work with the Hale Health Council, and Montmorerwy told many counties. of sending clothes to the patients of Traverse City Hospital. "Out of the field of 24, six final- ists were picked, with this group Presque Isle participated in a trip to the Traverse City Hos- narrowed to two winners, the pital and served luncheon to the patients. Ogemaw reported Farm Bureau Quee.n and her al- first-aid training has been one of their main projects. ternate. Miss Helen Atwood, coordinater of Women's Activities, an- nounced November 9 as the release date for the Farm Bureau CONTEST ANTS Women's "Country Kitchen Cookbook," featuring recipes made Entrants included: Alpena, from Michigan-grown- products. Wilma Schultz; Arenth, Mrs. State chairman, Mrs. Wm. Scramlin, reported on her recent trip to the Associated County Women of the World triennial meeting in Ireland and informed the women that the next con- - MOM IS A QUEEN - but of course, five-month old Douglas Hearn has always thought so, even before she was selected "Gratiot County Farm Bureau Queen," and then "first runner-up" in the Michigan Form Bureau queen contest. Lovely Vivian Schultte; Barry, Margery Kilmer; Branch, Mrs. Nancy San- ford; Cass, Mrs. Darlene McKen- zie; Clinton, Jean 'Vright, and ference would be held in Michigan in 1968. Shirley Hearn appeared at Gratiot County's annual rural-urban event to tell Eaton, Janet Hill. about Farm Bureau and of the mutual concerns of farm and city women. Other contestants were: Genes- see, Mrs. Helen Harris; Gladwin, Judy Woodruff; Gratiot, Mrs. Gratiot "Tea 'N Talk" Shirley Hearn (see related picture story nearby); Ingham, Eileen Droscha; Jackson, Louanna Mrs. The annual Gratiot County Farm Bureau Women's rural- Afanthei, and Lenawee, Mary urban meeting attracted almost 250 farm and city women Cox. to the college campus at Alma, October 27. Neighboring Livingston, Mrs. Louise All- .... counties Isabella and Ogemaw were represented, and mand; Marquette-Alger, Mary Montcalm county brought 50 women to enjoy the after- DeVooght; Menominee, Gloria noon festivities. Sager; Midland, Mrs. Carol Max- Mistress of ceremonies, Ruth Hooper, greeted the guests well; Montcalm, ~frs. Linda Kay and introduced the Gratiot County Farm Bureau "Queen," Andersen; Oakland, Mrs. Janice Mrs. Craig Hearn, who told the city women about Farm Middleton. Oceana, Mrs. Karen Wheeler; Bureau and of the importance of urban understanding of St. Clair, Mrs. Ruth Burrows; farmers' problems. Tuscola, Mrs. Nancy Ruggles; In the audience watching the regal blonde queen with Washtenaw, Elain Schaible and wide-eyed interest was her five-month old son, Douglas. \Vexford, Mrs. Lenora Luther. "'1rs. Hearn represented Gratiot County at the Afichigan The new Farm Bureau Queen, Farm Bureau annual banquet in Lansing, November 10, Miss Janet HiU, will represent the and was selected "first runner-up" in the state Farm Bureau organization at a number of offi- Queen contest. cial functions throughout the year. Following a travelog on "Hawaii - our 50th State," by She will travel with the Michigan dele"gation to the annual meeting ., ." Edwin Peterson, the audience adjourned for "tea and talk" - an informal part of the annual program which seems of the AmericaJ;l Farm Bureau Federation in Chicago, in mid- to be the favorite of both city and farm women. December. TEN December 1, 1965 MICHIGAN FARM NEWS Efficiency Award All active Farm Bureau mem- Search For Names The Michigan Elevator Exchange Division. of Fann Bu- ber, Norman Erickson, Coloma, reau Services offers two awards of $25 each to members or A core of strong leaders in our gram, sil1ce leadership involves has been named one of the 15 to Community Farm Bureaus who submit the winning Michigan rural communities, this sacrifice on the part of the whole top United States farmers to re- "brand-name" for two grades of Michigan pe~ beans. is the objective of a new project family. ceive the 'Ford Motor Company's about to begin at Michigan State Twenty-five dollars will be given for the best brand The thirty chosen were selected "Farm Efficiency Award" for out- University. from a list of 170 candidates. It name for the Michigan Elevator Exchange grade now standing agricultural accomplish- The \,y. K. Kellogg Foundation is pleasing to their many friends classed as "Michigan No.1" - a grade containing beans ments. regards this project as important and co-workers in Farm Bureau having good color and low in foreign material or dam- Erickson, a member of the St. - important enough to warrant to note that almost all have al- aged beans. This grade is sold mainly to domestic canners, Joseph County Farm Bureau a grant of $432,225 for a five- ready established leadership at- and to the export market. since 1949, won his award in the year training program. tainments in Farm Bureau. Another $25 will go to the member or Community Farm "Food Crops" division. On his Thirty leading young Michigan Our congratulations go to these Bureau who suhmits the best brand name for the Mich- 130-acre farm, he puts his man- farmers have been chosen as the young farm leaders from 26 Mich- igan Elevator Exchange's "Michigan Prime Handpicked" agement knack to work on grapes, first of three such groups who igan counties: peaches, apples, tomatoes, grade of pea beans. This grade has a fair color and has will participate in a broad pro- Allegan County, Wayne Schip- ~herries, strawberries, asparagus a minimum of damaged beans or foreign material. It is gram of leadership experiences. per; Berrien County, Louis Kerli- and sweet cherries. sold mainly to domestic canners, with very little going The program is founded on the kowske and Don Stover; Calhoun belief that rural people are aided Highly mechanized, his farm into export. County, Eric Feru; Cass County, uses air pruners, airblast sprayers, in making sound decisions through As an example - the "Michigan Choice Handpicked" James File; Clinton County fork lifts and pallets. He pack- a strong and well-trained leader- Robert Zeeb. grade now packed for the consumer market by the Mich- ship. ages his crops carefully and keeps Genesee County, Donald Hill; igan Elevator Exchange carries the brand name "CASSE- These young farm leaders will a high sugar content in his grapes Hillsdale County, Keith Brown ROLE." This brand is the top grade on the market. devote about thirty days each and good color in peaches to get and Nick Smith; Huron County, premium selling prices. year for a three year period to RULES OF THE CONTEST Vernon Kretzsch mer; Ingham "Tinners of the nationally study, seminars, tours and travel, Eligibility: County, Stanley Fay and Marvin recognized awards are selected exploring the problems of agri- Any person who submits a brand name entry for either Loft; Ionia .County, Lyle Glover; bv the staff of the Ford Almanac, culture and COmmll1lity life. The Jackson County, Mike Barton; edited by John Strohm, inter- grade of beans, as described, must hold a Farm Bureau study tours will have state, na- Kalamazoo County, Ian Vosburg; nationally-known farm writer, in membership for 1966, or any Community Farm Bureau en- tional and international scope. Kent County, Jerry Sietsema; La- cooperation with other agricul- tering the contest must be in active standing for the year The Kellogg Foundation has peer County, Jay Tuggle. hIraI experts, based on the abil- 1965-66. underwritten the program to the extent of $5,000 for each of the Leelenau County, Paul Scott; itv of farmers to accomplish Employees of the' Michigan Farm Bureau and affiliated chosen farm leaders, but no small Lenawee County, Phil Hart and e~ceptional management records. companies, or of the County Farm Bureaus are not eligible part of the contribution comes Howard Sliker; Mackinac County, The sponsors each year estab- Iohn Kronemeyer; Manistee to co:npete in. this contest. from the young famler himself. lish challenging goals of yield, County, Calvin Lutz; Midland All entries -must be mailed and postmarked before...mid- It is no small matter to provide cost and profit in 14 categories. County, Dirk Maxwell; Ottawa The most recent records of farm- night of March 1, 1966. Mail entries to Donald Kinsey, for his absence from the farm to participate in classes or in tours County, Ted Bosgraff; Saginaw ers throughout the United States Michigan Farm Bureau, Box 960, Lansing, Michigan 48904. that take him from his f<~m oper- County, Ron Sutto; Sanilac are then measured against the "Use" Reservation: ation for periods from a week to County, Dan Landberg; St. Joseph goals. In all cases, the 1966 The Michigan Elevator Exchange division of Farm Bu- two months. County, James Gleason; Tuscola winners exceeded the goals by a reau Services reserves all rights to use any brand name There will be features in the County, John Laurie; Van Buren substantial margin. submitted for these grades of beans, or to use any other program which include the wives Cbunty, Stephen Shafer; Wayne Erickson will receive a number name which, in its judgment, may seem more desirable. of these young farmers, also. County, James Sayre. of awards to be presented at a But the awards will be given regardless of whether use is Dean T. K. Cowden regards this To quote the author of "Beau banq uet in his honor early next maqe of the submitted names or not. . as an important aspect of the pro- Ceste" - "Stout FeIlas." year in his home town. HOW ABOUT THIS FOR A II o DAY PICK-UP"? "I UNICO \\REDI-GRIP" The Tires with the Terrific Traction! Farmers Petroleum 'l'«JHt: Cooperative 4000 N. Grand River Ave .• Lansing, Mich. M'CHIGAN FARM NEWS December 1, 1965 ELEVEN Farm-Labor Sessions The More You Use it ... Public versus private responsibility in dealing with farm labor will be one of the issues discussed at a "Farm Labor Manage- ment Workshop" December 16 and 17, Kellogg Center, East The Better it Pays! "When better earnings are real- But other Farmers Petroleum Local service points and the trans- . Lansing. ized through increased business, products continued to expand in port system continue to be mod- Farm employers will discuss problems associated with farm Farmers Petroleum Cooperative use. "Flame Balanced" heating ernized as rapidly as possible. labor, such as management, recruitment and training, during will share them," said Carl Heis- fuels moved 2.1 % faster. Tires New "on-the-farm" tire services the two-day conference which begins with 8:30 a.m. registration ler, Calhoun County farmer and and accessories found greater de- are being developed in local Thursday, December 16 and continues through Friday afternoon. president of the cooperative. Heis- mand in the past year. Many branch service units. The workshop is sponsored by the Rural Manpower Center ler addressed more than 250 new patrons were added - with Valuable information on mod- farmer patrons and guests at the 300 new users joining the pro- ern "Power Farming" was given of Michigan State University, in cooperation with the Farm gram of Direct Delivery from re- annual meeting of the c09perative to 2,500 farmer patrons in a series Labor Management Committee of the Michigan State Horticul- at Kellogg Center, Michigan State finery to farm. of demonstration shows held tural Society. University, November 30th. The earnings of Farmers Pe- throughout the state during the Speakers will include Frank T. Potter, director, National Farm troleum Cooperative held up well first three months of the year. Labor Service, speaking on "Labor Shortage - Fact or Fiction," "We have a proud record of during the year, in spite of the service extending for seventeen Efforts were made to step up Norman Papsdorf, Michigan Department of Health, discussing impact of price wars on gasoline out-state services with the build- years," Heisler said. "We know and increases in operating ex- "The Minimum Housing Standards Act," and a number of that our products are tops in ing of a new branch warehouse at Michigan State University personnel. penses due to inflation. Linwood, Michigan and the estab- quality and we fit our services to Earnings of 16.8% were real- lishment of a new branch at Mt. A 6:00 p.m. dinner, December 16, will feature Senator Sander the needs of the individual farmer. ized on the capital and equity The facts should prompt every Pleasant. The branch operation M. Levin, Berkley. Michigan Farm Bureau personnel on the held by patrons and stockholders. at Cassopolis was modernized. program are Dan Reed, Legislative Counsel, and James Rath- Farm Bureau member to use the This meant a gain of 9.7% on Farmers Petroleum Cooperative Farmers Petroleum Cooperative bun, Farm Bureau Insurance. the net worth of the cooperative program." continued to move to advance its if hath of these gains are con- According to Daniel W. ShIrt, director of Rural I\1anpower position in crude oil reserves. The The facts in the annual report sidered before the payment of Center, early reservations for the workshop are necessary. In- cooperative participated in the pointed to another year of ex- federal income taxes. terested farm employers may write to D. W. Sturt, Room 48, drilling of eight new wells, two panding service and farmer ac- F.P.C. has been able to pay Agricultural Hall, Michigan State University, East Lansing, of which proved to be producers. ceptance. M aior progress was 5 % on "Class A" stocks and 3 % Michigan. to holders of deferred patron- 'Vaterflooding projects were ad- realized in the sale of the new, vanced in the Illinois and Mich- age certificates in 1965. Interest modern "Custom" diesel fuel igan wel)s to boost production in on debentures amounting to which led the quality market be- these fields. Farmers Petroleum $105,965 has been paid. Mature ginning with 1965. The volume debentures to the amount of Cooperative now holds partici- of sales rose 171 % for diesel fuel $116,310 have been redeemed as pating interest in 528 oil wells in Tightly-constructed concrete feed bunks hold during the past year. well as $44,030 in Class A stocks. four states. finely ground concentrates. Durable concrete The main address at the ban- Patronage earnings based on withstands the roughest treatment from stock With more diesel power being quet of the annual meeting was the business of the past year will and equipment, lasts a lifetime with practically used on the farm and with acre- be forwarded to patrons during given by Dr. Carl W. Hall, pro- no upkeep. Concrete bunks are easily adapted age being retired under govern- this December. fessor of agricultural engineering to automatic feeding systems. ment programs, the volume move- Programs of training to enable at Michigan State University. Dr. Construction is fast, easy and economical. ment of Power Balanced Gasoline employees to render better serv- Hall pictured the development was slightly lower than a year ice to farmer patrons have been expected in power machinery on Ask your ready-mixed concrete producer or the farms of America in 1980. ago - a 2.1 % reduction. stepped up during the past year. rural builder for details. Write for free copy of "Concrete Feed Bunks." Four times you'll be glad you Cut feeding costs with have Farm Interphone: CONCRETE (I) •............••.... .... .......•........... . FEED BUNKS :::::::::::::::: ... ...... ... ::: ................... ......••........... .. -- o .. When you have a lot of work on your hands. When your wife is busy- and you need to With this two-way speaker-amplifier in your talk to her right away. A more compact barn, you can carryon a phone conversation version of the two-way speaker -amplifier ... "hands free" -without even picking up the just right for the kitchen. Your wife can phone. talk without taking her eye off the cooking. ~o When every minute counts. An extension phone in your barn or other work area is one of the greatest time- savers ever invented. No more running to take or When you're in the yard, and an important make calls in your house. call comes in. Stay with the chores, mister -this powerful two-way loudspeaker will bring you every word loud and clear. Rug- gedly built for use in outdoor locations. All this equipment, plus your regular .home phone, is included in Farm Interphone service. For low rates and other informa- tion, just call our Business Office-or ask your Telephone Man. ." PORTLAND CEMENT ASSOCIATION 900 Stoddard Bldg., lansing, Michigan 48933 An fI",n;;,I;06 IDimp'DVI .nd ,xl,nd 1111 USISflf cDncr,I,• Michigan Bell Part of the Nationwide Bell System @ ...,.... lII.d, pflss;bl, by Ib, fin,nci.1 SUPPDrt of lIIosl cflmpllin, ClIIJ,nl lII.nu'"'u",, ill Ib, IInit,d SI,t" .nd C,n.d. TWELVE December 1, 1965 MICHIGAN FARM NEWS AGRICULTURE IN ACTION AROUND IICHI8AI SAGINAW PROMOTES SAFETY CORN PICKING CONTEST ONE OF THE CONTESTANTS in the Michigan Corn Picking contest in trials prior FARM VEHICLE SAFETY- through the use of reflective signs for farm machines on the highway is being promoted by to the national contest in Adrian, unloads his corn from the required four rows the Saginaw County Farm Bureau. Trooper Calvin Glassford watches Aqency Manager, James Erskine, place one of the of picking. He awaits the judges' analyses based on samples taken behind his safety signs on the tractor of Saginaw County board member, Elmer A. Rusch. machine. "TALK MEET" WINNER LENAWEE WOMEN SERVE MIKE SATCHELL,Tuscola County (center), won the "Talk Meet" with a convincing SERVING THE PRESIDENT- Michigan beef barbeque, Michigan milk, and a Michigan apple for dessert - is Mrs. Hope case against government controls from the viewpoint of a young farmer. Runners. Sawyer, manager of the Lenawee Farm Bureau Women's food booth at the National Corn Picking Contest in Adrian. Ivan up in the contest were Mrs. Janet Ravell, Montcalm, and Jon Jenkins, Ingham. Hunt, Lenawee Farm Bureau president, was one of thousands of satisfied customers. NEW MFB BOARD OF DIRECTORS SINGER WINS "TALENT FINO" winner for 1966 is Miss JoAnne Erickson, Whittemore. The young MICHIGAN FARM BUREAU BOARD MEMBERS pose for photographers following election of directors in "odd.numbered" districts at the 46th annual meeting. Right losco county singer will receive an ex- to Left (front row) are: Kenneth Bull, Dist. 7; Robert Zeeb, "at-large," Dean Pridgeon, "at large," Mrs. Wm. Scramlin, Women's representative; President Elton pense paid trip to the American Farm Smith; Ward Hodge, Dist. 6; Harvey Luenberger, Dist. 8; Raymond Kucharek, Young People's representative; (back row) Donald Ruhlig, Dist. 3; Eugene Roberts, Bureau Federation annual meeting in Dist. 9; Walter Frahm, "at large," Wilbur Smith, Dist. 2; David Morris, Dist. 5; Francis Finch, Dist. 1, and Clayton Ford, Dist. 11. Chicago this December. MICHIGAN FARM NEWS December 1, 1965 THIRTEEN MEMBERSHIP TRIP AWARDS NEW FARM BUREAU MEMBERS, written by Mrs. Audrey Quisenberry (left), Mont. CERTIFICATES OF ACHIEVEMENT - were awarded to "goal county" presidents (left to right): E. J. Hart, Alcona; Robert calm county (26 members I), and Mrs. Margaret Muir, Newaygo county (1.4 mem- Aube, Alpena; Raymond Cross, losco; Walter Polachek, Mackinac-luce; Herman Rader, Montcalm, and Albert Kunnen, bers!} were recognized at the annual meeting. Field Services manager, Glenn Newaygo. The achievements awards were presented on behalf of the American Farm Bureau Federation. Sommerfeldt, awards each an expense paid trip to the AFBF convention. HIGHEST PRECENTAGE over "membership growth goal" was FIRST COUNTY IN MICHIGAN to reach membership growth THREE PRESIDENTS of county Farm Bureaus were honored for achievements in the honor bestowed on the Mackinac-luce farm Bureau. goal by January 15 was Montcalm. Elmer Miller (left) will making membership gains. They were (left to right): Herman Rader, Montcalm Walter Polachek, chosen to represent his county on the AFBF represent his county at the American Farm Bureau Federa- county; Walter Polachek representing Fred Pershinske, Mackinac.luce, and Herbert trip, receives congratulations from Glenn Sommerfeldt. tion annual convention in Chicago. Peppel, Bay county. Not shown is George Fleming, Oceana county. SPECIAL RATE TO FARM BUREAU MEMBERS: 25 words for $2.00 each edition. Additional words, 10 cents each. Figures such as 12 or $12.50 count GS one word. NO.N-MEMBER advertisers: 15 cents per word one edition, two or more editions, 10 cents per word. Copy deadline: 20th of the month. 1 AUCTIONS 18 HELP WANTED 20 LIVESTOCK 22 NURSERY STOCK 26 POULTRY THREE MEN FOR FEED MILL WORK FOR SALE-20 Holstein Heifers, vac- STARK BRO'S NEW I50th ANNIVER- DAY OLD OR STARTED PULLETS- MISSOURI AUCfION SCHOOL. Free cinated, 550 Ibs.-$100.00. Also, 350 -Outside service-salesman, grinder-mixer SARY CATALOG FREE! Spectacular The DeKalk profit pullet. Accepted by catalogl 1330-50 Linwood, Kansas City, gallon stainless steel bulk milk cooler, man and manager for small plant. Con- full-color display of Giant-size Apples, the smart poultryman for high egg pro- Mo. 64109. (2-Tf-l0b) 1 3 years old-$800.00. Ed Tanis, Jenison, tact Farmers Elevator, Concord, Mich- Peaches, Nectarines (Fuzzless Peaches). duction, superior egg quality, greater feed igan. (12-lt-21b) 18 Michigan. Phone MO 9-9226 (Ottawa Pears, Cheries, Apricots, Plums from efficiency. U you keep records, you'll County) (11-2t-27b) 20 DWARF, Semi-Dwarf, Standard Size keep DeKalbs. Write for prices and trees. Ornamentals. Roses, etc. Guaran- catalog. KLAGER HATCHERIES, Bridge- 6 DOGS 20 LIVESTOCK HEREFORD BULLS-pure bred herd teed. Stark, Dept. 30666, Louisiana, water, Michigan. Telephones: Saline HAzel sires. Ready for service. Also, registered Missouri 63353. (12-lt-39b) 22 9-7087, Manchester GArden 8-3034 ST ARTED ENGLISH SHEPHERD PUPS heiEers and calfs. Egypt Valley Hereford (\V ashtenaw County) (tf-46b) 26 DAIRYMEN-Use Perfect Balancer 8% Farm, 6611 Knapp St., Ada, Michigan. from our own good working stock dogs. phosphate mineral feed. Mix one pound Ferris Bradley, Springport, M i chi g an. Phone OR 6-1090. (Kent County) of Perfect Balancer to every 100 lbs. of (1l-tf-25b) 20 (Jackson County). (1l-2t-15p) 6 ground feed. You can eliminate bone meal 26 POULTRY POULTRYMEN-Use Perfect Balancer, by using Perfect Balancer. Get Perfect Balancer at your elevator. The Gelatin 21 MAPLE SYRUP KLAGER'S DeKALB PROFIT PULLETS 8 % phosphate mineral feed in your ground feed. Eliminate soft shelled eggs. ~{ix 3 Bone Co., Box 125, Emmett, Michigan. (tf-40b) 20 WANTED-Maple Syrup Producer with -Sixteen weeks and older. The proven Ibs. per 100 lbs. feed. The Gelatin Bone 14 FOR SALE 300-450 buckets to operate perimental evaporator and burner. season for us ex- Hybrid. Raised under ideal conditions by e1perienced poultrymen. Growing birds in- Co., Box 125, Emmett, Michiian. (tf-25b) 26 1966. using L. P. Gas for fuel. Producer spected weekly by trained staff. Birds on 15 INCH HAMMER MILL, power take FEEDING HOGS? Use salt free, high to have suitable house, located at farm full feed, vaccinated, debeaked, true to off driven on rubber tire trailer with dust anal}'sis Perfect Balancer 8 % phosphate building location if possible for conven- age, and delivered in clean coops. See collector. Used to grind 100 bushels mineral feed in your hog feed. Mix one pound of Perfect Balancer with each 100 ience electricity and water and time. This theml We have a grower near you. Birds 34 WANTED /train. Call Caseville 856-2747. (Huron location not absolutely necessary iE suitable raised on Farm Bureau feed. KLAGER County) (12-lt 23p) 14 Ibs. of grouna feed. You can eliminate house and location available in woods. HATCHERIES, Bridgewater, Michigan. bone meal by using Perfect Balancer. Get Telephones: Saline, HAzel 9-7087, Man- ATTENTION FARMERS-Get good Will furnish all equipment and help pay money for your old live cows and horses, Perfect Balancer at vour elevator. The for fuel costs. Producer to cooperate with chester GArden 8-3034. (Washtenaw Gelatin Bone Co., Box 125, Emmett, County) (tf-72b) 26 "up or down," we pay $10--$50. We us, furnishing all records each day's boil- feed to mink only. You are safe when WINSLOW TRUCK SCALE - 34 feet Michigan. (tf-50b) 20 ing operation. Our equipment will include }"ou sell to Fur Farms Food, Inc., Rich- long. Scale will wei/th 30 tons. Gillette smoke stack damper, special thermometers mond, Michigan. We pick up everyday in Sand and Gravel, 7595 Beard Rd., Shafts- located various parts each boiling pan for all counties east of M-27 and 127. We burg, Michigan. Phone Lansing 339-2394 CATILE FEEDERS-Feed high analysis accurate boiling records and hurner effi- Perfect Balancer 8 % phosphate mineral also pay for your phone call to: 727-9765. or Perry 625-3390. (11-2t-26b) 14 ciency. If you have the time and feel (Macomb County) (3-65-tf-58p) 34 feed. Feed free choice. Put plain salt in that you can do this work for us, phone one container and Perfect Balancer Min- us for appointment, contacting Us prompt- erai in another container. The animal ly to arran!l:e details before winter months. FAR ROW I N G C RAT E S-C 0 m pie t e knows which one he needs. Get Perfect Sugar Bush Supplies Company, 4109-11 $22.95. Free Literature. Dolly Enter- Balancer mineral at vour elevator. The \Vest Saginaw, Lansing, Michigan. (Ing- prises, 219 Main, Colchester, Illinois. (12-2t-12p) 8 Gelatin Bone Co., Box 125, Em m e tt, Michigan. (tf-47b) 20 ham County) (12-lt-137b) 21 FARMERS: Check the value you get in FREE FILM Gelatin Bone Perfect Balancer, COUNTRY KITCHEN For every roll of Kodacolor or Black and White film you send us for proces- sing, you will receive ABSOLUTELY FREE a fresh roll of the same size film with your developed prints. the mineral feed of champions: Percent Min. Percent Max. 225 Phosphorous 8.0 9.0 COOKBOOK Some hard.to-buy-for names on your Christmas list? Solve these 8 exposure and enlarged 12 exposure developed PLUS FREE ROLL KODACOlOR developed 275 FILM Calcium Mag. Sulfate Iodine Cobalt (pure) Sulfate 29.0 .24 .015 .01 34.0 .018 .03 problems with an attractive COUNTRY KITCHEN COOKBOOK, and enlarged Salt 0.00 0.00 a welcome gift to anyone who enjoys good eating. 128 pages of PLUS FREE ROLL KODACOLOR FILM Get Perfect Balancer at vour recipes family-tested in the kitchens of the world's best cooks. GIANT SIZE COLOR PRINTS (Kodacolor negatives only) ea. 19c Feed free.choice to stop cash losses from cracked, checked or soft. elevator. Distributed in ~iich- Added feature - a clever easel standard for ease in preparing the shelled eggs. igan by: over 300 unique recipes. Get your order in now for several. This Only the finest Kodak is a gift that will be enjoyed every day of the year. Contact your materials used. FARM BUREAU OYSTER SHELL PRODUCTS CO. county Fann Bureau Women's Committee chainnan, or write: Cook- Subsidiary of SERVICES, INC. book, Michigan Farm Bureau Women, 4000 N. Grand River Avenue, Maplewood Studio Southern Industries Corporation The GElATIN BONE CO. Lansing, Michigan. Box 362 lansing, Mich. MOBILE, ALABAMA Box 125, Emme", Michigan FOURTEEN Decem bar 1, 1965 MICHIGAN FARM NEWS ----- - - -- ------------ We Must DISCUSSION All Work TOPIC Together EDUCATION PREPARED BY THE AND RESEARCH DEPARTMENT MICHIGAN FARM BUREAU To - - - I TRACK DOWN A KILLER! American tradition has always prompted people The Farm Bureau Insurance Group responded with What were the conditions of the cars and drivers within communities to rise to their own defense. a well-defined "Save-A-Life" program this year. They when the accidents occurred? Facts show where and 'Vhen a "varmint" got on the loose, killing cattle and provided a field safety engineer to help County Farm what - and suggest corrections. sheep, neighbors banded together to track him down Bureaus develop a "Stop the Slaughter" campaign The Safety Committee should collect pictures, and dispose of him. The hunt for the killer was an around our farm homes. wherever possible, pictures of hazardous conditions organized effort. If there is a ball to be set rolling, often the Farm - to support the action it will take to bring correction But now, the worst «killer varmint" in our history Bureau Women (God bless 'em) give it a push. There of a hazard. It can promote driver training education is on the loose in our rural communities. And the vic- comes word of plans for a Farm Bureau \\Tomen's programs. It can help form «Teenage Safe-Driving tims are not cattle and sheep. They are the people, Safety Conference in late January or February. The Clubs" with film and instructional programs showing themselves - folks who live right around home. Women have already been making a close study of kids what to do in emergency situations. It can help State Police records show that for the first seven this ugly rural traffic record. promote the use of safety belts in cars. months of 1965, deaths continued to increase on coun- When facts are collected on any dangerous situa- Sadly, there have been a very few of the county ty and local roads. In August, they rose 8% over the tion, there is a basis for approaching public agencies Farm Bureau boards who are willing to take hold previous year, while urban deaths by accidents de- and calling for its correction. The committee should of this Save-A-Life campaign. «Too busy! Too busy!" creased 28 %. And the maiority of the rural accidents work with the County Road Commission, the Sheriffs and deaths involved people who lived right in the Admittedly, we can cluck our tongues over the growing disaster. We can complain about rising in- department and local and State Police departments. neighborhood where the accidents occurred. It would be a sound move to promote safety-checks Injuries multiply. Property damage goes skyrocket- surance rates. We can do all this without taking time from our work. But it does take time to attend on vehicles in the county - checks of brakes, tires) ing. Do we wonder why insurance rates go «out of wheel alignment, lights and turn signals, and the con- the funerals! bounds?" The «varmint" needs tracking down in your dition of running gear on cars. rural county area! This rural accident and death record is a LOCAL Numerous films are available to use in meetings What advantage do you have in being Farm Bu- problem. It will take action by LOCAL people to wherever opportunity can be found. Such films are reau-organized at the home and county level? To be bring it under control. No one else will lift a finger listed in the Save-A-Life Safety Directors manual. organized means to be armed to do the jobs and hit to do the job. A weU organized campaign of this kind gets results. the problems that face you right where you live! The Save-A-Life program calls for the appointment Cass county had one of the worst rural accident rec- But the power of being organized is only little used. of a local Farm Bureau leader to act as County Safety ords in the state before 1961. Something had to be . People too often think of problems in such terms Director. A complete manual is ready to help him done. In that year, the county organized «Operation as "please go away and don't bother me!" They don't organize the work. He will need helpers - a Safety Bootstrap" aimed at halting rural accidents. By 1963, go. Only after the shock of a disaster hits home do Committee. The delegates requested that the county Cass county reduced its rural accidents by 33% while people decide that something must be done. Often boards set such a committee to work. the state accident record was mounting by 21%. Yes, then, it is too late. The Save-A-Life program has system. Numerous some of the killing can be stopped. People think of the threat as though it were over things need doing. The manual helps outline what Your county effort can payoff, too. Take a look the fence in the next county. When action is sug- to do. The committee will, of course, take things one at the record for your county for the past three years .. gested, they say, "We are too busy to bother with at a time. What sort of things? Then ask yourself, "Can we afford to let this go on that!" It becomes strange when people can be <~too with nothing done to stop it?" A study of the county accident situation launches busy" to save lives - their neighbor's or perhaps The record grows worse for our rural county and the effort. Even local members can help contribute their own. local roads every day. Many a death trap is ready information on such accidents. Where, how and why The record is there - and it isn't statistics - it's to spring. The question stands poised-"Who's next?" do such accidents happen? What are the locations folks. «George" isn't going to do the things neces- It's time to track down the killer ... or crossroads? What conditions need correction to sary to remove the danger to them nor halt the kill- prevent these accidents from repeating? ings. Over 2,000 people died on AI ichigan highways in Are there obstructions that need removing? Are 1964. Seven out of ten of the crashes jn which they crops, brush or trees making "blind comers?" Are ACTION-QUESTIONS died were in areas like those where you live. Prop- broken road surfaces and bad shoulders endangering erly damage reached $380 million. lnsurance rates drivers? Do some roads need yellow lines at danger 1. List road hazards in your community which en- went berserk. 1VIzo cares? spots? danger the lives of people travelling by car. What Who, indeed? should be done? Do dangerous locations and crossroads have the Delegates to the Michigan Farm Bureau Annual proper warning and stop signs? Are proper speed 2. Poll your group members for support and par- Meeting last November called for action - a County limits posted? Are "dead end" roads clearly marked? ticipation in a County Farm Bureau "Save-A-Life" . Farm Bureau mobilization of forces to halt the grow- "Blind curves?" Narrow bridges? Farm driveways? program to halt the accidents, deaths and injuries on ing disaster. Safe loads on bridges? local and county roads. MICHIGAN FARM NEWS December 1, 1965 FIFTEEN , ~i \ I - ..... ~:~. , ~.-.. ' .- ~,. ~ ..~ '-':"/.'S~.o,,: *-: ~ .. "" .' .... ~}>.,"' ~ .~ .. .. ""~ Another year has rolled by and we pause to re- flect on the events which have transpired. Every year brings new prod ucts, new serVices, new techniques In marketing, logistics and distribu- • • • • .. tion ... and as fast as they are proven profitable for the farm businessman, Farm Bureau Services ~ . ~~ ,. ,~ ~, has them. Our only business IS to assist you. t{/-l I May this Christmas season be the beginning of a wonderful year for you and yours. SIXTEEN December 1, 1965 MICHIGAN FARM NEWS DOES UREAU o ME? GOD INS RANCE, FOR ONE THING Elmer A. Rusch of Saginaw County has been "a Farm Bureau member for 23 years. Why? Be- cause he feels the organization has done more to help agriculture than all other groups combined. And, in his own words, "Because Farm Bureau's insurance program is second to none." Mr. Rusch owns a 275-acre cash crop and dairy farm near Saginaw - and was recently elected president of his County Farm Bureau organization. His family, his home and his vehicles are all insured by Farm Bureau. "As far as I'm concerned, insurance is one of the best reasons for be- longing to Farm Bureau," Mr. Rusch states. ~~Icouldn't be any happier with the service I've had." Michigan Falm Bureau offers many legislative, social, and economic advantages to melnbers- including the top quality products and services which are available through its affiliated com- panies. Down through the years, farm families around Michigan have come to expect only the best from Farm Bureau. The New Farm Bureau will mean even more to you. Make sure you join in 1966. Farm Bureau INSURANCE Group Farm Bureau Mutual- Farm Bureau Life. Community Service, LANSING