farm bureau history book.qxp 10/16/2008 3:13 PM Page 1
By Carolyn Van Loh
Commemorative 90th Anniversary Book Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation Eagan, MN 2008 farm bureau history book.qxp 10/16/2008 3:13 PM Page 2
Copyright © 2008 Minnesota Farm Bureau All Rights Reserved
Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation 3080 Eagandale Place Eagan, MN 55121 651-905-2100 www.fbmn.org
Reproduction in whole or in part of any portion in any form without permission of the author or publisher is strictly prohibited.
ISBN: 978-0-615-25695-5
First Edition
Printed in the United States of America By Corporate Graphics, North Mankato, MN
Edited by Dacia (Schoenfeld) Hinkhouse
Assistant Editing by Kristin (Campbell) Harner and Jenna Wegner
Design and Layout by Madsen Ink, New Ulm, MN
Cover Photographs by Kristin (Campbell) Harner Pictured on front cover from left to right are Norma Campbell, Taylor Campbell, Duane Campbell and Keith Harner. Both front and back cover photos were taken near Currie, Minnesota. farm bureau history book.qxp 10/16/2008 3:13 PM Page 3
Minnesota Farm Bureau was an impossibility. In the last 90 When I was a teenager, my dad was on the Lincoln years, the MFBF has earned its place as the leader of farm County Farm Bureau board. All I knew about the organizations because of the thousands and thousands of organization was that Dad would scramble off to a Note grassroots members who participated in and promoted its board meeting after supper and return home after I numerous programs. I regret I couldn’t feature more of these had gone to bed. Occasionally, he would attend a members who made a difference in Farm Bureau. This book convention in the Twin Cities. Once he traveled to From merely skims the surface of issues, programs, and most Washington, D.C., and once or twice he attended importantly, the people who executed the programs. American Farm Bureau Federation annual meetings. The basis for my research included the Minnesota Farm He would come home bursting with stories of the the Bureau News, Farmer’s Voice and the Voice of Agriculture. great time he had. That research was supplemented by minutes from state board I was too involved with my church, school and 4-H Author meetings, materials supplied by county Farm Bureaus and activities to ask Dad what Farm Bureau was all about. personal interviews. I am in awe of the volunteers and It wasn’t until our 14th wedding anniversary in 1982 employees who believed in Farm Bureau, and because of their when my husband Dave and I moved from the Twin beliefs, expended their energy so we can reap the benefits of Cities back to the farm, where he had grown up, that I their dedication in the 21st century. I have tried to focus on began to get a clearer picture of Farm Bureau. We representative individuals in each decade who helped build hadn’t been farming long when two Cottonwood and promote the Federation. Each individual, each event and County Farm Bureau members came knocking on our door to each program cited represents countless other people and similar introduce us to Farm Bureau. Dave’s dad had been active on the events or programs in other counties. township level after moving from northwestern Iowa to the farm he As you read about people and programs across our state, perhaps purchased near Westbrook, Minnesota, in 1948. We also have the your memory will be jogged, and you will recall people in your county watch that Grandpa Jans Van Loh received in 1945 for “service to who helped promote agriculture in your corner of Minnesota. Farm Bureau” in Iowa where he sold Farm Bureau insurance. The facts and information taken from MFBF publications are Grandpa’s auto insurance policy was one of the first policies issued to referred to as News (1921-1982) or Voice (1982-present). All other policy holders in Iowa. sources are documented in the text and listed on the During the next 26 years both Dave and I developed a deep “Acknowledgements” page. appreciation for Farm Bureau, our nation’s largest general farm I hope you enjoy reading about the greatest farm organization in the organization. Through participation on the county and state level, we world as much as I have enjoyed researching the archives of the have come to understand why the Farm Bureau is a highly respected MFBF, interviewing some of the individuals who made a difference organization that state and national lawmakers look to for advice on for agriculture and then assembling all the information into an agriculture-related legislation. entertaining and educational book. My passion for knowing what motivates individuals and why organizations function as they do inspired me to investigate the history Carolyn Van Loh of the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF). Early in my research I realized that writing a comprehensive history of the farm bureau history book.qxp 10/16/2008 3:13 PM Page 4
Contents
Acknowledgements ...... 5 Timeline 1970-1979 ...... 88 Chapter Seven Timeline 1910-1919 ...... 6 Maintaining a Vigorous Stand ...... 89 Chapter 1 The Seed is Planted ...... 7 Timeline 1980-1989 ...... 102 Chapter Eight Timeline 1920-1929 ...... 16 Weathering the Farm Crisis ...... 103 Chapter Two Establishing the Roots ...... 17 Timeline 1990-1999 ...... 118 Chapter Nine Timeline 1930-1939 ...... 30 Improving the Yield ...... 119 Chapter Three Surviving Dought ...... 31 Timeline 2000-2008 ...... 134 Chapter 10 Timeline 1940-1949 ...... 44 Cultivating a New Crop ...... 135 Chapter Four Withstanding the Winds of War ...... 45 County Beginnings ...... 149 MFBF Presidents ...... 150-151 Timeline 1950-1959 ...... 56 State Women’s Committee Chairs ...... 152 Chapter Five Promotion and Education Committee Chairs ...... 152 Surviving Challenges ...... 57 MFBF Foundation Chairs ...... 153 Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee Chairs ...... 153 Timeline 1960-1969 ...... 72 MFB Federation Personnel 2008 ...... 154-155 Chapter Six County Index ...... 156-157 Sending Out New Shoots ...... 73 AFBF Spirit Song ...... 158 farm bureau history book.qxp 10/16/2008 3:13 PM Page 5
background of Farm Bureau, to trace the growth of Thank you to the following individuals who ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS the organization and to appreciate the foresight of graciously allowed me to interview them in those who envisioned a grassroots organization person: Al and Maxine Bussa, Bob and Jean that could be a national voice for agriculture. Dieter, Garfield and Marjorie Eckberg, Jim and • The Farm Bureau Through Three Decades. Jean Fellows, Howard and Delores Handeland, O.M. Kile. Waverly Press: Baltimore, 1948. Vern and Marlene Ingvalson, Marvin Johnson, Lt. • Your Farm Bureau. Alice Sturgis. McGraw- Gov. Carol and Steve Molnau, Harold Ogburn, Hill: New York, 1958. Gov. Al Quie, Chris Radatz, Paul Stark and Lillie • Farm Bureau Architects Through Four Ziegler. Decades. Melvin L. Woell. Kendall/Hunt Thank you to those who responded to my e-mail Publishing Company: Dubuque, Iowa, 1990. or telephone inquiries: Kim Balfe, Darlene Beyer, On a personal note, I want to thank my friend Al and Diane Christopherson, Rep. Rod Hamilton, and pastor’s wife, Deb Adams, for proofreading Judy Hanson, Dorothy Herrmann, Bennett the text before I submitted it to Kristin. Since she Osmonson and Paul Zimmerman. knew nothing about Farm Bureau, she read Thank you to the many people who voluntarily objectively and pointed out sections that weren’t sent me information. Rather than inadvertently clearly stated. Thank you, Dacia (Schoenfeld) omit someone’s name, let me say to you as a Hinkhouse, for your thoroughness when reading group that I appreciate the effort you made to the final manuscript and suggesting changes. Just provide valuable information. as Kristin deserves a medal for her hard work, my The Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation staff husband Dave also earned a medal for listening to graciously put up with me when I was in the office me read and reread the chapters to him as I tried to gleaning information from the News or the Voice. get them just right. Dave, thanks for your Thanks, Kim, for being there when I needed you. constructive criticism, for being patient with me Jenna, thank you for your behind-the-scenes assistance. Thanks, and for encouraging me as I worked through each phase of this Bob, for your support. Kristin, you deserve a medal for supervising project. Readers can enjoy the beauty of this book thanks to the whole process. You had the thankless job of handling the details Madsen Ink’s graphic design expertise. Thank you, Eileen and and business arrangements necessary for publishing a book. Mitch, for making the text come alive with your creative layout The following books, cited in the text, helped me to understand the and design.
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A bumper sticker from the mid-20th century read, “Farming is everyone’s bread and butter.” Yes, American farmers provide food for their fellow citizens as well as for people around the world. In Minnesota today, one-fifth of the state’s The Seed economy is agriculture-related. Throughout its 90-year history, the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) has taken the lead in speaking out for farmers is Planted and in promoting the agriculture industry. The Minnesota Farm Bureau has been an effective organization for 90 years Pre 1920 because of rural people dedicated to the cause of agriculture. They were the faithful grassroots members who worked hard in their township and county organizations because they believed in the principles that Farm Bureau promoted. This book will spotlight some of those individuals and the programs they implemented to promote their principles and educate people unfamiliar with agriculture. Without the vast storehouse of information found in MFBF newspapers, this book could not have been written. Early Murray County Farm Bureau leaders (F.J. Jones, president; A.C. Johnson, secretary/treasurer; Charles Swan, first vice president; Axel Fresk, second vice president; Ed Swanson, third vice president; A.J. Nord, fourth vice president; and Iver Holland, fifth vice president), with the assistance of Farm Bureau manager/extension agent A.G. Mereness, deserve recognition for having the foresight to begin publishing a monthly paper in 1920. The four-page publication dealt mainly with local activities, but the state Federation supplied reports on state activities. A unique plan made it possible for other counties that subscribed to benefit from the paper. Two pages were printed with state news, and the other two were blank so those counties could insert their local news. By May 1921, 42 counties were using the service. Cottonwood County, Jackson County, Nobles County, Pipestone County and Rock County joined with Murray County to publish news of the six counties, according to the April 15, 1922, Minnesota Farm Bureau News (News). Before Chapter One the first issue went to press, members met at the fire hall in Heron Lake and
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Jackson County, Agriculture (Voice). discussed the paper Jack Melrose served as editor of the state paper for 27 years. Born and voted to ask the in Wisconsin in 1897, he was too young for the U. S. Army when MFBF to assist in World War I broke out, so he volunteered for the Canadian army. publishing the When the United States entered the war, Jack joined the American newspaper. The forces and earned three purple hearts. He brought his expertise to News originated at Farm Bureau in 1929 after working as an agricultural editor for the that Heron Lake Duluth Tribune. meeting. Jack’s editorials were factual and to the point. He never objected Contributing and to criticism as long as anyone criticizing stuck to facts relevant to supporting counties the discussion. He also prepared and presented a daily radio gradually increased program for 10 years. Later in life, he received national recognition until the statewide for editing and publishing an outstanding farm publication. While he publication had was losing his battle with cancer, he wrote an editorial urging his 38,465 families on readers to take every possible test to prevent a similar cancer battle. the mailing list at Jack was a great conservationist who loved nature, its trees, its the beginning of animals and any product of its soil. 1940. Although this book isn’t a catalog of political accomplishments, During the readers must be aware of federal laws that paved the way for the 1930s, township birth of Farm Bureau. The Morrill Act of 1862 established Farm Bureau units participated in news agricultural, also known as land grant, colleges such as the writing contests sponsored by the News. Prizes went to the unit University of Minnesota. Then in 1887 the Hatch Act established reporter who submitted the most material, of his own writing, that agricultural experiment stations. Soon after that, farmers’ had been published in local newspapers. The contest motivated local educational institutes popped up across our country. By 1888 Farm Bureau units to publish news in their local papers, but the Minnesota’s agriculture campus included an agricultural high program was not highly successful. A number of contributors from school. At the close of the century, all but three states were holding Eden Township in Dodge County frequently won the contest. three- to five-day schools that provided farmers with the information Members received their state news under the name Minnesota and skills they needed to be successful. Farm Bureau News (News), but in 1982, the name was changed to Farmers had been meeting to share experiences and to encourage The Farmer’s Voice (Voice), and in 2000 to The Voice of one another for several decades before the birth of Farm Bureau.
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The September 1925 News carried the report from a Waseca County and permanent system of agriculture, the establishment of paper dated Jan. 30, 1879. In that issue was an announcement for a community ideals and the furtherance of the well-being, prosperity farmer’s club in Blooming Grove Township. The story stated that a and happiness of the rural people through cooperation with local, farmers’ club met every Saturday night at the school house. state and national agencies in the development and execution of a O.M. Kile’s book, The Farm Bureau Through Three Decades, program of extension work in agriculture and home economics.” traces the history of Farm Bureau’s first 30 years. One of the first (Cited by O.M. Kile) Farm Bureaus was in Binghamton, New York, where the Chamber A 1933 issue of the News reported that the Watonwan Farmers of Commerce recognized that the success of its urban community Club, the oldest in Blue Earth County, was organized in 1913. It was depended on farmers in the area. In a move to promote the farming started by L.E McMillon, who was the county Farm Bureau agent industry, the Chamber of Commerce established an agricultural and agriculture instructor at Lake Crystal High School. The group committee, or “bureau,” to promote farming in Broome County. The purchased the old Watonwan church and converted it into a club U. S. Department of Agriculture provided some of the funding, and hall. The Farm Bureau unit made the building available for dances, the New York State College of Agriculture provided educational card parties, revival meetings and nonprofit groups. assistance. However, according to J.S. Jones, MFBF secretary/treasurer, Broome County hired John H. Barron as its first county extension Traverse County took the lead in Minnesota and organized the first agent in 1911. He quickly realized that he could never serve all the county Farm Bureau in 1913. The first board of directors included farmers of Broome County and the other five counties assigned to F.W. Murphy, president; Carl O. Saterbak, first vice president; L.J. him, so he organized farmers into committees, later known as Farm Haupt, second vice president; H.B. Cory, third vice president; Gust Bureaus, to assist him with his work. Evander, fourth vice president; V.E. Anderson, secretary; and B.B. Despite the lack of 21st century communication technologies, Griffith, treasurer. With the exception of L.J. Haupt, all the officers news spread to other states, and soon Farm Bureaus patterned after were from the Wheaton area. The newly organized Farm Bureau set Broome County sprouted up across the nation. In 1914, the Smith- up the following departments: Lever Act marked the “official” start of the agricultural extension Agronomy Horticulture and Forestry service on a national level. This act appropriated funds for extension Beef Cattle Poultry agents in every agricultural county in the nation. Boy Scouts Public Affairs and Organization M.C. Burritt, vice director of extension in the state of New York, Dairy Cattle Publicity penned an early definition of Farm Bureau in his book The County Farm Plans Rural Schools Agent and the Farm Bureau, published in 1922: “A county Farm Farm Women Sheep Bureau is an association of people interested in rural affairs, which Highways Silos has for its object the development in a county of the most profitable Horses Swine
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Neighboring counties Farmers in Fillmore County responded to the news that $1,800 in followed Traverse County’s federal funds were available to every county in Minnesota that MFBFacts example, and by 1917, a dozen established a Farm Bureau. A delegation of about 80 farmers met counties in western Minnesota with the county commissioners at the courthouse in Preston on Dec. 1880: had local Farm Bureaus. 11, 1917, to talk about organizing a Farm Bureau in the county. The farmers were Farmers on the other side of the county commissioners voted to give $1,000 a year for 10 years 49 percent of the state were also organizing. In provided that a county Farm Bureau was formed with at least 300 work force 1917 township Farmers Clubs members and at least $750 was raised for each of two years to better in Rice County joined to form finance the Fillmore County extension work. 1900: the Rice County Federation of A temporary organization committee was formed with Sam farmers were Farmers Clubs. Then in January Duxbury as chairman and C.W. Hale as secretary. Committee 38 percent of the 1918, 200 farmers met at the members were John McCallum, M.H. Crane, P.W. Young, Peter work force county courthouse and Abrahamson and James O’Hara. This committee supervised the organized the Rice County membership drive. Two committee men from each township and one 1920: Farm Bureau. George A. Miller or two from each of the 12 villages were appointed to assist with farmers were was elected president, George membership. 27 percent of the L. Miller vice president and The diary of the late Peter Abrahamson noted that the Fillmore work force David Illsley secretary/ County Farmers Club (Farm Bureau) met at Galligan Hall in treasurer. Directors were the Lanesboro on Jan. 9, 1918. The organization’s permanent articles of following: Hagbarth Bue, incorporation were recorded in the courthouse on May 21, 1919. David Erb, A.J. Lashbrook, Those signing the document were Sam Duxbury, M.H. Crane, E.L. Hermon Roe, John Derham, John Finley, J.N. Lewis, O.H. Torgerson, Charles Utley, F.J. Ibach, Peter Abrahamson, M.W. Schroeder, J.N. Punderson and Edward Fleckenstein. Farm Bureau Williams and K.K. Poehler. township units were set up in 1925. Meeker County Farm Bureau organized in 1918. J.H. Lawrence In spite of a raging blizzard, Nicollet County Farm Bureau held its was the first president, G.G. Robinson was vice president and first meeting Feb. 5, 1915. Frank Osborne was elected president, J.A. William H. Peters was secretary/treasurer. The board of directors Hinquist vice president, Theo Ostrom second vice president and selected John Sheay as the first county agent. At the end of World Herman Turner secretary/treasurer. Others who assisted in the War I, Sheay and the board helped various creamery boards organize organization process were Carl Borgeson, L.W. Samuelson, William into a marketing organization that later developed into Land Schmidt and Charles H. Jackson. O’Lakes.
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Homer Goss, grandfather of Chris Radatz who is MFBF’s current annual meeting. director of public policy, helped organize the Winona County Farm Then in war time, government demanded the speeding up of Bureau. R.A. Humphrey was hired as the first county agent on April agricultural production, and having learned the value of 15, 1918, after county Farm Bureau membership reached 200 members. organization in doing the job at hand and to meet the big task that In 1920 Homer was named to the County Executive Committee was before us, in 1917 and 1918 county Farm Bureaus were for Extension Work. He continued to participate in the county organized in every agricultural county in Minnesota. A county agent organization and served as county president from 1927 through was employed in every county, very largely supported by federal 1931. During those years he also served as chairman of the Winona funds. The records will prove how well they did the job at hand at County Extension Committee. For many years, Homer organized that time. By 1919 each county had a county organization set up entertainment for the annual picnics. under the law, with a board of directors that knew the problems and Homer was also active in the Midland Co-op Oil Company of the possibilities of organization in meeting these problems. Lewiston after helping organize it. He was secretary of the board The move to organize the local Farm Bureaus into a state from 1936 to 1952 and served as vice president from 1955 to 1959. organization began April 26, 1919, when A.A. Kennedy, Olmsted From 1950 to 1962 Homer was on the Board of Review of Midland County, sent a letter to every county Farm Bureau board explaining Cooperatives, Inc. problems and challenges that went beyond the local level. He Otter Tail County Farm Bureau organized in 1919. Individuals expressed the need for expanding the organizations. F.E. Balmer, instrumental in establishing the county organization were Andrew state county agent leader from Minnesota, issued a call to all Farm Anderson, Peter Sethre, William Wright, Max Kroneman, Albert Bureau secretaries and treasurers, inviting counties to send delegates Hexum, Peter Fjestad, A.O. Huseby, Elof Hagen and George Bye. to an informational, organizational meeting. The preliminary meeting Harry Burau, who had been county president from 1933 to 1950 and was held at University Farm in St. Paul on Aug. 16, 1919. The had served on the MFBF board of directors, compiled an Otter Tail following is a list of those who responded to the call: Farm Bureau history in 1984. He wrote about the early years when members attending the annual meeting were eligible to win one of Ag College: Professor Andres Boss three purebred calves given away in a drawing. “It was decided by Assistant County Agents at University Farm: the board … that not only would it stimulate membership in the S.B. Cleland, J.S. Jones, W.E. Morris, K.A. Kirkpatrick county Farm Bureau, but it would also help to develop a higher class County Agent Leader: F.E. Balmer of livestock,” Harry wrote. The county Farm Bureau also gave away Dakota County: A.A. McPheeters purebred gilts, but that prize was discontinued after a few years. Dakota County: F.E. Lammers Secretary Jones recounted the early years of Minnesota Faribault County: S.L. Allen Farm Bureau in his Jan. 8, 1936, address of the Federation’s Faribault County: F.E. Sullivan
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MN Crop Improvement Association at University Farm: minutes of this meeting. H.J. Farmer, Pipestone County president, Professor C.P. Bull stated, “If I had any doubts before I came here this morning … they MN Dept. of Ag: Hugh J. Hughes have gone away. It is time for us to make ourselves ready to go MN Dept. of Ag: N.J. Holmberg along with the other states with this movement.” Nobles County: N. Moberg N.J. Holmberg, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of NW Farmstead, Mpls.: G.W. Kelly Agriculture, promised, “If you proceed to establish the Federation, Olmsted County: A.A. Kennedy you will have the cooperation of our department. We shall assist you Pipestone County: H.J. Farmer in every way we possibly can in making it a success if you Rice County: D.W. Illsley organize.” Yellow Medicine County: D.T. Sullivan Sam Hammerbeck, president of the state Federation of Farmers’ Clubs, promised, “If we can cooperate with you in any way so that H.J. Farmer was appointed chairman of this meeting. F.E. Balmer the two of us can deal together and do more work than the one has outlined the programs and methods of Farm Bureau Federations in accomplished so far, we shall be glad to work with you.” states such as Colorado, Michigan, Iowa and New York. Minutes D.A. Wallace, editor of The Farmer, predicted, “This is a from that meeting record a resolution recommending “that a movement we cannot stop if we wanted to. It is inevitable. … From Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation be formed and that a further the people of every county I hear nothing but approval of the idea of meeting be held on Thursday, Sept. 4, 1919 [during the state fair], at Farm Bureau federating by states and later forming a national the Administration Building, University Farm, St. Paul, Minnesota, Federation.” beginning at 9 a.m., and that each county Farm Bureau association Walter H. Nelson’s memories of Farm Bureau starting in be invited to send an authorized and instructed delegate to Goodhue County appeared in the June 1958 News. participate in proceeding relative to the organization of the The first time I ever heard of Farm Bureau was during the month Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation.” of October 1919 when William Bryan and a gentleman from the In attendance at the Sept. 4 meeting were 125 people representing northern part of the state drove into our place for the purpose of 57 counties. Of that number, 40 were authorized delegates. Faribault selling me a membership in the Farm Bureau. The cost was $2 for a County Farm Bureau president S.L. Allen was elected chairman, and two-year period, which I paid. F.E. Balmer was elected secretary. Attendees concurred with the I heard nothing more about this until December 1920 when we plan to form a National Farm Bureau Federation in Chicago for had a meeting of the Burnside Farmers Club at which a man from Nov. 12-13, 1919. The week of Oct. 27 through Nov. 1 was selected Pine City was present. He told us of reorganizing the Farm Bureau for a state-wide membership drive. on a more effective basis and to carry out a plan of obtaining Comments made by several of the delegates were recorded in the memberships in each township of the county.
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The farmers had just gone through a period of prosperity Shippers’ Association. resulting from World War I, but signs of hard times were showing Initially county extension up, so this seemed like the proper time to build up an organization agents were partially funded MFBFacts to help farmers. … A short time later a county-wide meeting was by the local Farm Bureau held at the Red Wing Chamber of Commerce rooms for the purpose units, but obtaining funds 1880: of organizing the Goodhue County Farm Bureau Association. was an immediate concern. 4 million U.S. farms; Officers elected were Walter H. Nelson, president; Elmer Jacobson, For example, Waseca average size vice president; George W. Freeman, secretary/treasurer; Alonzo County, which organized its 134 acres Conley and Roy Watson, directors. Farm Bureau in 1918 and The Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation was born Nov. 8, 1919. was formally incorporated in 1900: Articles and bylaws were adopted, subject to the ratification by a July 1919, appealed to the 5.7 million majority of county delegates at an annual meeting. The October county commissioners for U.S. farms; membership drive resulted in 16,475 people from 45 counties financial help. The board of average size becoming members. County membership dues ranged from 25 cents commissioners rejected the 147 acres to $2 a year. In addition to Farm Bureau delegates, 14 county appeal by stating that if the agriculture agents were present at the organizational meeting. county Farm Bureau was so 1920: Committees on administration, education, finance and rural beneficial to farmers, then 6 million U.S. farms; economics, public affairs and relations, and rural planning were put farmers should support the average size in place for 1920. organization. The county 149 acres Officers of the newly planted organization included S.L. Allen, Farm Bureau would receive Faribault County, president; Victor Holmquist, Kittson County, vice no aid until county membership reached 600. president; and V.E. Anderson, Traverse County, treasurer. F.L. Leaders accepted the challenge to increase their membership, French, Redwood County agent, was elected secretary March 1, even though they would have to convince one-third of Waseca 1920. Allen resigned in June because of a provision in the articles County’s farmers to join. On Oct. 20, 1918, at least eight from each and bylaws concerning political activities prevented him from township fanned out to work membership. Many finished their work supporting a political candidate, so L.E. Potter, Brown County, that day despite muddy roads and bad weather. By Dec. 1 the county became president. had 550 paid members, and by the end of the month, membership The treasurer’s report at the Jan. 2, 1920, board meeting showed reached 607. County commissioners made good on their promise receipts of $300 from Federal Land Bank, $100 from the Minnesota and appropriated $1,700 to Waseca County Farm Bureau. Agriculture Society and $100 from the Central Co-op Livestock Letters written on cooperative extension work letterhead were
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sent to Farm Bureau members In January 1920, 49 counties and other MFBFacts voted to affiliate with the MFBF. organizations announcing the newly formed state Federation. Charles Matthews, Big Stone permanent County, presented a session titled “The Farm Bureau as a Factor in organizational Extension Work, From the Viewpoint of a Farmer,” and Mrs. C.L. meeting for Jan. Predmore, Olmsted County, presented “The Farm Bureau as a 30, 1920, “at the Factor in Extension Work, From the Viewpoint of the Farmer’s House Chamber, Wife.” A third session, presented from the viewpoint of three county New Capitol, St. agents, discussed the development of Minnesota agriculture and Paul.” The date what Farm Bureau would be able to contribute. of this meeting is Delegates to the Jan. 30 meeting established MFBF’s position on significant issues by passing several resolutions: because it 1. The state must repair and maintain main arterial highways. coincided with 2. The state must create a new source of revenue to fund the road the seventh construction and maintenance. annual 3. The state should license or tax motor vehicles to fund the main Minnesota Farm trunk highway system. Bureau (These three resolutions were to be written in a constitutional Conference amendment to be voted on in the next election.) scheduled for 4. Minnesota deplores the “present practice of decreasing Jan. 27-31. production through ... shortened hours of labor, and recommends the Extension speedy return to the American principle that every citizen is entitled sponsored the to remuneration for his labor. Be it resolved that we deplore all conference, but activities to reduce the cost of living which result in such injustices session topics as have been forced upon farmers of the country.” that year 5. Congress should pass legislation in order that cooperative included three organizations of farmers may proceed in safety, thereby saving sessions on the waste for both producers and consumers of food products.
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S.L. Anderson was named president of the At the September board meeting, funding for the newly permanent organization, and Victor F. Anderson was established organization was clarified. Money from the named treasurer. J.S. Jones declined the executive MFBFacts government would be used for county agents and their board’s appointment as secretary, and at the March The first work. Farm Bureau dues would be used for programs and meeting, F.L. French accepted the position as MFBF organization. By this time, 62 counties were affiliated secretary. At this same meeting the board voted to stenographer with the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation. affiliate with the American Farm Bureau Federation The seed of Farm Bureau was planted to promote, (AFBF). According to the minutes of the AFBF would be protect and represent the interest of farmers as well as to meeting in Chicago March 3, 1920, Minnesota was hired for develop the agriculture industry. It was not a short-lived allotted two seats on the AFBF board of directors. no more protest movement, and as one delegate to the 1919 The May 1920 executive board meeting minutes than $110 Chicago meeting said, “We shall organize, not to fight or record a resolution in favor of deepening the St. a month. to antagonize, but to cooperate and construct, and to Lawrence Channel, making it possible for Minnesota arrange our affairs and the business of agriculture in a farmers to ship to the Atlantic Ocean via the Great Lakes and the St. broad, business-minded manner. It should be a constructive policy Lawrence River. Another matter for discussion was establishing a and not a destructive policy.” Farm Bureau Day at the state fair. The seed would flourish as it sprouted and grew in the 1920s.
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The seed planted prior to 1920 quickly took root and broke through the soil in the 1920s. The AFBF executive secretary’s 1921 report at the November annual meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, showed that Minnesota’s membership had increased Establishing from 35,000 in December 1920 to 72,000 Sept. 1, 1921. Of that number, 39,000 had a paid-up membership. Since both the AFBF and the MFBF were establishing roots, leaders of the emerging organizations needed to set down sound business the Roots practices. In February 1924, delegates from 21 county associations in Minnesota and four states attended the Northwest Regional Conference in St. Paul to set 1920-1929 down methods of handling the affairs of the new organization. Delegates to the conference agreed that the permanence of Farm Bureau—local, state and national—depended upon sound business methods. One day of the conference focused on organization, and one day focused on finance. Three highlights of the conference appeared in the March issue of the News. 1. When a member pays a $5 membership fee, he has a right to know that $3.50 is used for county work, that $1 is transmitted to the state organization and that 50 cents goes to the national Federation. MFBFacts 2. The township unit is the foundation of the entire movement, and without active units, the 1925 labor superstructure loses much of its effectiveness. costs: $2 per 3. For the movement to live and prosper in the day ($42.50 per future, it must adopt recognized business methods month) for in handling its own affairs. general work; A.R. Simpson, assistant secretary in charge of finances, stated, “In the past, there has been too $2.47 per day much of the idea that funds sent to state and ($47.92 per national organizations are in the nature of a month) during donation. The time has come when these two parts harvest of the Farm Bureau must establish business Chapter Two
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practices in the matter of finance.” Resolutions adopted by the delegates recommended a system of bonding that would assure the transmission of funds and give the organization a business basis on which to operate. The conference also listened to and discussed reports from state and county leaders in attendance. Delegates concluded that “voluntary solicitation under trained local leadership” should be adopted wherever possible. The following Minnesota counties attended:
Blue Earth Houston Redwood Carver Lac qui Parle Renville Chisago Marshall Rice Cottonwood Meeker Scott Dakota Nicollet Traverse Goodhue Olmsted Watonwan Hennepin Otter Tail Winona
Developing beneficial policies for its members has always been an essential part of Farm Bureau annual meetings. At the 1921 meeting, the MFBF determined that membership would be by families rather than by individuals. Resolutions passed by the local units were first brought to the state annual meeting in 1922. Policies discussed in 1923 included the St. Lawrence Seaway project and development of water power resources, and formulation of county school board associations and teaching essentials of agriculture. Resolutions adopted at the 1923 annual meeting addressed the following issues: Page taken from the AFBF membership report for • Farmers should be able to treat their own hogs. September 15, 1921. • Seed, feed and farm implements should be entirely exempt
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from taxation, or the taxes should be reduced to a minimum. • A new county agent and Farm Bureau law mandated county commissioners to appropriate funds for extension work. The decade of the 1920s was the decade of beginnings for the Minnesota Farm Bureau. Although the MFBF established policies at its organizational meeting, policies continued to be set year after year. In 1924, one of the policies pertained to the county extension agent. The policy stated, “The work of the county agent in Minnesota has been of great value to our agriculture. Knowing that this work has proved a profitable investment, the salaries of such agents should be paid from public funds as they are public servants.” Another policy opposed a general sales tax, and one suggested that inheritance taxes should be increased. Still another affirmed, “Problems of marketing and distribution of agricultural products should receive just consideration as compared with production. Instruction in the principles of co-operation as applied to community, social and business life should be increased.” Bob Deiter, Nobles County, remembers his father George, a charter member, talking about going on membership drives in a horse and buggy when George moved from Canada to Nobles County in 1920. George had graduated from the University of Minnesota School of Agriculture in 1903. The promise of a quarter section of land from the government lured him to Canada after graduation. When he built a house, which wasn’t more than a tar paper shack, the government gave him another quarter. Times became worse and worse for farmers when drought and grasshoppers destroyed crops, but the condition that drove George from Canada was a blizzard two days before he planned to start harvesting wheat in September of 1920. His grandmother had been deeded land that originally belonged to the railroad in Nobles Efforts of the MFBF toward the passage of a gas tax County, so George relocated to Nobles County to farm that land. The farm amendment in 1928 were recognized and appreciated. became a Century Farm (a farm that has been in the family for at least 100
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years) in 1979 and is still in the family. when the projectionist ran the film backwards to rewind it. Nicollet County Farm Bureau member Ruth E. Larson reminisced In 1924 the News Service and Investigation Department of the about growing up in a Farm Bureau family. Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation saw the possibilities of utilizing As a child sometime in the early 1920s, I remember listening as radio as an aid to agriculture. Before the department could proceed, two men came to the door of our farm home to interest my father in it needed to know how many members could be reached with the becoming a member. “Farm Bureau—what a strange name for an program, so Farm Bureau asked its members the organization,” I thought. To me a bureau was a place where you kept following questions: your socks and other clothing. But in the dictionary there is a second 1. Do you have a radio in meaning: an agency for collecting and distributing information and your home? coordinating areas of work. Isn’t that exactly what the Farm Bureau has done? Farm Bureau has always been on the cutting edge of technology, a practice that began early in its history. In 1922 several Farm Bureau units in Carlton County decided to purchase a “moving picture machine for use at Farm Bureau unit meetings. It [ran] on electricity generated by a ‘Tin Lizzie.’” Each unit was asked to pay $10 to the county agent to help pay for the $250 machine. Garfield Eckberg, Nicollet County Farm Bureau member, remembers This application, attending unit meetings with above, indicates that his parents during the 1940s. the MFBF and AFBF He recalls how the farmers cooperated with the laughed after watching a film University of Minnesota School of Agriculture and the USDA. Membership dues were $5 in the 1920s.
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2. Do you expect to buy one? and by-products. That same year the MFBF loaned 3. What kind of programs do you like? $1,000 to help the Land O’Lakes dairy cooperative The department encouraged members to write the MFBFacts become established. Land O’Lakes News for March 1941 state office at 312 Old Capitol, St. Paul, with celebrated the cooperative’s 20 years of progress and suggestions and ideas on how to best use radio 1923 certified recognized the monetary help from the MFBF. “The broadcasts. Liman’s Grimm organization began its work without a dollar or a single The vision of this department was fulfilled one year alfalfa seed: member. The Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation loaned later when WCCO Radio carried a six-lesson poultry 40 cents per the organization $1,000 as a starter. From this humble course. That same year the National Farm Radio pound (sack beginning, with a loaned desk in the office of the MFBF Council was organized. Minnesota Farm Bureau extra) to and with three employees this organization now has cooperated with WCCO, the state Department of members; 55 stockholders and members in ten states and representing Agriculture, agriculture colleges and farm papers in cents per pound nearly 100,000 farmers.” the project. to nonmembers Accomplishments of the Minnesota Farm Bureau Farmers across the nation had a Minnesotan to caught the attention of the national Federation. In 1921 thank in 1922 for the passage of the first major E.B. Heaton, member of the national dairy marketing congressional legislation promoted by Farm Bureau. The Capper- “Committee of Eleven” and director of dairy marketing for the Volstead Act, often referred to as the Cooperative Marketing Act or AFBF, said: the Magna Carta of Cooperation, was co-authored by Minnesota The Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation, with units organized in Cong. Andrew J. Volstead, a Chippewa County attorney. This more than 1,200 townships, has enabled farmers of the state to legislation made it possible for farmers to band together and form accomplish in a single summer two undertakings that normally cooperatives without the threat of disobeying antitrust laws. Three would have required years of work. … major cooperatives that formed in Minnesota around this time were The farmers of this state have developed more cooperative work the Central Livestock Association, which closed earlier in 2008, than any other state in the country in working out their marketing Twin City Milk and Land O’Lakes. problems. Space does not permit tracing MFBF’s involvement in the The livestock shipping association … called on the biggest service cooperative movement, but a couple illustrations demonstrate the organization in the state, the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation, role played by the Federation. In 1921 Farmer Bureau members and in a few weeks the Federation and the new association had around Cottonwood (Lyon County) organized the first cooperative developed a statewide organization with some 275 local shipping oil company in the United States to handle kerosene, gasoline, oil associations and a total of nearly 40,000 farmers. …
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In Minnesota there are over 600 cooperative creameries. Some of Quality was the primary goal. Screenings and fillers were never the leaders among these creameries conceived the idea that they allowed in Farm Bureau feeds, and no second line feeds were could make great savings for the farmers and could develop a better tolerated. Fertilizers were developed to eliminate fillers so as to product to sell, if they could have a big, statewide association of make plant food more economical by eliminating high freight, these cooperative creameries. Again, the farmers turned to their bagging and handling costs. Through this program the cost of Farm Bureau Federation and asked them to develop this creamery fertilizer was lowered very substantially, and the company became a organization. … If it had not been for the finances and the major factor in the field. organization of the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation permitting it Such items as harnesses, fly spray and insecticides were added as to go ahead and help do this work, it probably would have taken a the company grew, and through its buying power with other state good many years for the livestock shippers or the creamery service companies, was able to reduce prices while holding cooperatives to develop the work of which they have seen the need. standards high. The development of new products, such as Following World War I, there was a surplus of explosives that the 40 percent poultry concentrates, made for more use of farm grown federal government made available to the public. County Farm grains, thus saving farmers large sums in feed costs. Farmers using Bureaus set up facilities to distribute the explosives, a move that led this service no longer sold coarse grains and bought them back to the organization of the Minnesota Farm Bureau Service Company again at trebled prices in factory-mixed feeds. in 1928. Offices were located at Zumbrota (Goodhue County), and From the beginning, explosives were a big seller for the service G.W. Freeman was hired as manager. Explosives, feed and fertilizer company. Clearing cropland of rocks and stones is an on-going were the main products for the new company. Its goals were challenge for many farmers today, but the challenge was even greater manufacturing and purchasing quality farm supplies at a quantity for farmers in the early part of the 20th century. The answer was discount for farmers. dynamite, a war surplus donated to the state. Farmers paid for In 1931 the company reorganized, and in 1932, moved its offices mixing the explosives, putting them in cartridges and shipping them. to 191 Fairfield Ave. in St. Paul. The new general manager, D.A. Meeker County farmers ordered 14,000 pounds of Pyrotol one year, “Doc” Williams, was instructed to have the company manufacture while Koochiching County ordered half a train-car load. feeds and fertilizers. The company served Farm Bureau for the next Two men from the Engineering Division of the University Farm 35 years. In late 1967 stockholders approved the merger of the demonstrated the use of Pyrotol for blasting stones and stumps, as company with Farmland Industries, Inc., a regional cooperative out well as digging ditches in Lac qui Parle County in 1925. At the of Kansas City. The merger was effective Jan. 2, 1968. E.G. Toombs farm, one rock, about three by five feet running The booklet “Twenty Years With the Minnesota Farm Bureau” about four feet into the ground, was removed and broken up in 25 tells of the high standards set for the service company. minutes at a cost of 50 cents. The demonstrators dug a 40-foot ditch
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in an hour for $1.40. One responsibility of extension agents during this decade was In 1925 Olmsted County training farmers how to use phosphate fertilizers and lime. The MFBFacts Farm Bureau rented a car for Fillmore County agent reported that 19,000 people attended 223 the extension agent’s use. meetings on working with soils. A summary of his activities for one Farm Bureau.” Evidently, her father hadn’t taken the time to read the year listed 2,659 consultations, 4,962 letters written dealing with brochure titled “Forty-seven reasons why you ought to be a member civic agriculture problems and 284 articles prepared for local papers or continue membership in Scott County’s Farm Bureau.” That and for the Farm Bureau News. Three hundred women were involved publication is where Genevieve got the information for her essay. in women’s meetings in 22 communities, and 260 were enrolled in She demonstrated her knowledge of farmers when she began her boys/girls clubs. Assisting the county agent in organizing boys and essay by addressing the financial benefits. “I think my father and girls clubs was an important focus of the pioneering Farm Bureaus. every rural child’s father should join the Farm Bureau because it is Extension agent George W. Larson moved to Chisago County in the first nation-wide attempt to unite the farmers into an organization 1924 from Wisconsin where he had been teaching vocational for their own benefit. The membership fee is small compared to that agriculture. He served as extension agent and was an assistant required by organizations of bankers, merchants and others. The man professor at the University of Minnesota for 34 years before retiring joining the Farm Bureau is required to pay only $5 a year. Every in 1958. While working in extension, George helped farmers get as cent of this goes for a good purpose and is accounted for to the many as 50 carloads of lime annually so they could improve the soil members.” quality. In later years, he supervised an extensive tree planting Genevieve then listed several of the ways farmers would benefit program, concentrating on windbreaks and shelterbelts. In 1958 over from a Farm Bureau membership: a half million trees were planted in Chisago County. Farm labor is supplied to the farmer upon request to the county George promoted educational programs in agriculture and home agent. improvement. He was a leader in forming a Dairy Herd By means of this organization, livestock may be tested for Improvement Association (DHIA), increasing alfalfa acreage as a tuberculosis. If all the farmers of Scott County would have their forage crop, directing projects in homes and leading 4-H clubs. livestock tested, they would receive a better price for their milk, a The Minnesota Farm Bureau was a mere five years old in 1924, better market for their livestock and many more human lives would but it had already made an impact on people in the state as the be spared from this dread disease. following story from Scott County demonstrates. Genevieve Shea The farmers of Scott County should raise several times as much earned first prize in Scott County’s rural school essay contest for her alfalfa as they are now raising. The Farm Bureau will get your entry titled “Why my father should be a member of the Scott County alfalfa seed, test your land, secure legume inoculation and advise
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you how to raise it. believed to have been at least partly responsible for a modification MFBFacts The Farm Bureau furnishes of the railroad’s requests. Here let us remind you who think Farm capable speakers on various phases Bureau is not worth what it costs that here is an instance where In 1921 the of farming who will come to any Farm Bureau has saved every real farmer in the state the cost of his MFBF board locality where they are assured of an dues and more, too. recommended audience of interested farmers. In The Nov. 28, 1925, edition of the St. Paul Pioneer Press gave full that local Farm New Prague recently they even went credit to Farm Bureau for its innovation in demanding the Bureau units so far as to demonstrate hog reorganization of rural mail delivery service “in the interests of the provide diseases by motion pictures. economy.” Farm Bureau wanted the best service for their money. Through its business and social From the beginning, one of the banner events on the county Farm entertainment meetings, the Bureau creates a Bureau calendar was the annual picnic. Lincoln County held its first and social life community spirit, so much to be picnic June 17, 1921. Intense heat could not keep the more than during their unit desired and makes its farmer- 5,000 people from attending. The Lake Benton Concert Band meetings. members become more helpful and provided musical entertainment. After addresses by several men, the public-spirited individuals of society. people could participate in outdoor sports, swimming, boating, roller Genevieve concluded her essay with these words: “Membership in skating and dancing. the Farm Bureau is the means of causing the farmer and his family In the summer of 1992, Nicollet County Farm Bureau member to become better, more prosperous, and contented citizens of our Judy Hanson’s description of her county’s picnic spot appeared in grand United States. Such citizens will, of course, proceed to the the Mankato Free Press. The site in Brighton Township, where work of making this world of ours a better place in which to live.” picnics were held from 1921 to1982, was owned by Albert Jensen. Genevieve’s essay exerted pressure on her father, but the news To many people in Nicollet County, the idyllic spot will always be article didn’t mention if he joined the Scott County Farm Bureau in called Jensen’s Grove. It looks pretty much the same today as it did 1925. in the early 1920s when the first picnic was held; with one difference The general public recognized what Farm Bureau was being the white building that sits nestled in the trees along the north accomplishing, and newspapers printed their responses. In 1925, a ridge. Built in 1938, the wood frame structure was needed as a place Windom paper printed the following: to serve pies, pop, beer and other goodies to the 1,000 or more A comprehensive fight which the Farm Bureau has launched people that attended the affair that lasted all day and into the against the increase in freight rates asked by the Western Railroad evening. appears to have had an important bearing on the situation and is It is a spot made for a picnic. The grove of magnificent oak trees
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curves in a lazy U with a natural amphitheater being formed in the of protection given the farmer in what he had to sell. “In spite of the center. The tree-lined ridge of the U leads down, ever so gradually to gloom that has darkened our agricultural condition,” he said, “We are the large basin of the amphitheater, creating an open area facing the approaching a brighter era when that measure of prosperity to which west where the baseball diamond was laid out. every family living on the land is rightfully entitled, will return.” Judy quotes Albert’s niece, Alice Gieske, who said, “It was really Following the speech, picnickers participated in horseshoe a three-day affair because men would come on the day before to set pitching, swimming and boat races, surf board riding, tub races and up and the day after to put things away. Before we had the building, foot races. They also watched a log rolling demonstration by the stands were set up for serving pop and pies. Mother would never world’s champion log roller. know how much to prepare for dinner because Albert would always Brown County’s 1925 picnic attracted over 10,000 people. Again, invite all the men that were there.” attendance was estimated by the cars parked at the state park, the site The day was filled with numerous contests such as hog, chicken of the picnic. Prior to the picnic, the News announced plans for the and duck calling contests, pie eating contests and tire changing annual event. The title of the article proclaimed, “Even Old Maids contests. Farm Bureau brought in entertainment from an agency in Win Prize at Annual Picnic.” Among those to be given special Minneapolis. A favorite group was the Gould Family of Glencoe in recognition at the picnic were the man with the longest beard, the McLeod County, 14 members strong, who were billed as “America’s girl with the prettiest hair, the lady with the longest foot, and the Biggest and Best Novelty Musical Family.” oldest old maid. The News article published after the picnic noted A July 1923 News headline read “Over 150,000 Hear Farm Bureau that the main speaker was Ray Gribben, secretary of the Iowa Farm Message at Annual Picnics Last Month.” Most of the picnics were Bureau, but no mention was made of who had the longest foot or held in June, and the average attendance was 5,000. Attendance at who was the oldest old maid. Winona County’s was estimated at between 14,000 and 20,000, but In 1925 Winona County Farm Bureau received a 27-acre park Martin County’s picnic drew the largest number of people, between known as “The Arches.” With several natural springs, it was billed as 15,000 and 20,000, based on the number of automobiles. one of the most beautiful and scenic locations in Warren Township. Hubbard County’s 1924 picnic at Akeley was dubbed a winner by Today, its location along State Highway 14 and Interstate 90 the 1,000 who attended. “Happy farm families with lunch baskets provides easy access for park visitors and picnickers. Winona County bulging full of eats came from every corner of the county,” read the Farm Bureau’s office assistant Rita Nelson is in charge of taking News account of the picnic. The featured speaker was Thomas reservations. She said that although there is no charge for using the Cashman, farm nurseryman and agricultural leader from Steele grounds, donations are appreciated. Severe flooding in August 2007 County. In his talk, he contrasted the protection industries received quickly put a stop to picnicking; however, the park buildings, ball for the items they manufactured and sold to the farmer, with the lack field and grounds are being restored, thanks to money made
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Howard. A year later the executive committee established a Home and Community Department, but lack of funding prevented a full-time position until 1927. The MFBF board of directors recommended in July 1922 that a woman be elected to each township board and that one woman, where possible, should be placed on the county executive board. Mrs. E.V. Ripley, Hubbard County Farm Bureau secretary, was Minnesota’s first women’s leader and the first woman to serve on the state board. The April 15, 1922, News said that she never missed a meeting and “she tells the men on the board just what she thinks. They listen to her too.” She outlined her view of the woman’s role in Farm Bureau to the board of directors shortly after her election. There ought to be at least one woman on every Farm Bureau board. Every township unit ought to have a woman as vice chairman, at least, and many of them could do a good deal worse than to make a woman the leader of the unit. Farm Bureau women are hungry for a available through a grant. chance to improve their homes, to get more out of life than plain Farm Bureau has always recognized the important role women hard work, to give their children better opportunities, to help make have in agriculture. Even though they didn’t receive the right to vote farm life more profitable and more worthwhile. There’s only one way in political elections until 1920, women have always been an integral they can do these things, and that way is through organization. The part of this organization. The original MFBF bylaws stipulated that a first duty of the farm women of Minnesota is to organize, thoroughly woman should have a seat on the state board of directors. On the and completely, through the Farm Bureau. national level, the first Women’s Committee was established in 1921 Bertha Minion, who replaced Mrs. Ripley in 1935, encouraged the by American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) President J.R. board to draft a letter of appreciation to Mrs. Ripley. The letter
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thanked her for her untiring efforts and guidance in creating the successive occasions to meet with the Turtle River (Beltrami Home and Community Department “which grew in size and value County) clothing group. On the coldest day of that winter (-46 F), under [her] ceaseless care and [her] shouldering of the responsibility every member of the Forsey clothing group in Koochiching County as [she] had to do.” attended the meeting even though most had to walk several miles to Minnesota county Farm Bureaus cooperated with extension to reach the school house where the meeting was held. provide programs for women. While the men were assisting the The 1923 state convention authorized a Minnesota Home and agricultural agent, the women Community Committee. The were enthusiastically assisting In 1921 the MFBF board agreed state was divided into four the home demonstration MFBFacts that the annual meeting should districts—northern, western, portion of the University of include a female speaker. southeastern and central— Minnesota’s extension with a chair in each district. division. Rural women were Mrs. E.V. Ripley, a member eager to study home management, clothing, nutrition and poultry of the executive board from the northern district, was chair of the raising. The limited staff of the extension service couldn’t provide all committee. She was assisted by Mrs. C.E. Larson from the western the assistance that was needed. Therefore, two women from each district, Mrs. C.R. Armstrong from the southeastern district and Mrs. community or township assisted the home demonstration agent in A.F. Bronniche from the central district. choosing the course of study for the women. Then the local leaders The state committee presented the following goals for the first were trained so they could take the lesson back to their communities year: or townships. For example, in 1923 Hubbard County reported the • Development of township and community units, success of clothing and home improvement classes. Several hundred • Development of local leaders for boy and girl clubs (4-H), women in the clothing classes saved themselves money by making • Improvement of rural schools, gummed paper dress forms. • Cooperative egg marketing, and According to a story in the April 1923 News, Miss Francis Nelson, • Better living conditions in the farm home. member of the Sand Lake Farm Bureau in Aitkin County, hiked 15 Leaders of the women’s branch of Farm Bureau didn’t have the miles (the News actually said 15) each way through a snowstorm to approval or support of all women, however. Mrs. Ellsworth attend the dress form demonstration held at Jessie Lake. On the last Richardson, leader of Iowa’s Home and Community movement, was eight miles, Mrs. Samuelson of Spring Lake walked with her. At the one of the speakers for Farm Bureau Day at the Minnesota State Fair meeting, they took notes, assisted in making the form, and then held in 1926. An 80-year-old woman confronted Mrs. Richardson after a demonstration meeting in their own community. her talk and told her to stay home and tend to her farm business. A 73-year-old woman waded through four miles of snow on three The essence of Mrs. Richardson’s response still holds true today.
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“Conditions have changed since you This photo was dated were on the farm. And I say today “Fall 1929.” It may be the with my heart and soul I believe I MFBF Board of Directors am attending to my business when I and the Home and am here to speak for the betterment Community Committee. of a great agriculture group. … As the daughter of a pioneer who has taken her place in the development of the state of Iowa, I am taking my place in the development of the ag policy of this United States.” Researching the employment history of Farm Bureau county and state employees revealed a common element: the longevity of employment. It was common for people to work for Farm Bureau 20 years or more. One such woman on the state level was Miss Clara Olson. She began working in the state office in 1923 when the office was located in the Old Capitol Building. “At that time I was one of two girls in the office,” she said. “I started as a general secretary and all the employees the Federation had were myself, the other girls and J.S. Jones, late secretary of the Federation.” When she retired Feb. 1, 1962, the MFBF board of directors held a where I would have worked with and for nicer dinner in her honor. At that time, she had completed more years of people.” service to the organization than any other employee in the history of County Farm Bureaus took root quickly once they were organized. the organization. During the '’20s and ’30s Clara did general Lynn Sheldon, Redwood County agent in 1925, compiled a list of stenographic work. At different times she worked for editors of the what his county’s Farm Bureau had accomplished. The items on the News and for Art Mereness, organization and legislative director. In following list could apply to numerous counties across the state. the mid ’30s she started keeping the books of the Federation, a job • Supported county extension work, she held at the time of retirement. Looking back over her years of • Conducted county-wide tax study, service, she said, “I think I have enjoyed every minute of working • Developed new farm lease forms, with Farm Bureau. I don’t believe I could have found any place • Organized and conducted 18 women’s groups for five
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different home projects, farmers and business men are expressing their appreciation of the • Helped fight railroad rate case, work done by Farm Bureaus wherever these organizations have been • Started county booth at the state fair, established. One act that Farm Bureaus have been instrumental in • Prepared advertising for the county, putting over is worthy of their organization—the forming of • Fostered the county 4-H club association, cooperative marketing associations. … The good done by the Farm • Provided moving picture and stereopticon outfit for use in Bureau is only a drop in the bucket to what remains for them to do, community meetings, and what they will do. The farmer is soon to come into his own. • Held regular executive committee and board Organization is the force which will place him there. meetings, constantly studying county problems and establishing The News kept members informed of pending legislation and of county policies, the progress that legislation of vital interest to farmers was making. • Helped organize and establish a cooperative egg and poultry The February 1923 issue reported that the Welsh bill, forbidding the association, and use of butterfat in oleomargarine manufacturing, had passed the • Called cooperative elevators together to study grain a Minnesota House and was in the Senate. The issue of housewives marketing company. using a substitute for butter in Minnesota, a dairy state, would On May 13, 1925, 200 Cottonwood County Farm Bureau members continue to trouble Farm Bureau members for many years before the assembled to hear a debate between Southbrook and Springfield state organization changed its official position on the spread. townships on the topic “Resolved: That a farm-raised young couple The June 1925 News printed an article that had appeared in the will find a more satisfactory life work on the farm than in the city.” Cedar Rapids Gazette. According to the report in the News, “The argument was cleverly The era of the so-called “hayseed” has passed. The modern presented by both sides. … The decision of the judges was two votes ruralist is a scientific farmer. He knows his “stuff.” Many of the boys for the affirmative and one vote for the negative. Lincoln County and girls have been graduated from the agriculture college. He has held a series of seven debates on the topic of opportunities offered to his Farm Bureau and community clubs. He is developing a new type young people by the School of Agriculture. As a result, 23 young of rural church and is making his public school a community center. men and women signed up to attend classes that winter. The farmer is no longer isolated. His world is as big as that of the It didn’t take long for Farm Bureau’s accomplishments to earn city man. praise and recognition from newspaper editors. In 1923 the News Challenges of far greater impact would face Farm Bureau in the printed comments made by J.V. Weber, editor of the Murray County next decade, challenges that would ultimately strengthen the young Herald. organization. In a spirit of optimism and an attitude of genuine satisfaction,
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The majority of 21st century senior citizens lived through the Great Depression of the 1930s. They understand the effects of the economic depression, but farmers also had to deal with severe drought and grasshoppers. Surviving Records from the Crop and Livestock Reporting Service indicated a disappointing year for farmers in 1931. The gross farm value for major crops Drought was about 40 percent lower than the previous year. Drought severely reduced yields. Corn yields averaged 24 bushels per acre, while wheat averaged 15 1930-1939 bushels per acre. In spite of the difficulties farmers faced, they were still willing to help out those less fortunate than themselves. At one winter 1932 meeting of the Nicollet County Farm Bureau board, the following resolution was passed: “Whereas farmers in certain sections of neighboring states are entirely without food for the livestock due to drought last summer and are appealing for aid, and whereas we believe Nicollet County farmers are willing to donate small amounts for this purpose even though their supply is not abundant, we therefore appoint a committee to cooperate with the Red Cross in the collection of donations of feed to be sent for relief.” As a result, three train-car loads of grain were sent to North Dakota farmers. Carlton County faced the most severe grasshopper menace it had ever faced, according to T.L. Aamodt, assistant state entomologist, early in 1934. The situation would be acute that year unless weather conditions were unfavorable to hoppers during the hatching period. T.L. reported that township boards had appointed committees to conduct a well-organized control campaign to prevent serious crop damage. He cited the experience of farmers during the previous two years who proved that an organized attack was the only effective way to control the hoppers. In Thomson Township the previous summer, the grasshopper outbreak was “practically wiped out when almost every farmer in the township went out and covered all the infected areas in one morning.” Chapter Three
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The drought, dust storms and organizations, are Anoka County, grasshoppers, so common in this Grasshopper bait contained Aitkin County, Beltrami County, decade, had a negative impact on MFBFacts arsenic, molasses and bran. Crow Wing County, Jackson crops, but the reverse was true for County, Koochiching County, the MFBF. For example, Lincoln County, Mower County, Faribault County signed 792 members in just three weeks in June Nobles County, East Polk County, Roseau County and Yellow 1934. Fieldman I.R. Purdy organized the drive. The News reported, Medicine County. “A lot more members are expected in the near future.” The township unit is the grass roots of the entire Farm Bureau The July 1934 News reported on Martin County Farm Bureau’s movement. Built from the ground up by farmers, it naturally follows successful membership drive in spite of the drought. Pastures were that the local unit is the primary link in the strong chain farmers scarce, and prospects for adequate grain and roughage for the winter have welded to drag their business out of the sinkhole of depression were slim. The article went on to affirm the resolve of area farmers: to higher levels. Martin County farmers are going to do everything that can be During 1933, 49 new township Farm Bureau units were done to fight their way out of the drought. Their determination to established. It is hoped that this number will be exceeded in 1934. In forge ahead was proved in dramatic fashion during the two weeks a few instances, an energetic individual has gone out among his following June 7 when a Farm Bureau membership campaign was neighbors and signed enough members single-handed to start a put on that netted 661 members. More than half of these new township unit. It is hoped that during 1934 enough people will be members paid their dues on the spot; the others pledged to pay moved by similar impulses to build a unit in every township in the theirs as soon as their corn/hog money is received. Fieldman Purdy state. The Farm Bureau accomplishments merit such action. assisted in organizing the drive. Manyaska Township netted 59 Board minutes from the last half of the decade recorded steady members. membership growth from about 18,000 members in 1935 to nearly Growth of the MFBF during hard times was assessed in the 30,000 by 1939. In 1935 Martin County was recognized for the February 1934 News: highest membership in the state with 908. West Polk was recognized The sensible militancy of the Farm Bureau is winning new friends for the largest increase throughout 1934 with an increase of 415. every day, and the movement of farmers toward affiliation is A.G. Mereness, MFBF director of organization, was the driving becoming contagious. Last year was a bad year, so far as farm force behind membership growth during this difficult time. As early income is concerned, but despite this fact thirteen counties seated as 1933 he was stressing the importance of building and maintaining delegates at that annual meeting that were not registered a year ago. membership. He encouraged collecting dues by their due date rather These counties, newly affiliated with the state and national than postpone collection. Another point to maintain membership was
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to hold regular monthly meetings in the local units. Programs should said they’d wait for the power company. They died waiting. My next be prepared a year in advance, and every member should be given door neighbor said his wife had lived sixty years without it and died something to do during the year. Finally, unit committees on without it. He didn’t think it would be right for him to have it. And membership and programs ought to actively seek new prospects. there’s one feller—a strong Republican—that still won’t have it. Possibly the brightest, most revolutionary advance in the 1930s Milks twenty cows by hand. He calls it New Deal Electricity and was the arrival of electricity to rural America. Farm Bureau was at wants nothing to do with it. the front of the forces campaigning for bringing electricity to REA takes the place of a wife. At least I think it would be easier to farmers. Leading the forces was long-time Farm Bureau member get along without a wife than it would without REA. Harry Edmunds. He was dubbed “the daddy of the rural Local Farm Bureau members like John Mack and Robert Runck of electrification program in Minnesota.” Active in its affairs almost Milford Township in Brown County actively solicited electric from the day the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) was cooperative members in 1935. Farmers thought it would be born in 1935, he performed so many services for agriculture that no beneficial to have electricity, but they feared the cost and the complete record of them exists. Nearly 25 years before REA became possibility of losing their farms because of the new expense. To a reality, he helped organize the Anoka County Agricultural Society dispel fears and disseminate information, 13 educational meetings in 1911 and became its first president. were held in the area. The language barrier was an added challenge, Those who have always flipped a switch when they wanted light, and some of the meetings were translated into German. enjoyed a good television program or logged on to the Internet As a result of those township meetings, a well-attended meeting in cannot fully comprehend what life was like before electricity. Not Sleepy Eye produced an organizational committee to bring REA to everyone, however, was ready to get on line with electricity. A the county. Hopes were high as farmers learned that a cooperative Chisago County bachelor who didn’t get REA on his farm until 1946 rural electrification association would be formed in order to apply was quoted in an April 30, 1985, News story that recognized the 50th for REA funds. They also learned that the proposed rates under the anniversary of REA. cooperative would be much lower than expected. The REA lights are a wonderful thing. Before lights, Pa was up The Brown County Cooperative Electrical Association sent and out in the morning and came in the house after dark. Now, it surveys to area farmers to determine how much electricity would be takes some getting used to, but it’s a wonderful thing to be able to used. Questions included how many bulbs would be turned on at see what Pa really looks like in various times during the day and good light. 1938 MFBF paid membership: what electrical equipment the Most of my neighbors wanted MFBFacts 29,400. farmer anticipated using. The electricity, but a few didn’t. Some Farm Bureau and extension
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office collected the surveys, but turning in a survey didn’t mean that county agent. He organized many 4-H farmers would get electricity. The cooperative wanted about three clubs and even took “clubbers” to their MFBFacts customers per mile for several miles before it would install the meetings and home again. George also electrical lines. organized a program for young adults, 1933 cost for To further promote electricity for farmers, the MFBF board of based on 4-H. a School of directors voted in December 1936 to establish a model electric farm Dennis wrote: Agriculture for demonstration purposes in Meeker County. Then in 1938, the I first remember him as our county winter six- MFBF office moved from the Davidson Company to the Globe secretary when a friend convinced me to week term: Building to provide space for Minnesota REA offices and a claim accompany him to a director’s meeting one $69.15 office for insurance and the district agent’s office. winter night. Perhaps his cigar was a Ruth E. Larson, Nicollet County, remembers the thrill of getting defense against the cold as he sat behind electricity on the farm. “To us women at that time, the hum of the his big desk in the corner and the wind would rattle the windows in refrigerator seemed like a Beethoven symphony, and the modest their frames. The building may not have been warm, but the ceiling light in the kitchen took on the brilliance of an Orrefors friendship and camaraderie surely were. Business was done to chandelier.” She praised the efforts of Fred Arneman, E.W. Johnson, promote Farm Bureau in our county, but we also enjoyed his wit and Walton Pell, A.M. Youngblom and Martin Bode for the many hours wisdom and perhaps a favorite civil war tale to make the evening and gallons of gasoline used as they traveled through the county even more enjoyable. encouraging residents to sign up with REA. Their county agent, Someone commented that George was a good man to have on your E.M. Nelson, provided valuable assistance with the project. side. A cause he cared about would be certain to get his strong Yellow Medicine County Farm Bureau member Dennis Stelter support and full dedication. Farm Bureau was most fortunate in recorded his memories of the county’s first permanent county being one such cause. extension agent, George M. Gehant. George grew up in Illinois and E.W. Rieko, Pipestone County extension agent, summarized the studied agriculture at the University of Illinois, Urbana. He and his 1932 activities of his office in the southwest edition of the News. wife Jeanette moved to Hammer Township near Canby in the Included in the 29 accomplishments were the following: western part of the county about 1917. When George was chosen to • Sponsored and helped organize 18 4-H clubs in the county, serve as the emergency county agent in 1934, he and his family • Club agent and county agent attended and instructed 161 club moved to Clarkfield in the northeastern portion of the county. His meetings, first responsibility was to help farmers recover from the Depression • 47 percent of county homes were helped by women’s with federal programs. The next year he became the permanent sewing work,
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• Watched sections of the county where grasshoppers damaged article stated. Besides his service to Farm Bureau, he served on the crops of 1931, Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota from 1929-1937 • Regular reports made to state entomologist on the egg and and again from 1939-1964. When he died in 1965, his tenure of 32 hopper count, years on the Board of Regents was second to only one other former • Found five new patches of creeping jenny, for a total of 13, regent. • Found eight patches of leafy spurge, and The January 1933 News carried a story stressing the importance of • Conducted farmer institutes in Jasper, Edgerton and Ruthton the University Farm School of Agriculture winter term, which had (average attendance of 210 per meeting). been training farmers the past 45 years. The six-week course was Farm Bureau was growing, not only in numbers, but also in open to anyone over 17 years of age. The author of the story influence outside the organization. A.J. Olson stepped down from his concluded by saying, “The greater part of the enrollment comes from position as MFBF president in 1935 after holding that position since Farm Bureau homes. The work of the School of Agriculture is a part 1928. Prior to that time, he had been MFBF vice president starting in of the program of Farm Bureau.” 1923. A graduate of the University of Minnesota in 1912, he taught Other farm organizations, such as Farmers Union and the Grange, high school agriculture in Stewartville and Waseca before moving to began to resent the close relationship between Farm Bureau and the Renville County in 1918 to farm. extension service. Much of the resentment arose from misunder- The February 1934 News article standing the relationship between the two entities. In the late 1930s, reporting on his re-election as president the Grange, at its annual convention in Portland, Oregon, called for MFBFacts also detailed his farming respon- the “divorcement of the extension service from any farm In 1932 Scott sibilities. He milked an average of 25 organization, and the making of its service available to all farmers high-producing Holsteins and had a and all farm organizations on an equal basis.” County Farm total of 40 cows in his herd. President Neither the Farm Bureau nor the extension service intentionally Bureau Olson also owned 17 Belgian horses, ignored farmers in other organizations. In fact, their goal was to honored 48 many of them registered, and 200 maintain separate organizations and identities. In 1937 F.W. Peck, members for breeding ewes, as well as breeding and director of extension at University Farm, met with the MFBF board being paid feeding beef cattle and hogs. “Like all to discuss the bill in the state legislature concerning Farm Bureau members for progressive farmers, he has taken an and county agents. A bill to “divorce” the two would not pass until 10 continuous active part in his county Farm Bureau, 16 years later. years. in which he has served as director, vice Washington County promoted attendance at its 1934 summer president or president for 14 years,” the picnic by awarding prizes to select people. The tactic worked,
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because 600 to 700 people attended the event-packed day. The Forest position in favor of a state income tax and a greater inheritance tax. Lake High School band played and a Washington County chorus They also supported the stabilization of the American dollar, based group sang songs. The kittenball team from the southern part of the on the value of the average principal American commodity prices; county defeated the team from the northern section and received a they further urged Congress to exercise its power to issue U.S. case of pop. However, the north won the tug-of-war and received a Treasury notes rather than the Federal Reserve notes because of the box of cigars. The oldest man at the picnic, A. Kernkamp from low interest rate involved. A third resolution voiced the need for the Woodbury, received a certificate for a free haircut. Mr. and Mrs. Philippines’ immediate independence so the U.S. tariff could regulate Norman Z. Peterson from Forest Lake received five gallons of gas unfair competition with the American farmer. for traveling the farthest. For being the tallest man (6 feet 3 inches) Resolutions from Renville County in 1932 were representative of at the picnic, Harvey Heuer received a ruler. A pound of those passed by other counties. One resolution requested coffee went to Mrs. William Raleigh of North St. Paul that Congress enact into law the Farmers’ Relief Bill for being the heaviest woman. No mention was made of MFBFacts introduced by Sen. Frazier of North Dakota, “without her actual weight. U.S. Farm delay or amendments or substitution. It is absolutely Annual Farm Bureau county picnics continued to income essential that farm debt be refinanced at a low rate of draw large crowds. However, the 1938 MFBF board saw dropped from interest in order to prevent the destruction of American the need to de-emphasize summer picnics and promote $15 billion in agriculture, and [the county] respectfully asked that [its] the annual meetings. Five years earlier, the 1919 to $5 senators and congressmen support the Frazier bill.” A announcement in the News for Le Sueur County’s 1933 billion in 1932. second resolution stated their position in favor of annual meeting encouraged attendance by saying, “As stabilizing the American dollar, based upon the value of Farm Bureau meetings should not only be educational the average principal American commodity prices, and but entertaining as well, plans are being made so that everyone who they further urged “that Congress exercise its power to the issuance comes, either 10 years old or 80 years old, will enjoy himself to the of U.S. Treasury notes because of the low interest rate allowed.” utmost. Come before dinner and bring your lunch.” The agenda Delegates directed that a copy of the resolutions be sent to the included discussion on adjusting the farm debt, the Farm Bureau MFBF, to Minnesota congressmen and senators and also to Sen. Service Company and six three-minute talks by men from around the Frazier. county on local interest topics. State funding of transportation and roads had been an issue even Martin County’s annual meeting convened in the county before Farm Bureau was organized. Resolutions from the 1933 courthouse in 1933, with the business meeting taking place in the Wilkin County annual meeting expressed the concern of Farm courtroom. Resolutions adopted that day included one affirming their Bureau members. One resolution urged that “a greater portion of
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state and county roads be prepared and sent Twin City daily constructed and maintained from papers a promotion for butter. In revenue derived from license fees the ad, he questioned why and oil/gas tax.” A second residents of a dairy state would use resolution voiced opposition to butter substitutes. The bottom line the use of the oil/gas tax “for in his promotion was that hotel anything but roads.” and restaurant owners “could do In the February 1933 News, nothing better for themselves, their Executive Secretary J.S. Jones patrons and the agricultural reported on legislative progress industry than to outlaw the use of based on resolutions passed at the butter substitutes and to agree to 1932 annual meeting. Philippine liberal servings of butter for every independence passed Congress, Early photo of delegates at an MFBF annual meeting. patron. Farmers would reap the there was progress concerning benefit of such a plan through refinancing of agriculture and the St. Lawrence Waterway treaty was higher butterfat prices, and in turn, all other lines of business and being negotiated. (In 1938 MFBF President White accepted the labor would benefit.” invitation to represent Farm Bureau on the Inland Waterways Bernard Crandall joined the MFBF Service Company in 1933 as Association.) Congress also passed a law granting federal aid for sales promotion director. He farmed in Dakota County with his grasshopper control and gave responsibility to the individual states to father before farming in Hennepin County and Wright County. He deal with the problem. then worked in Hennepin County for three The issue of marketing oleomargarine, especially when it was years as an MFBF fieldman before joining colored to imitate butter, continued to be a concern to Farm Bureau the service company. According to MFBFacts members. E.E. Kuethe, Hennepin County, devised a promotion to Clarence Spicer, long-time columnist in the 1933: stimulate a more lucrative butter market by urging hotels and News, Bernard was best known to Farm Renville restaurants to use more butter. He acknowledged that some were Bureau members for The Indicator and County Farm “using butter liberally and [were] giving the farmers excellent Agri-facts, two publications that brought Bureau cut cooperation, but others [used] as little as possible and [brought] in news of the service company and its substitutes where possible.” Mr. Kuethe urged farmers to patronize products to Farm Bureau members. He also membership hotels and restaurants that “served butter liberally.” He even wrote a news-advertising column in The dues to $3.
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Farmer for a number of years. Bernard retired in 1964. the timing of the company’s birth at the time when the Depression The March 1, 1933, editions of the News carried an eight-page robbed farmers of their buying power. supplement to “acquaint Minnesota farmers with the advantages of Farm Bureau members didn’t hibernate once winter arrived. dealing with the Minnesota Farm Bureau Service Company. Thirty Nearly half of the Eden Farm Bureau unit in Dodge County braved a thousand of Minnesota’s best farmers have built the service company raging blizzard to attend their regular meeting on March 27, 1931. through their financial support of and membership in MFB. Every One hundred fifty people attended that meeting. Farm Bureau member is part owner of the Service Company and The Recreation Committee of the St. Louis County Club and Farm should do everything possible to acquaint non-members with the Bureau recommended a winter sports day. Each local club conducted advantages of purchasing service company commodities.” a play day with competitions for young and old. Events included In late 1934 the “snow modeling,” company announced it skating races for four age would soon be giving groups (women, men and dividends to patrons. boys under 18 and girls Nonmembers could earn under 18), toboggan credit and then apply it races (distance races for toward membership. The teams of two women and first years of the company three men), five-man were difficult, partly broomball contests (10- because lack of patrons minute time limit) half- prevented quantity mile cross country ski purchasing and, races for men and consequently, loss of the women and a ski price advantage. jumping competition for Unfriendliness on the part girls, boys and men. of similar businesses also Winners in local events slowed the company’s The Minnesota Farm Bureau Service Company opened its doors for business competed for county progress. A major factor in 1932. Fertilizer ingredients were stored in the basement, manufactured on honors at two district contributing to the slow the second floor and bagged on the first floor. The building was later meetings. growth of business was extensively remodeled. Meeker County’s
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report in the April 1933 News stated, “The fact that people are little song submitted by Florence Cheadle of Indiana, but it wasn’t a interested in getting together for an evening of entertainment of both full sing-along song (at least four verses long) that described an instructive and entertaining nature is being shown by the agriculture and Farm Bureau. Lillian Atcherson, a poet from Blue attendance at the active Farm Bureau units at Crow River, Grove Earth County, wrote the verses that fit with Florence’s chorus. City, Greenleaf and Cosmos.” Seventy-five attended the March 2 Catherine Wilson, also from Blue Earth County, had put Lillian’s meeting in Greenleaf, more than 200 attended the March 3 Grove words to music. City Farmers’ Club and more than 300 attended in Cosmos. The three women were all declared winners. The publisher When reporting on the good attendance, the extension agent combined Catherine and Florence’s music and Lillian and Florence’s observed, “In view of the fact that this was the first meeting of the words to create “The American Farm Bureau Spirit” and included it season, it speaks well for the interest shown in such meetings. … in his songbook. See page 158. Meetings of this kind present not only some worthwhile programs, “The Farm Bureau’s interest in rural youth is as natural as the but also afford a chance for people to get together and visit with rising of the sun,” said the MFBF publication Twenty Years with the neighbors and help develop community spirit. In these times when Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation. The writer compared working people are short of money they are more interested in developing with children to the long-time investment necessary before a crop some system of local entertainment.” can be harvested. From its inception, the MFBF has been an ardent Farm Bureau meetings, whether local unit meetings or state supporter of 4-H club work. Often Farm Bureau members were the meetings, usually included group singing. Former Todd County Farm ones leading the clubs and mentoring the boys and girls. Farm Bureau president who went on to work for the AFBF, Melvin L. Bureau had successfully campaigned for the Smith-Hughes Woell, wrote the book Farm Bureau Architects: A Look at Farm Vocational Education Act, so rural young men could be taught Bureau Through the Four Decades. He said that in the late ’20s and vocational agriculture in high school and participate in FFA. early ’'30s rural Americans enjoyed music when they gathered as a The Farm Bureau Student Loan Fund was established in 1934 to community. Homer Rodeheaver, song leader for the Christian assist young people who were enrolling in agriculture schools in St. evangelist Billy Sunday and publisher of Sociability Songs, Paul, Morris, Crookston or Grand Rapids. Loans ranging from $10 to approached the AFBF about conducting a song writing contest for a $75 seem insignificant by today’s standards, but they were a big help song to be included in his songbook that was popular with Farm to deserving students. Bureau groups. He offered to pay $2,500 for the winning entry. “In-between youth,” too old for 4-H and too young to be active The Home and Community Committee was enthusiastic about Farm Bureau members, were a concern to Farm Bureau leaders. promoting the contest that Rodeheaver himself would judge. None of Cottonwood County was the first county to assist this group of the entries met the song envisioned by Mr. Rodeheaver. He liked the young people when it organized a group called Rural Youth. The
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University Farm Extension Division picked up on the concept and recreation, writing and rest. They also learned how to make the introduced Rural Youth groups in a number of counties. These backgrounds of rooms attractive and restful as well as blend with the groups would provide social activities and educational opportunities floors and woodwork. Mary May demonstrated good and poor for young adults until the mid 1950s when Farm Bureau would wallpapers, paints and curtains and emphasized the importance of establish its own youth organization. considering the floors and woodwork before changing wallpaper. A The Home and Community (H&C) Department continued to final topic addressed was spending money wisely when selecting or provide opportunities for rural women to meet socially and to learn repairing home furnishings. how to be better farm wives and mothers. During a 1933 board Meanwhile, in St. Louis County, thrifty sewing instruction was meeting, Mrs. Ripley, H&C chair, reported on a national H&C popular. The writer of the News article expressed the hope that flour conference she had attended. She stated that Minnesota was already would continue to be sold in cotton bags “for the simple reason that implementing the program worked out by the national committee. flour sacks serve a varied need in the home.” Some of those She mentioned education—Minnesota women were already assisting attending the classes made an entire outfit from flour sacks. Others with 4-H, acting as leaders and working with teachers to serve hot made table linens, decorative pillow slips or rugs. In 1933, 181 lunches at schools; marketing—Minnesota previously had a women enrolled, and Theresa Cvetan of Soudan was named Thrift marketing committee for three years; legislation—Minnesota’s goal Champion for making 13 garments for her family. was “every farm woman an intelligent voter;” and recreation— Young women living in the 21st century would have difficulty Minnesota had sponsored a quartet contest the past two years, and accomplishing what women in the early 20th century did. For the Minnesota quartet won the national contest in 1933. example, 19-year-old Armita Gravelle, St. Louis County, was a In Freeborn County, 1,255 women attended the opening meetings canning champion in 1932 when she canned over 1,000 jars of food. of the Clothing I project one early January. The clothing specialist Her hard work (446 quarts of fruit, 502 cans of vegetables, 116 from extension, Lois Reid, gave instruction on making use of glasses of jellies and jams and several quarts of meat) provided her “clothing on hand,” proper home laundering of silk and wool, and farm family with a bounty of good eating. The estimated value of the home dry cleaning, including stain removal. food she preserved? $246.70. Mary May Miller, home management specialist at the University During the summer of 1934, South St. Louis County conducted its Farm, presented a demonstration called “Making the House a Home” first annual home demonstration camp at Camp Signel on Lake to 220 Clearwater County women in early 1934. She emphasized Esquagama. The purpose of the camp was rest, recreation, wall and window treatments, the care of floors and the arrangement inspiration and education. Anticipating her stay at camp, one of furniture. The women studied rooms so they could arrange homemaker said, “I have been married for 37 years and have never furniture to meet a number of activities including reading, music, had a vacation. I am taking my first one at the home demonstration
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camp, and I will bring my rocking chair with me and just rock for three days.” Another woman looking forward to the experience wrote, “It will be interesting to meet women from other parts of the county and to have a real opportunity to visit with them.” Husbands and families supported the women’s camp. In fact, one young daughter learned how to milk cows so her mother could attend. Women in the southern part of the state were focusing on cheese. Demonstrations on cheese making were held in eight different locations in Freeborn County. One hundred pounds of milk from farms in the community were used for each demonstration. Many women went home from the demonstration inspired and started making their own cheese. Farm Bureau appointed W.A. Dickenson, former Cottonwood County agent, as director of the newly created safety department in 1935. Bertha Minion, chair of the H&C Committee, saw safety as an area for women to be involved. November 1938 board records indicate that her report included the goal of having each county H&C chair appoint a safety committee and “do something definite” on safety in the county. This photo shows the early Farm Bureau cabin at the The MFBF began a highway safety educational program in 1939. state fair. A “motion picture machine” was purchased for use in a series of meetings in cooperation with the Minnesota Farm Bureau Insurance strong financial reasons why farm people should devote increased director and district agents. The film “Horse Power and Horse attention to accident prevention work.” Sense” was shown at 134 meetings attended by 15,001 people. It Another event popular with Farm Bureau women in this decade was also shown to 21,661 high school students. Counties were was camping at the Minnesota State Fair. Since the campground encouraged to put on highway safety programs and contests, and the began, over 10,000 had used it by 1934. The MFBF took over the first safety poster contest was held at the 1939 annual meeting. free camp in 1929. The campground provided cooking privileges in W.A. summarized the reasons for promoting safety: “Aside from the camp kitchen, a reading room and other amenities. State fair the grief and desolation caused by automobile accidents, there are police patrolled the lighted grounds, and water was available at
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standpipes throughout the ground. All the families had to do was topics that agreed with policy as stated in the state’s resolutions. The bring their own camping equipment. State fair officials appreciated 15-minute programs strengthened relationships with many state the commendable job Farm Bureau did in overseeing the camp. senators and representatives. In her report to the MFBF board of directors in November 1938, J. S. Jones, MFBF executive secretary, gave a legislative report H&C Chair Bertha Minion told board members that 14 women had each week on the broadcast, and he invited several legislators to attended a mini H&C camp at the state fair camp site. This mini speak to the bills being discussed in the Minnesota House and camp grew and in a few years it moved to the ag campus of the Senate. In November 1939 the board voted to do the broadcasts from University of Minnesota and later to Camp Koronis in Stearns the state office to save time for Jack Melrose who was doing the County. broadcast. Although June Dairy Month isn’t a Farm Bureau program, the One topic discussed on the radio program may have been ethanol dairy promotion has been important to Farm Bureau members since since there was talk about producing fuel from corn as early as 1933. the program began in 1936. The Minnesota Dairy Industry Midwest farmers, including M.S. Winder, executive secretary of the Committee and the American Dairy Association, organizations that AFBF, formed a committee to investigate and promote a new plan of Farm Bureau dairy farmers supported, were influential in permanent farm relief. One suggested that a long-term solution to the establishing June Dairy Month. A group of dairy leaders asked the farm crisis was ethanol. The committee estimated that a mixture of Minnesota legislature for $20,000 to start the program. Hence, the 10 percent alcohol with gasoline would create a new market for 650 Minnesota Dairy Industry Committee was formed for the purpose of million bushels of grain a year. “This new market would consume strengthening and expanding markets for milk and dairy products the entire surplus of grain as well as the grain now used in producing through a year-round, nationwide, non-brand, farmer-financed surplus livestock. … With corn at 60 cents a bushel, a price which promotion program of advertising, merchandising, research and would restore a large measure of buying power to the corn belt, public relations. Wisconsin, Iowa, Montana, North Dakota and motor fuel containing 10 percent corn alcohol would cost about 3 Washington joined Minnesota in this new enterprise. cents a gallon more than ordinary gasoline.” The committee March 1938 saw the MFBF taking agriculture to the airwaves acknowledged that the plan would not meet the immediate when it entered into a trial contract with radio station WDGY in the emergency, but it was a new outlet for farm products instead of Twin Cities for a regularly scheduled broadcast. Others were reducing production. Because corn growers were determined to make interested in the time slot, so the state board of directors acted ethanol a reality, today Minnesota drivers can power their vehicles quickly. Vice President Ole A. Flaat presided at the March 7 board with E-85, a blend of corn alcohol and gasoline. meeting because President White was at the radio station doing the Early in its history, Farm Bureau established itself as a voice for first broadcast. Consensus was to stay with “safe,” non-controversial agriculture. That voice became stronger as the organization grew and
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volunteers took the leadership in their local township and county commissioner of agriculture, a position he held from 1939 to1942. units before moving into the political arena. Ed Thye, a dairy farmer In 1942, he was elected lieutenant governor under Harold, and the in Dakota County, demonstrated that fact. While he was Dakota following year when Harold resigned to enlist in the Navy, Ed County Farm Bureau president from 1932 to 1939, he saw beyond became Minnesota’s 26th governor. He won re-election by a his county’s needs. At the Dec. 29, 1934, Dakota County annual landslide in the 1944 election. Then in 1946, Ed was elected to meeting, he stressed the importance of an organization of farmers to represent Minnesota in the U. S. Senate, a position he held until he look after legislative matters of interest to agriculture. He hoped that was defeated by Eugene McCarthy in 1958. While in Congress, he agriculture would attain a more favorable status in the next few years was known for his support of farmers and small businessmen. than it had in the past. The seed planted 20 years earlier was still growing and sending its Serving as county president brought Ed into contact with leaders roots deeper at the close of the 1930s. The drought and grasshoppers from various walks of life. Because of his friendship with Dakota were a thing of the past, but the opposition to Farm Bureau’s ties County Attorney Harold Stassen, he supported Harold’s bid for with the extension service would continue to fester into the next governor in 1938. When Harold became governor, he appointed Ed decade, and Farm Bureau would face the added challenges of World as Minnesota’s dairy and food commissioner and deputy War II.
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The United State’s involvement in World War II resulted in many young farmers postponing their farming goals so they could fight for freedom in Europe or the South Pacific. The departure of so many able-bodied young farmers and Withstanding farm workers presented new challenges to agriculture, challenges which the MFBF and county Farm Bureaus sought to overcome. MFBF Women’s the Winds Committee demonstrated its strong patriotic spirit in 1943 with a resolution in support of soldiers fighting in World War II: of War While our united nations are winning the war, women on the home front must hold fast to the faith of our fathers, cherish the ideals of our democracy and strive 1940-1949 for higher spiritual, intellectual and physical values to cope with the emergencies beyond the present crisis, so that when our men now in the service of our nation return, they can come back to a “Government of the people, for the people and by the people.” Be it further resolved that we approve of the work of the USO and other organizations which are endeavoring to provide good, wholesome surroundings for our boys in camp, and we further recommend that our government make every effort to regulate the surroundings of our camps, so that the highest moral standards may prevail. Individual counties showed their support of the nation’s war efforts. For example, in 1943 Mower County Farm Bureau members voted to pay dues for their members who were in the military service. The next year they bought war bonds and voted to reduce membership to $3. As a result of many young men joining the military, farm workers were in short supply. Goodhue County had set up educational centers to train older men and women as well as city people for farm work. Members of the MFBF state board addressed this issue in their February 1942 meeting. While the educational centers were beneficial, the board felt “that the greater danger [was] in taking the key people off the farms and trying to fill their places with people who had this short training and no experience.” Chapter Four Skuli Rutford, assistant extension director, met with the MFBF board at its
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MFBF officers in 1940 as printed in the Federation booklet “Twenty Years with the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation.”
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April 1944 meeting to discuss the an adjusted 1950 goal of 68,675. farm labor problem. He voiced 1948 MFBF membership: Farm Bureau was attracting his immediate concern about the MFBFacts 68,366 members because of its strong upcoming canning season. voice on agricultural issues, but Requests for workers were sent another strong drawing card for to prisoner-of-war camps. Mexicans and Jamaicans were also being membership was the focus on farm families. Lillie Ziegler, long-time recruited for canning plants, but there would still be a shortage of Faribault County member, said that she and her husband Harry workers. joined the Elmore Township Farm Bureau in 1940 because “it was a Assistant Director Rutford stated, “The situation is rather difficult place you could take your family.” She paid the $3 membership fee because the people who have been dismissed from defense plants with money she received for her birthday. Lillie’s father was a will not take work on farms or elsewhere because of the fact that charter member of Farm Bureau, so Lillie and Harry were second- they have been making such high wages. Many places are hiring generation members. women and boys, though the women working in the canning Lillie remembers that the township meetings were family social factories are usually residents. This committee has at the present events. Held in the homes of Farm Bureau members, the meetings time a certification of 150 Japanese prisoners and others in Clay had something for all members of the family. She remembers having County, but all indications are that the quota will not be filled.” as many as 18 to 20 children attend with their moms and dads. Labor shortages did not end after the war ended. In 1948 the board In addition to being a farm wife who reared seven children, Lillie again discussed the farm labor situation. Indications were that had two major interests off the farm. Her energetic nature propelled Mexicans from Texas were being brought in to Minnesota, and “it her into leadership in the women’s committee of Farm Bureau on the [was] working out quite satisfactorily.” county level for a total of 19 years and for 15 years on the district By the end of its second decade, the Minnesota Farm Bureau had level. established itself as the voice of agriculture, and membership People who worked with Lillie will remember she often carried experienced a steady growth. In 1940, 62 counties achieved or her coffee pot with her to meetings. She told of a memorable state surpassed their membership goals. Art Mereness, MFBF director of Resolutions Committee meeting when she carried her little six-cup organization, reported 33,635 Minnesota Farm Bureau members in coffee pot and some goodies to the meeting. That particular year one 1940. Midway through the 1940s, membership rose to more than of the resolutions dealt with combining the Minneapolis and St. Paul 50,000 members, and Minnesota’s goal for 1950 was set at 70,000. campuses of the University of Minnesota. She summarized the When the state board of directors discussed the lofty goal at its April impact of that resolution by writing, “Farm Bureau was opposed to 1946 meeting, board minutes of the next month’s meeting recorded it, so we still have two campuses.”
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When she was district chair, She began working at KBEW in Blue Earth when the station started Lillie conducted a workshop in broadcasting in 1963. Now more than 90 years old, Lillie still does a Mankato each February for the newscast and a human interest program each day. She was inducted county chairs and others. The date into the Museum of Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2005 after for the meeting was carefully broadcasting for more than 46 years. chosen in October after the new Lillie referred to Vern Ingvalson, manager of the MFBF legislative Farmer’s Almanac came out, and division and MFBF President Clarence Meyers as her cheerleaders. only once in 12 years did weather In March 1975 Vern wrote Lillie a letter after he had spoken at the interfere. The night before a Wilkin County Farm Bureau annual meeting. “The highlight of the meeting, Lillie would be busy whole evening was a talk by a young lady, Valdean Holubak, who making raised, glazed doughnuts had attended the Citizenship Seminar,” wrote Vern. “She began her to serve the 100 people expected talk by telling the audience that she was fortunate to have a terrific at the meeting. lady as her counselor who, as far as she was concerned, was the At one meeting Lillie used her Lillie Ziegler was inducted into ‘best at the camp.’ She said that ‘my counselor’s name was Lillie hats to reinforce the sections of the Minnesota Broadcast Hall Ziegler and that she was just terrific.’ Valdean went on to say that her presentation. Each hat of Fame in 2005. ‘Mamma Lillie would come into our rooms and talk to us represented a special story. “That individually about what went on during the day and about this or that started my hat show. For over 30 years I spoke all over Minnesota speaker,’ and that ‘Mamma Ziegler had the whole cabin organized and northern Iowa, using my hats to tell stories from my life,” she like a radio station.’” recalled. Vern concluded his letter to Lillie by telling her that he was proud Women’s camp was a time of special bonding for Minnesota Farm of the fact that she was a Farm Bureau leader “doing a terrific job in Bureau women, according to Lillie. She has fond memories of the anything [she pursued].” He went on to thank her “for being such a chapel services held by the lake at Camp Koronis. Another special dynamic individual who assisted in molding a real sharp gal’s life. feature of women’s camp was the large choir, which Lillie directed She was impressed with [Lillie’s] many abilities and talents.” twice. Three years after Lillie joined the Faribault County Farm Bureau, In addition to all her Farm Bureau responsibilities, Lillie’s second Art Welander joined the Washington County Farm Bureau while he interest has been radio broadcasting, which she has done since 1949 was still in high school. Upon graduation, he took advantage of the when she began at KSUM Radio in Fairmont. Her responsibilities health insurance offered through Farm Bureau. Art’s wife Joyce have included helping with the morning show and doing newscasts. joined Farm Bureau when they were married in 1961. She
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remembers “He would oversee our yearly budget as well.” oyster stew, not According to Joyce, she and Art had “the greatest opportunity one of her every Farm Bureau member needs to experience,” attending several favorites, was on state and national conventions as well as Farmers to Washington the menu the first trips to talk with congressmen and senators. Joyce has been a time she attended member in the Producer’s Club and the Tillers Club for her a Farm Bureau membership work. She has also received the coveted Golden Plow meeting. Both Award. Art and Joyce Minutes of the H&C Committee annual meetings contained began their resolutions that originated in the committee and then were accepted participation in by MFBF delegates. Resolutions on the use of oleomargarine the Grant continued to appear from year to year. The 1940 resolution went this Township unit way: “Since the production of butter is a major source of farm and have been income in Minnesota, more than 80 percent of the butter county leaders manufactured here is marketed in other states, we urge that a federal since then. After tax be imposed on oleo and other butter substitutes equal to the tax Art’s tenure as now borne by butter, and that excise taxes be imposed on edible fats county president, and oils imported into the United States to equal tax now borne on Joyce served in butter in its production.” that position. A related resolution in1940 recommended appropriating funds to They have also carry out a sales campaign for the sale of lard to call the consumer’s been active in attention to the high quality of lard produced by the pork industry. many community Bertha Minion ably led the Minnesota Farm Bureau women during organizations and served on several committees. this decade as MFBF Home and Community chair. From her vantage Joyce mentioned long-time Washington County Farm Bureau point, she sensed that the women were too dependent on extension, member Charles Woodward, a senior honorary Farm Bureau and she stated at the August 1945 MFBF board meeting that “Farm member, who currently lives in Woodbury. He was county treasurer Bureau women have depended too much on extension and in that for many years. “Charles, a very faithful board member, would be way have weakened themselves.” sure our dollars were well budgeted and wisely spent,” wrote Joyce. A new outreach of the MFBF Women’s Committee in this decade
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was the Sister Kenney Institute. James Henry, vice president of the should be a Farm Bureau member. We have a membership in 4-H of institute, addressed the state board of directors during its April 1945 16,000 where we should have many times that number. … I think it meeting. He told about the opposition to the Kenney method of is time that the Farm Bureau Federation make a campaign. In treating polio and gave statistics showing how the institute’s method Germany they have 100 percent of their youth in the youth produced far greater results than other programs in the Twin Cities. organization. We do not have 12 percent of our young people of the MFBF women contributed more than $17,000 to the Kenney age in our voluntary youth movement. Do you have 4-H in your Institute in just one year. In the 1950s the institute would be a major program?” project of Minnesota Farm Bureau women. A year later, the issue of junior Farm Bureaus arose again. The A year later $14,000 was collected by Farm Bureau women across consensus of board members was that extension should not dictate to the nation and sent to polio researchers and medical schools, rural farm groups such as Rural Youth, which began in the previous including Yale and Johns Hopkins universities. To encourage decade. Board member Flaat stated that “Farm Bureau has a service research, AFBF women established the “Mrs. Charles W. Sewell to render along this line.” The board agreed that it would like to see Research Project” in honor of their staff administrator. Nationally, a close link between Farm Bureau and youth programs. Ideas Farm Bureau women worked closely with the National Foundation included having junior members on state and county boards. for Infantile Paralysis, but MFBF women would continue to support P.E. Miller, director of extension at University Farm, and Paul the Kenney Institute since Minnesota was home to the care facility. Moore, from his department, met with the MFBF board in April A 1945 resolution indicated the strong support Farm Bureau had 1948 to discuss the issue of a rural youth program and who would for 4-H. Since several Minnesota counties temporarily discontinued oversee it. Director Miller stated that 52 counties had formed a Rural county fairs, Farm Bureau recommended that “the state laws be Youth Federation with a state executive committee. “Farm Bureau amended so as to allow state funds going to these county fairs go to can organize junior Farm Bureaus. That is entirely a decision for you the sponsors of the county 4-H club fairs.” to make,” said Director Miller. State board minutes from the mid 1940s mentioned discussions on At their July meeting, the MFBF board voted to recognize the establishing a junior Farm Bureau for young people too old for 4-H Minnesota Rural Youth Federation as the rural youth group to and too young to join Farm Bureau. T.A. Erickson, who was with represent Minnesota on the national committee. General Mills, spoke at the noon luncheon of the April 24, 1945, Robert “Bob” Dieter, Nobles County Farm Bureau member, began board meeting and challenged board members with a series of his involvement in Farm Bureau through the Rural Youth when he pointed questions. “Why are we having so much trouble in every was about 19 years old. There was no social activity for young state expanding the 4-H club work? What proportion of the local people after they were too old for 4-H, so Farm Bureau took up the leaders are Farm Bureau members? Every leader in Minnesota slack and sponsored activities for young people between 19 and 35.
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Bob said that when he joined the Nobles County Rural Youth group asked him if he would serve as president, a position he held about 15 in the mid 1940s, the group was mostly girls because most of the years. men were at war. The four men in the local group had farm “We went from a deficit to positive financial growth,” he recalled. deferments. “It was done through membership. Nobody got paid for anything. I The youth meetings were both social and educational. Bob put miles and miles on my car. I just volunteered my time.” remembers educational tours to area businesses such as the power Not only was Bob volunteering his time in Farm Bureau, but he plant and the funeral home. They also visited large sheep and beef was also active in his community as a 4-H leader, town board farms. member, school board member and leader in his local church. By 1952 Bob was immersed in the youth organization. In fact, that “You name it: I’ve raised it, except goats,” quipped Bob, but he was the year he served as president of the county, district, state and never milked cows after he got married. He still farms with his son regional organizations. The regional meeting was held May 24-26, David, whose son became a fourth-generation Farm Bureau member 1952. Bob was home planting corn, but he still ended up with the job when he got insurance after learning to drive. of president. He led a delegation of 50 Minnesota youth to the fourth Bob summarized his years in Farm Bureau: “To me, going to annual Western Regional Conference of the Rural Youth of the USA Washington, D.C. on those trips is really a highlight. I went with my in Spearfish, South Dakota and presided over the conference. Bob wife Jean to the national convention in Kansas City. We drove from was one of only two or three youth appointed by the governor to a the Twin Cities where I had been attending the school board state Youth Commission for the purpose of discussing programs to convention.” aid youth too old for 4-H. Early in the 1940s extension and Farm Bureau were still closely Bob still has a certificate handwritten in pencil from the October aligned. Board minutes from its August 1941 meeting recorded 1952 conference. It reads: “It is with deepest sympathy that we comments from Extension Director P.E. Miller. “I’m glad to sit in hasten to send you this letter of congratulations upon your with the board once a year to get a close-up picture of the various approaching marriage. We of the RYUSA Advisory & Executive activities and programs of Farm Bureau. It is said that the extension Committee convened at E. Bay Camp, Bloomington, Illinois, hereby service is in a reasonably strong position, with the number of home acknowledge and credit you for said moves! Yessir!!” It was signed demonstration agents and full-time 4-H leaders.” He advocated by the eight members of the committee. continued and better cooperation between the extension department Bob joined Nobles County Farm Bureau in 1955 after he got and Farm Bureau. married. Since then he has been involved on the county level all but Secretary J.S. Jones reported to the state board in January 1944 a few years. In the late ’60s his county membership was down to that MFB staff and extension representatives for the committee on nothing, and they needed to borrow money to keep going. The board extension/MFBF relations had been established, subject to the
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approval of the board. The cooperative agreement was approved and Funding for the University of Minnesota was another Farm Bureau then signed by Farm Bureau’s president and secretary, as well as the concern. Most of the money was being used on the Minneapolis University of Minnesota’s Dean Bailey and P.E. Miller. County Farm campus, and the agricultural college was being neglected. As a Bureau officers and county extension agents were then informed of result, prospective the agreement. students and competent During the October 1948 board meeting, Secretary Jones reported faculty were enrolling in on the move to separate the two entities. He stated that having been out-of-state universities. an extension worker, he felt that extension work would be the loser From its inception, the if the two separated because Farm Bureau contributed both money News was the printed and effort to the extension work. He went on to say that many times voice of the Farm Bureau had been instrumental in obtaining appropriations for organization. County extension at the state and federal levels. “This money is supposed to extension agents be used out in the counties, and in many instances, it is being used to submitted reports, pay high salaries to the heads of departments,” he affirmed. He had announcements and personally testified on the state and federal levels on behalf of other information extension. pertinent to the By 1949, other farm groups were becoming more vocal in their individual counties. The opposition to the close relationship between Farm Bureau and the Jack Melrose edited the “News” for paper grew until it was more than 27 years. extension service. This opposition had been present for many years, being published in seven but the two organizations realized that they needed to go their editions, each one sent to a particular area of the state. In 1946 L.J. separate ways when House File 538, or “The Divorce Bill,” as it was Melrose, director of publicity, began talking about discontinuing called, was introduced into the legislature. The bill failed to pass in separate editions. Although material submitted by the extension 1949, but it was clear to both Farm Bureau and extension that a agents was important, much of the information was also published in divorce was inevitable. local papers, and much of the material was repetitious. Secretary Jones reminded the board that “we must be on a more Art Mereness traced the origin of the News at the July 1946 board sound basis than ever before.” He recommended that Farm Bureau meeting. He reminded the board that extension agents contributed to make the first move by setting up an office in every county before the early editions of the paper when county and state officers worked the next legislative session. “We cannot continue to use the county together publishing a paper that served six southwestern Minnesota agent’s office as our Farm Bureau office,” he concluded. counties while he was county agent in Murray County. If the News
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went to one paper, some changes would need and stood against the dumping of wheat was to be made, but he felt the extra effort would “condemned for doing so.” For example, 7th be “well worth while.” District U.S. Rep. H. Carl Anderson was The change was made, and the immediate unfairly attacked for standing with Farm response was positive, according to Jack Bureau on the wheat issue. The congressman Melrose’s report to the board in February represented his district from 1939 until 1962 1947. “Since the Farm Bureau News came out when he lost his bid for re-election after in one state-wide edition, it has been possible redistricting. He lived on a farm in Lincoln to expand the range of subjects covered. Calls County and became the ranking member of for bundles of papers have been received the Agriculture Subcommittee of the from the information agent of the Farm Credit Appropriations Committee. Administration, Soil Conservation Service, Jack defended Rep. Anderson in one of Soil Department at University Farms, Home Farm Bureau’s radio broadcasts by pointing Demonstration leader’s office, the state out that Farm Bureau focused on issues and Department of Agriculture and a considerable not politics. He emphasized that the number of individuals who have been congressman stood with the wheat issue, a featured in our ‘Who’s Who’ section. This position that happened to be the same as Farm would indicate that these groups and Bureau’s. Ultimately, the controversy was individuals believe they have been assisted by beneficial to both Farm Bureau and Rep. the Farm Bureau News.” Anderson. In a thank you letter to Farm Articles in the News were read by people Bureau, the congressman stated that Jack’s outside of Farm Bureau circles as well as by comments played an important role in his members. Jack reported to the state board of primary campaign. He assured Farm Bureau directors in October 1942 that editorials in the that he would try to help the organization paper agitated labor union supporters. The St. This unidentified meeting photo from whenever possible. Paul Dispatch had carried a series of articles Howard Handeland’s files appears to be An ongoing matter of concern to farmers on Minnesota congressmen, and every of a women’s session at an annual has been the condition of roads used to get congressman who supported Farm Bureau’s meeting. farm products transported to market. Minutes stand for closing useless government agencies of the August and October 1947 MFBF board
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meetings recorded discussions about roads. After much debate, the board passed the following resolution: “Whereas the resolutions of In 1945 farmers received previous annual meetings of the MFBF have requested the MFBFacts 53 percent of the food dollar. development of rural farm to market roads and that in order to secure same, the Farm Bureau favored an increased portion of the gas tax to agriculture story, the MFBF surveyed its members concerning the counties for that purpose, and whereas there is now a constitutional broadcast. Results from a survey conducted early in 1940 amendment providing for a 50-50 division of the gas tax, therefore emphasized a problem of using the relatively new technology. be it resolved that we favor this amendment.” Suggestions for improvements on the content of the program ranged In the October meeting, Secretary Jones reported on the unfair from “more band music” to “softer music” to “leave it as it is.” Not distribution of funds for Minnesota highways. Some highways in only did the program need to be entertaining and informative, but it good condition were being rebuilt, and in many other cases, people needed coverage as wide as possible. WCCO, which provided the were unable to get to the highway because of the lack of funds for best coverage from north to south, cost five times as much as secondary roads. With the 50-50 division of gas tax money, counties WDGY, which had a much smaller reception radius. The MFBF would be able to care for their own roads. board made the choice based on economics, and the program aired Delegates to the 1949 MFBF convention passed a resolution on WDGY. requesting that the MFBF executive board study the possibility of Jack, who was in charge of the radio broadcast, kept the program’s establishing a legislative committee: topics current with the issues of the day. For example, in early 1942, Farm Bureau members are deeply interested in legislative topics included war bond issues, scrap iron collection and the “Seeds activities which affect the economy of the country. They firmly for Russia” and Chinese relief campaigns. WDGY was sold in 1946, believe that opinion should crystallize among members, then be and the new owners expressed the desire to market the station as a transmitted to the correct executive channels for action. Be it “farm station” with programming of interest to rural people. therefore resolved that the Minnesota Farm Bureau establish a state The station followed through with that desire in 1947. Jack legislative committee. Membership could be on the basis of one devoted a large portion of air time to a major concern of farmers— member from each rural congressional district, elected by the voting the farm price situation. Many Twin Cities residents responded delegates from each rural congressional district at the annual favorably by telephone and letter to the broadcasts. WDGY picked meeting of the Minnesota Farm Bureau. This committee should meet up on the favorable response and placed advertisements in the at stated intervals, perhaps quarterly, and function primarily as a Minneapolis newspapers encouraging readers to listen to Farm policy making group. Bureau’s news program. Farm Bureau discontinued the program With the goal of reaching a larger radio audience with the when it became too time consuming for Farm Bureau personnel.
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County fairs continued beams and sod as a roof, to be one of summer’s was a sturdy structure MFBFacts social events for rural which many people can Minnesotans. In 1942, enjoy today.” The Lincoln In 1947, 80 the members of Jonas County Farm Bureau percent of the Swenson’s family partnered with the fair state’s farm donated to the Lincoln board to renovate the County Fair the log cabin, and since the late income came home built by Jonas in ’80s, it has served as the from livestock. Royal Township in 1873 Farm Bureau “booth” at the when he migrated from fair. Sweden. Like other The Minnesota State Fair camp operated by Farm pioneer homes, it was Bureau drew 4,170 people in 1941, the largest built from native oak number of farmers camping in the history of the fair. trees growing on the Reports were that the camp was run smoothly, homestead. The The Jonas Swenson log cabin is home to the Lincoln except that some campers wanted electric service to September 1992 News County Farm Bureau at the county fair. Pictured from their trailer homes. The state fair agreed to resolve carried a description of left to right are Lincoln County Farm Bureau members the problem. the cabin. “No nails Cinda Randolph, Bernie Aronson and Rollie Johnson. In spite of World War II taking young men from were used to erect this the farms, Farm Bureau continued to flourish and cabin; rather the sturdy hands and brawn of Jonas were utilized to grow in the 1940s. The growing organization would weather a fasten the huge logs by inserting wooden pegs at the points. Space different sort of storm in the next decade. between the logs was filled with a clay mixture made to form into a type of cement to keep the rain and cold out. The cabin, with logs as
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Farmers use pesticides to protect their crops from organisms that threaten to destroy their crops. The MFBF faced a couple major challenges in the 1950s. The first challenge had been a concern since the 1920s: opposition to Farm Bureau’s Surviving close relationship with the extension service. As recorded in previous chapters, Farm Bureau and county agents, while dependent on each other, worked Challenges diligently to keep the two entities separate. While there were instances where the relationship was abused, most of the opposition resulted from misinformation or 1950-1959 lack of information. One legislative bill that raised the wrath of many Minnesotans in 1951 was dubbed the “Farm Bureau Divorce Bill.” The relationship between local Farm Bureau units and the Minnesota Extension Service had flourished since the birth of both organizations. Farm Bureau’s financial support of extension and 4-H over the years added up to hundreds of thousands of dollars. A March 1952 News article defended the working relationship by saying, “Farm Bureau money has helped in many counties to make it possible for the county agent to visit more farms and do more field work. The county agent makes his field calls where he knows that he will be welcome and helpful.” As the above comment implies, not all farmers appreciated the extension service, and that lack of appreciation was often linked to Farm Bureau’s ties to the service. While the Grange was supportive of Farm Bureau’s arrangement with extension, the Farmers Union was vocal about its opposition. The News article also referenced those who resisted the educational efforts of extension. The Agricultural Extension Service has been a center of controversy since it first was established. There are still a few people around who say, “I don’t need no county agent to tell me how to farm.” In the early days of the Agricultural Extension Service when professional agitators saw in the service a means of picking up a livelihood by feeding on the prejudices of the ignorant, good farmers found it necessary to defend their rural educational service from unjust attack. Chapter Five
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MFBF President J.L. Morton, in his March 1953 News column, it will be lighter. The Farm Bureau Home and Community chairmen stated Farm Bureau’s position on the issue: will be responsible after January 1, 1954, only to their county Farm There is no legal or official connection between the extension Bureau boards inasmuch as they are heading Farm Bureau women’s department of the University of Minnesota and the MFBF. The only committees in the respective counties. Each county will also have a connecting link between the Farm Bureau and extension is in the law committee of women elected or chosen to promote the extension’s which originally set up both county farm bureaus and extension work educational program for women headed by a chairman or president. in the counties of our state almost forty years ago. We have every reason to believe … that there will be the same warm Farm leaders have known for many years as we have grown up and friendly feeling prevailing between groups. Farm Bureau women together and mutually helped each other, that this legal tie between will be building ever stronger their dues-paying organization. … the two had developed extension much better and faster in our state Extension will be offering for our acceptance their well-rounded than it could have been done any other way. At our last annual educational program paid for by all of us who pay taxes on the local meeting our membership asked through Resolution 34 that an and state level. interim committee of the legislature be set up to study the Some Farm Bureau women expressed concern over their role in relationship between extension and Farm Bureau to improve the organization after the “divorce” took effect. Bertha reassured relations and allow each organization to carry on to its fullest them of their continued input on Farm Bureau programs in her ability. … December 1953 column. Extension has grown up in the last forty years and now as Farm Farm Bureau women will be a committee operating in accord with Bureau goes into a “service to members” program this seems to be policies laid down by their respective county Farm Bureau boards. I the right time for this separation. As we move along together I hope have stated that the first plans made should be made with the entire it will be a friendly separation in each county, and I’m sure county board of the county Farm Bureau giving real and sincere study to the Farm Bureaus will also support the extension program and Farm needs of their individual county. Channels of thought will be opened Bureau leaders will help and guide its progress. to discussion and the thinking together should bring forth some Bertha Minion, state H&C Committee chair, commented in the concrete answers. July 1953 News on the impact of the pending “divorce” on the H&C Richard Herman, Kanabec County extension agent, presented his Committee: perspective of the separation of extension and Farm Bureau in the The Farm Bureau women, as we all know as county Farm Bureau February 1954 News. Home and Community chairmen, have been responsible for carrying This separation ends thirty years of good working relations. Years the program of Farm Bureau’s women’s projects and the women’s ago it was necessary that an organization in the county have 200 interests in the extension service. The load has been heavy, and now members and money on deposit before a county agent would be put
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in the county by the extension service. It has been the policy for the all farm legislation sponsored by the major farm organizations, the Farm Bureau to help with the extension budget. In some counties Farm Bureau and the Grange. However, these organizations, with this has amounted to $2,000 or $3,000. In Kanabec it has run few exceptions in certain state Farm Bureaus and state Granges, are between $300 and $500. The separation will satisfy the charge made entirely dominated by corporate farm interests who are a part and by the Minnesota Farmer’s Union that the Farm Bureau has run the parcel of the NAM (National Association of Manufacturers) and the county extension service. In most cases that has not been the truth Chamber of Commerce. ... A group of southern leaders of the Farm and certainly not in Kanabec. Bureau early in the days of the New Deal decided that they would The new setup will be better for Farm Bureau, as they do not have build a big political organization. They set the county agents to work to spend this money for 4-H work as they have done in the past. It organizing the Farm Bureau. Using their positions in the will help the extension service by not being accused of false government, the county agents checked off membership dues from associations with the Farm Bureau. The separation has been small farmers’, tenants’ and sharecroppers’ government checks achieved in a nice way. Both sides requested it and friendly relations which were paid them for taking part in the crop control program. will continue. Now, as in the past, the function of the county agent is Three hundred thousands of rank and file farmers were involuntary to work with farm problems, bring the results of research to the farm members of the Farm Bureau. Their dues were often paid direct from and the farmers’ problems back to the people at the research centers the U.S. Treasury checks without their authorization. for study. The farm problems are many, as anyone knows, and the MFBF News articles vehemently opposed the Farmers Union’s extension agent’s job is to work with any and all farm families perceived relationship with communist sympathizers. For instance, regardless of organization affiliations. the May 1956 News carried a half-page advertisement titled, “Would The second challenge threatening Farm Bureau early in this You Like to Read the Truth About Farmers Union?” The ad decade was communism. As early as 1951, Farm Bureau News promoted a 60-page booklet that exposed Farmers Union and its readers were urged to help the cause of freedom by supporting Radio communistic leanings. The booklet sold for $1. Free Europe. Started July 4, 1950, the programs began with one The war of words between Farm Bureau and the Farmers Union short-wave radio station in Frankfort, West Germany. became quite animated, especially over ex-communist Helen Wood The battle between Farm Bureau and the Farmers Union over Birnie, a communist organizer who was kicked out of the labor unions surfaced in the October 1951 News. A story of AFL Communist Party in 1935 when she disagreed with the party’s National Farm Labor Union president H.L. Mitchell lashing out position. The Christian Anti-Communism Crusade brought Mrs. against Farm Bureau’s position on labor unions was published. He Birnie and Dr. Fred Schwartz, founder of the Christian Anti- was quoted as saying: Communist Crusade and author of You Can Trust the Communists For many years the American Federation of Labor has supported (to be Communists), to the Midwest for a series of public meetings.
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After speaking at the Luverne High Communists were poised to take control of our country in the near School in Rock County, she was future. He asserted that, to that point, communists achieved their MFBFacts scheduled to speak in Bernadotte goals right on schedule. Woolley voluntarily left the USDA because (Nicollet County). That meeting was he could not, with a clear conscience, speak out about Communism Costs for 1956 blocked by the Farmers Union. as he saw it in action in Congress and government departments. MFBF women’s Ed Christianson, Minnesota Farmers Farm Bureau camp: room and Union president, accused Farm Bureau successfully resisted the board $7, of bringing Mrs. Birnie and Dr. challenges of “divorce” breakfast Schwartz to Minnesota to discredit the and communism and 45 cents, Farmers Union program. When the continued to thrive as a dinner $1, Bernadotte meeting was cancelled, strong, healthy supper 60 cents, arrangements were made to hold the organization. After the banquet $1.25. meeting in New Ulm, where the “divorce,” the women’s meeting hall was jammed with people Home and Community listening to Mrs. Birnie’s story. The Committee became the article summarized the whole chain of events by saying that “the Minnesota Farm New Ulm meeting indicated that sometimes efforts to suppress the Bureau Women’s truth boomerang on those who make the attempt.” Committee. The name The July 1954 News printed the report of the House Committee on changed, and they no Un-American Activities. This report “showed the efforts and the longer worked side by successes of Moscow in moving in on farmers, through pseudo farm side with extension, but organizations over which farmers have little or no control.” Farm Bureau women A headline on page one of the October 1954 News declared, “Reds still maintained their May Take Over Here Within Next Two Years; Know Your Enemy.” enthusiasm for The article reported on a speech given by Frank Woolley, former promoting agriculture deputy administrator of the Production and Marketing through their various Administration of the USDA. Speaking to a conference of Farm programs and activities. Bureau leaders in St. Paul, he reminded his audience of Karl Marx’s One of the popular declaration that he would control the world. Woolley predicted that activities recorded in
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the News during this decade was the commodity baking contests. In indicated that 2,548 entries with over 15,000 doughnuts were fried in 1954, women baked nearly 50,000 pies in local, regional and state 2.5 tons of lard. Other commodities used included two tons of sugar, contests. In 1955, butter cakes stirred up a great deal of interest 325 gallons of milk and cream, more than 600 pounds of butter, among members, including Rodney Butson, Garden City township more than two tons of flour and 1,261 dozen eggs. St. Louis County unit president and Blue Earth County Farm Bureau director. He had alone had 21 unit contests with 1,238 dozen doughnuts fried for never baked a cake before, so he baked three cakes the day of judging. competition before he found one worthy of entering. He made the One program continued by the Women’s Committee after the split right decision, because he won his township competition. Paul Holmgren, a farmer from Morrison County, took time off from his This plaque July harvest to enter the contest in his acknowledges Farm Bureau’s support of county. He won first place over the five the Sister Kenny women entered. His wife won second Institute. place. It was estimated that 105 pounds of butter were used in cakes baked at all levels in the county competitions. District sites for the cake contest were Alexandria, Austin, Cloquet, Elk River, Faribault, Redwood Falls, Thief River Falls and Worthington. 1956 was the year of the cake doughnut. The contest was promoted as a means of reducing the lard surplus. The doughnuts had to be fried in lard, and the lard carton or label had to accompany the entry. Seventy-four counties sponsored the baking contest. Statistics gathered from 51 of the participating counties Can you identify any of the Farm Bureau women at the Kenny Institute dedication?
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with extension was its support of the safety. Women had ordered and distributed Sister Kenny Institute. Fundraising efforts between 7,000 and 8,000 safety stickers that of MFBF women to treat polio victims read “FARM WITHOUT HARM,” a project resulted in a plaque being hung in their West Polk County women shared with the honor on the wall in a new wing of the state. institute. The inscription read, Long-time News columnist Clarence “Minnesota Ward. Dedicated to the Spicer penned a tribute to Bertha after her Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation death in 1983. Home and Community Chairmen in She was one of the most unusual, most appreciation of their support of the useful personalities of our times. She was Elizabeth Kenny Foundation throughout state women’s chair for over a quarter Minnesota 1951.” Neil Messick, Jr., century. … When she retired she did not quit co-chairman for Minnesota, presented the Farm Bureau. She was a talented speaker, plaque to Bertha Minion. Women and she was always on call to talk to attending their annual short course at the women’s groups anywhere, anytime. She University of Minnesota attended the probably made a thousand speeches to dedication and then toured the facility. church groups, Farm Bureau groups, at Bertha Minion, who had led Farm youth camps, anywhere she thought she Bureau women’s work since the mid could spread knowledge and inspiration to Making garments from printed fabric feed 1930s, stepped down in 1959. The News her people. She even went to far off sacks was popular during this decade. had carried her column “Home and Triplets (from left) JoAnn, Tommy and Judy, Denmark to talk to and with farm groups in Community” regularly during her long children of Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Sebenaler, that progressive nation. She told them about tenure as chair of the women’s Polk County, model their garments made farming in America and brought back committee. In her parting column she from 80-square percale feed sacks with Denmark’s ideas about farming and farm wrote that less than a dozen women had pastel blue and white checks, broken up with families. … We always referred to her as the responsibility of membership chair black scotty dogs. Farm Bureau’s “sweetheart.” Now I think for their counties, but “practically 100 she will be thought of as Farm Bureau’s percent of them assisted in some fashion “guardian angel” for I feel that Bertha in the campaign.” She also wrote that it Minion will be active“up there.” was impossible to put a value on women’s efforts in the area of
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Reports of attendance at the annual meetings of the MFBF were indicative of farmers’ support of Farm Bureau and its programs. For example, the MFBFacts large crowds created the need of housing delegates and other participants in three St. Paul hotels—the In 1952 the Lowry, the St. Paul and the St. Francis—in 1951. average People at previous annual meetings had packed the kilowatt-hour huge Lowry ballroom for general convention of energy sessions to the point that many squeezed in and had purchased to stand. In 1951, however, the general sessions through REA and banquet were held in the St. Paul auditorium, cost $0.136. the largest assembly building in St. Paul. Upon speaking highly of MFBF’s retiring president Frank W. White from Lyon County, the editorial column in the January 1952 News reprinted a tribute to President White from the Grand Rapids Herald-Review: His success may be attributed to several elements. He was of a conservative type who made no false promises. He relied upon reason and judgment. He made friends and gave leadership because of his own modesty and sincerity. Whenever the history of Minnesota agriculture is written, or its accomplishments recounted, Frank White will receive the honor he deserves. President White served as MFBF president from 1936 to 1951, and Federation membership tripled under his leadership. He was a dairy farmer, and he chaired the American Farm Bureau National Dairy Advisory Committee for a number of years. He was always interested in community affairs, and he helped set up the first cooperative oil company in the United States in Lyon County at Cottonwood. The same editorial quoted the Morris Sun, which carried an article about J. L. Morton, Stevens County Farm Bureau leader who had recently been In the 1950s, Minnesota counties worked on a point elected to succeed President White: system to be recognized for their work.
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He has hard hands and he works his head hard also—not only on for Farm Bureau members by a Farm Bureau-owned and controlled problems connected with the betterment of the community and farm company. business in general. The thinking which he does—and he does a lot Many people might be surprised to learn that Minnesota farmers of it to the purr of the milking machine and rumble of the tractor—is have been hiring immigrant workers for decades. In fact, farm progressive and sound. … He is a thorough student of any problem organizations in Mexico were cooperating with the AFBF in an effort he tackles, a good listener, an able executive with a knack of to control immigrants from entering the United States illegally in enlisting the enthusiastic cooperation of his associates. Yes, with Jim 1952. The farm groups of the two nations encouraged “further Morton as its head we may be assured that the MFBF will continue development of the program of bringing Mexican nationals to this its useful career and move forward to greater accomplishments as country in a legal and supervised manner for those periods of time new problems and new opportunities arise. when additional help is needed in certain agricultural areas in the President Morton was a leader by example as well as words. He United States.” took top honors at the 1953 Minnesota State Fair and received grand In 1953 Farm Bureau went on record favoring cooperation champion in the certified seed class competition sponsored by the between the United States and Canada to develop the St. Lawrence Minnesota Crop Improvement Association, an honor he had also Seaway so Minnesota would have access to another means of received in 1952. The News editorial described his entry: “The moving and receiving products. One resolution expressed the sample of Bonda was taken by a seed inspector from the Morton organization’s opposition to a state sales tax, while another supported bins. It was not a sample especially prepared for showing. Charles the federal government’s efforts at attaining world peace through the Winzer, vice president of the MFBF, won first prize at the state fair United Nations. The resolution on the gas tax and highway with his entry of Andrews oats. A good farm organization turns to maintenance sounds like it could have been written in the 21st good farmers for leadership.” century. Delegates wanted “at least 35 percent to 40 percent of People came from their counties in chartered buses and caravans Minnesota’s highway gas tax, license tax and other road use taxes for of automobiles to the annual meeting. In 1952 Faribault County use in township and county roads, and city and village streets. [They chartered two buses, Martin County brought one bus, and Freeborn believed] that county and local road building should correlate with County sent a caravan of cars. an overall state plan, but final authority for local roads be left with Establishing Farm Bureau policy through resolutions continued to local highway officials.” be an important part of the annual meeting. Resolutions passed in The 35th annual meeting of the MFBF, led by President J.L. 1952 included a safety resolution requiring training for all school bus Morton, took place in November 1953 and was summarized in the drivers. A second resolution requested a Farm Bureau Mutual December issue of the News. Casualty Company so that car and truck insurance could be written The surging, forward-looking spirit of Minnesota farmers,
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evidenced at the opening of the MFBF 35th and completing driver’s greatest annual convention on November 30, swelled to training. Delegates in a great crescendo December 2 when, with shouts of 1954 reaffirmed their acclamation, the house of delegates re-elected J.L. desire to expand the Morton, of Stevens County, as president and returned REA program and a to office the three executive board members whose cooperative telephone terms had expired. system “to the end that Thus the leading farmers of Minnesota’s leading every rural family in the farm organization placed their wholehearted area will be served endorsement on the program the Minnesota Farm whenever economically Bureau has followed during the greatest and most justified.” Delegates productive year. The quiet-spoken farmer who two also recommended that years ago was elected to the state’s highest farm post REA directors and after more than twenty years on the state directorate, school board members at the opening of the convention told in clear language be elected from their just how he stood on the momentous issues that own districts rather than confront farmers as the nation gears down from a long being elected at large. and dreadful period of wars and international MFBF headquarters in downtown St. Paul. The January 1959 brawling to the slower but more productive tempo of News was finally able to peace. print a front page story about one long-standing concern of Farm The big story of the convention as press wire services saw it was Bureau—building the St. Lawrence Seaway. The story referred to the the stand taken for flexible price supports. Farm Bureau members completion as “a dream come true.” Now large ocean vessels could realize, because they think rather than emote, that parity can be arrive in Duluth, in the heart of America. People involved with obtained only in the market place—never from the public treasury in agriculture were especially enthusiastic about the prospects of a port the form of government aids. Thinking farmers want parity without in Duluth. “In addition to predicting greater exports of farm crutches. commodities, agricultural representatives [spoke] of reductions in The issue of highway safety was addressed in the 1954 annual farm surpluses and increases in the value of farm land.” meeting with a resolution recommending that all high schools in the Interstate highways are a necessity for most Americans today, state to teach a driver’s training course. The resolution stated, while the number of Americans who remember travel before furthermore, that no teen should receive a driver’s license without interstate highways is decreasing. This network of roads is President
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Eisenhower’s legacy to Americans. Farmers in the of using chemicals. ’50s recognized that they had much to gain from the A Feb. 15, 1951, News headline read, “Savings proposed system. However, Farm Bureau took the MFBFacts Grow as Facilities Expand.” “Doc reported that in position that roads should be built only when funding In 1952 Minnesota 1950 the service company supplied more than a fourth was available. The organization saw a danger in ranked first of all commercial plant food used by Minnesota deficit financing for construction of interstate among all states, farmers. The big news in 1955 was the formation of highways. Farm Bureau leaders saw deficit financing not only in the the St. Paul Ammonia Company, in which the service as a major factor contributing to rising costs and company and other Midwestern co-ops acquired prices. Higher federal gas taxes would increase the number of substantial ownership. Manager Williams was elected cost of everything the farmer needed to produce and cooperatives, but president of the new company which was projected to market his products. also in the “furnish nitrogen fertilizers to Midwest farmers at a The Farm Bureau Service Company continued to number of savings that [would] run into the high millions in the provide quality products for member farmers. A full members and years ahead.” page from the Dec. 17, 1951, St. Paul Pioneer Press volume of A milestone was established in 1959 when the Farm was reprinted in the January 1951 News. The article business. Bureau Service Company added seed to the line of included a full-width photo of the Farm Bureau Plant products it carried. “Now in our 28th year, we are in Foods building and another of “Doc” Williams, Farm Bureau Service the farm seed business for sound reasons,” Doc reported. He went on Company manager. to explain that the high quality seed came directly from a seed Cheap water transportation is helping to put protein in your food. producer and not a broker. Sold under the name “FB-WC,” the seed Large volumes of chemical fertilizer have been moving upriver to was certified. “We have a new package never before seen or used in Minnesota from the south at a minimum cost per ton. One of the the seed business. Its red color and combined FB-WC brand will final shipments of the season to arrive at St. Paul for the Minnesota make it a stand-out in the seed business,” said Manager Williams. farmer was a barge load of triple-sulphate traveling 2,500 miles Since Farm Bureau is a general farm organization, it is an from Tampa, Florida, the longest all-water route of any commodity advocate for many more commodities than corn, soybeans, hogs and coming into the state. The single barge of 1,200 tons, equivalent to cattle. Timber farmers in northern Minnesota faced a crisis in the 30 freight cars, was the second shipment of a new movement to the early 1950s because of plummeting wood pulp prices. Needing to chemical mixing plant of the MFB Service Company on the river at improve production and marketing practices, they met in Grand 101 Fairfield Street. Rapids early in 1953 and formed the Koochiching Timber Producers The article went on to discuss shipping on the river and the value Association. Koochiching County Farm Bureau President Clarence
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Rogers was one of the leaders of the Minnesota Farm Bureau family. With the new cooperative in place, new association. Farm Bureau was better equipped to shape the thinking of legislators Professional lumberman, extension when considering laws affecting the timber industry. workers and foresters, as well as Farm Another change implemented in the early 1950s affected all Farm Bureau people, expressed their Bureau members. After April 22, 1926, when the MFBF signed an concerns about the timber industry at agreement with State Farm Mutual of Bloomington, Illinois, that time. The February 1953 News members could purchase auto insurance through a co-operative reported on MFBF Secretary J.S. arrangement with State Farm. Other types of insurance were added Jones’ impact on the meeting. in the years to follow, but in 1952 MFBF delegates voted to sever The speaker whose discussion caused their ties with State Farm. The next year the Minnesota Farm Bureau the greatest amount of corridor talk Mutual Casualty Company was born as a Farm Bureau subsidiary. following adjournment was a man who Minnesota agents began writing life insurance for Minnesota Farm assisted at the birth of a number of Bureau members through an arrangement with Farm Bureau struggling co-ops that now are world Insurance Services of Iowa. In an effort to be more competitive, famous for their success. J.S. Jones, Minnesota’s insurance program secretary of the Minnesota Farm merged with the Iowa Farm Bureau Bureau, who was asked by Chairman More than 240,000 insurance program in 1958. MFBFacts John Rydberg to serve as conference people saw this float in Promoting agriculture took the secretary, opened his remarks by saying parades in 1958. The form of a float in southwestern In 1958 Blue that he knew nothing much about float’s theme was “The Minnesota when several counties Cross insurance forestry timber marketing problems, Heart of Farm Bureau is formed the Southwestern Minnesota offered $7 to $12 and then refuted the statement by the Farm Bureau Float Association in 1958. Albin per day plans presenting a good many facts about the Family.” Yearous, Lyon County, chaired the with or without success and failures of timber crops in board. He was assisted by Earl a $25 deductible. other parts of the country. He gained considerable information at the Newburn, Nobles County, vice chair; recent annual meeting of the National Council of Farmer Ann Wilcoxon, Murray County, Maternity Co-operatives held at New Orleans. In fact, he left that meeting secretary; and board members Virgil benefits were early in order to attend the Grand Rapids meeting. Merrill, Pipestone County; Lowell up to $60. The timber association changed its bylaws at the first annual Rosenkjar, Pipestone County; meeting so that the company could be a full-fledged member of the Herman Abramson, Murray County;
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and Al Busse, Murray County. project that Farm Bureau women County Farm Bureaus Farmers received 41 percent had championed provided a participating were the following: MFBFacts of the food dollar in 1955. means for Farm Bureau’s young Brown County, Cottonwood people to tell the story of food County, Lac qui Parle County, and food costs. Adopted from the Lincoln County, Lyon County, Martin County, Murray County, AFBF program, this project not only told the food story, but it also Nobles County, Pipestone County, Rock County, Todd County, created a platform to explain Farm Bureau programs and philosophy Watonwan County and Yellow Medicine County. while it stimulated the youth’s interest in Farm Bureau’s commodity For many years, Farm Bureau recognized the gap between 4-H activities. and Farm Bureau programs. While the Rural Youth program filled This was the decade when familiar names began to emerge in state that gap, it wasn’t an exclusive Federation program because it was activities. For example, Marvin Johnson was chairman of the open to youth from all farm organizations. The MFBF bridged that Hennepin County Farm Bureau Young People’s Committee in 1957 gap in 1954 when state annual meeting delegates authorized a Farm when he won the state Talk Meet Contest at the MFBF annual Bureau Young People’s organization to replace the Rural Youth meeting. Marvin grew up in a Farm Bureau family. His dad, Russell, program directed by the extension service. Membership was open to who served on the MFBF board of directors, was always promoting young men and women 18 to 28 years of age, married or single. In Farm Bureau youth. “I would assume that my granddad was one of order to hold a county or state committee position, the individual had the charter members. I’m sure he was a Farm Bureau member,” said to be a Farm Bureau member or the child of a member. The first Marvin. committee consisted of chairman Dewey Baringer, Goodhue County; Marvin attended Farm Bureau township unit meetings as a secretary Donajo Lynch, Olmsted County; and committee members youngster. He doesn’t remember much about the program at the unit Oliver Cunningham, Kandiyohi County; Herbert Hutton, Dakota events, “but it was lots of fun.” The unit Christmas party was always County; and Norman David, Freeborn County. well attended. Hennepin County Farm Bureau paid his way to a The youth set four goals: couple AFBF annual meetings in Chicago when he was just a 1. Leadership training, teenager. One time his roommate was the county Farm Bureau 2. Serving young people, president, Everett Thies. 3. Building Farm Bureau, and After serving in the military, Marvin returned to the farm in 1960. 4. Working for a better community, nation and world. “One of the first things I went to was a Young Farmers meeting in Activities included a talk meet, talent find, community service Gatlinburg, Tennessee,” he remembers. project and market basket project. The long-running market basket For more than 50 years Marvin has been an active Farm Bureau
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member on the county level. He never attended. The usher explained that President considered getting involved on the state and Mrs. Bush were expected to attend the level because he had too many service that morning. They were fortunate to responsibilities close to home. He has been sit one row behind the Bushes, so it was easy on the city council of Independence for to shake hands with Laura during the “time of more than 30 years and has served as mayor peace.” since 1980, as well as being chair of the Two years ago Dean and Carol School of Agriculture Alumni Association. Christopherson from Nobles County, Mark Marvin has been to numerous AFBF DeWitz from Blue Earth County, Dave Van annual meetings, but the meeting in Loh from Cottonwood County and Paul Albuquerque, New Mexico, about 10 years Torkelson from Watonwan County ago is one he will not forget. He arrived in accompanied Marvin. He led them to a pew Albuquerque a couple days early but ended just two rows in front of the presidential pew. up spending those two days in the hospital It’s just a hunch, but those attending that with a stomach problem. Rather than morning have probably forgotten the message sightseeing with Art and Joyce Welander of they heard; however, they will never forget the Chisago County, they visited him in the experience of shaking hands with and being hospital. He was released in time to have his greeted by both the President and Laura Bush. picture taken with the Minnesota delegation Marvin remembers the first time he was a at the end of the convention. voting delegate for the MFBF annual meeting. Traveling with Farmers to Washington He was intrigued with the process of groups has produced many memories for discussing dairy resolutions (he was a dairy Marvin, as well as those who travel with farmer) and the federal farm program. He also him. If at all possible, Marvin attends remembers voting the opposite of Everett church on Sunday morning before returning Thies on a resolution dealing with juvenile to Minnesota from the Washington trip. One delinquency. Being 20 years younger than his Sunday he and Stan Diers from Wright County were frisked by the county president, Marvin was considering the negative impact such a usher before being allowed to enter St. John’s Church near the White resolution would have on him and his seven younger siblings. House where every United States president since James Madison has Individuals, couples and families who have traveled with
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Minnesota Farm Bureau delegations to Washington, D.C. always MFBF board member, return home with memorable experiences. The trip in 1957 was no had been on an REA exception. The 28 people who had traveled to the Capitol by train board in Minnesota. He met with Secretary of Agriculture Ezra Taft Benson. On Sunday, may have told the some of them went to church and worshipped a few pews behind delegation that he was a President Eisenhower. Unfortunately, one couple, Mr. and Mrs. member of the original Robert Bernhardt, had to cut their trip short and fly home because McLeod Cooperative their 100-year-old farm home burned to the ground while they were Power Association board in Washington. Their children, who were staying with neighbors, when the cooperative were safe. was organized in 1937. The headline in the January 1956 News read, “Good Time Was Two years earlier Had by All at Senator’s Party.” J. L. Morton, MFBF president; Ancher had been elected William Pearson, Minnesota Grange president; and Ed Christianson, to the Minnesota State Ancher Nelsen spoke to the Minnesota Minnesota Farmers Union president, had a “successful” meeting in Senate, where he served delegation at the AFBF Annual Meeting in U.S. Sen. E.J. Thye’s St. Paul office. The four men agreed on points until 1948. According to Chicago during the Minnesota breakfast. in which there was no disagreement, but they carefully avoided the Senate records, he was main issues. After the three men were in Sen. Thye’s office, he the first 4-H member elected to the Minnesota Senate. One of his specified that they would not discuss the issue of the level at which accomplishments as state senator was helping to draft laws requiring government should support farm prices. They agreed on the traffic to stop for school buses. importance of the school lunch program using surplus farm Ancher was elected lieutenant governor in 1952, but resigned a commodities, on the desirability of disposing of farm commodities year later when President Eisenhower appointed him REA overseas, of retiring tillable land into a “soil bank” and of the administrator. According to the News, Mr. Nelsen was the first desirability of selling Minnesota dairy products to eastern markets. “actual dirt farmer with a sound REA background ... to serve in a The article ended with the time-worn saying, “A good time was had high REA government post.” The dirt farmer left his farm behind to by all.” head a federal government post with 1,100 employees. A feature Ancher Nelsen, a dairy/livestock farmer and Farm Bureau member article in the May 16, 1953, edition of The Farmer said that the from McLeod County, was on hand to greet Minnesota’s delegation pressures he would face as REA administrator would be “only a little to the AFBF annual meeting in Chicago in 1954. He reminisced greater than the pressure of farming when 40 sows are farrowing.” about his early life on the farm and told how he and L.O. Jacob, The problems would be similar to those he had already faced as a
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farmer and a public official. In 1954 he acted as peacemaker and the sitting president. When asked why he pursued the office at such a settled a 13-year feud in Kentucky between REA and a private young age (25), he replied, “I believed in certain policies and wanted power company. After the two parties reached a 10-year agreement, to be involved in getting those policies in force.” As county Administrator Nelsen commented, “The agreement might well president, he was a member of the cooperative extension board become a pattern for other states with power supply and cost before the divorce between Farm Bureau and extension. He still problems in rural areas.” He served as administrator until 1956. believes that extension is “the absolute best system of government After an unsuccessful bid for governor in 1956, the former state interrelationship between national, state, county and local people that senator/lieutenant governor/REA administrator, was elected 2nd has ever been devised.” Chapter 7 tells how this young Farm Bureau District congressman, a position he held until he retired in 1975. As member used his leadership skills in three elected political offices. a member of Congress, he played an important role in the The Minnesota Farm Bureau was now about 40 years old. Seeds development of national health and environmental legislation. planted by men and women with foresight had produced a plant Another familiar Minnesota name that surfaced in this decade is strengthened through adverse circumstances. That plant was about Albert “Al” Quie, who joined the Rice County Farm Bureau in 1948 ready to send out new growth shoots, which would make the plant and was elected county president two years later when he defeated called the MFBF, even more effective in its outreach.
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After 50 years of growth, the Minnesota Farm Bureau produced new growth in the form of the Young Farmers and Ranchers (YF&R) Committee. P.D. Hempstead, MFBF president, announced the birth of the committee in the July Sending Out 1969 MFBF News: “This new committee will have the responsibility of working with the MFBF staff in the development of program activities designed to New Shoots involve young Farm Bureau members in Farm Bureau programs at the county level.” George Dersheid from Goodhue County, whose wife was also on the 1960-1969 committee, served as chair. Committee members were Mr. and Mrs. Richard Rosette, Chippewa County; Mr. and Mrs. Steve Yahnke, Blue Earth County; Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Aldrich, Wright County; and Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Revier, Mahnomen County. Farm Bureau had been actively involved in youth programs since the organization was formed. Working closely with extension educators, members naturally served as 4-H leaders. Through the years, attempts were made to provide an effective program of activities for the “gap” between 4-H and Farm Bureau membership. Those efforts had met with varying degrees of success until 1954 when the MFBF established the Farm Bureau Young Peoples Committee. The 1969 name change reflected the AFBF name change two years earlier and emphasized the nationwide farm and ranch root of the program. At the beginning of the decade, youth participated in a talk meet at the state annual meeting. This meet was designed to provide young people an opportunity to express themselves on ag-related topics. Another activity, the talent find, had two divisions. The junior division was for youth 14 to 16 years of age, and the senior division for those over 16. The October 1961 MFBF News stated that the youth talent competition at the annual meeting was a “very worthwhile and entertaining part of [the] annual meeting.” The birth of the YF&R Committee marked the end of the talent find and the talk meet, but opened up other leadership opportunities for the future leaders of the MFBF. Chapter Six
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In 1965, West Otter Tail County began sponsoring a leadership It has long been the goal of the Farm conference for teens. After observing the North Dakota Citizenship Bureau to have a home of its own. From Seminar that began in 1962, Bertha Molter, West Otter Tail County time to time in the past, committees were MFBFacts Farm Bureau member, urged her county board to start a similar established to study this situation. Many Between conference in Minnesota. Bertha was given the go-ahead to organize individuals also gave much thought to the 1965 and 1967 a seminar at Inspiration Point Bible Camp on Spitzer Lake. The subject, but circumstances did not seem to Minnesota seminar drew 250 young people. justify a move in this direction until a year land values By the third year, Bertha’s health prevented her from actively ago when the building owned by the increased 13 participating, so Helen Putnam took charge. The goals of the annual Federation and occupied by the service percent, with seminar remained constant: company was sold to an industry which an average • Promotion of private ownership of property, occupied the area adjacent to our increase of • Promotion of the capitalistic system of free enterprise, building. $194 per acre. • Faith in God, The boards of the Federation and the • Love of country, service company agreed that the building • Obedience to law and order, and was not suitable for the type of business the service company was • Self-reliance as the way to success. engaged in—consequently, the building was sold. This meant new West Otter Tail County Farm Bureau sponsored and directed the headquarters must be provided and after many meetings and much seminar until 1984 when it was turned over to the MFBF. For a few discussion, it was decided to build a warehouse in South St. Paul years the camp was known as the Freedom Seminar, but members and an office building at the location we are at today that will house today know it as the Red, White and You Conference. together under one roof the Federation, the service company and the By 1965, the MFBF had grown large enough that it was possible insurance services, all members of the Farm Bureau family. to own its own office building. Construction workers broke ground There will always be a Farm Bureau. This building is a fine in June at 3110 Wooddale Drive, Woodbury. The new facility symbol–the style of architecture seems to say it will endure. We are provided space for the 65 staff members of the Federation, the here today on this grand occasion only because of the dedication service company and the insurance services. and resolve of the Farm Bureau members–the dedication of the The master of ceremonies for the Oct. 15 open house of the new boards, officers and staff of the Farm Bureau and affiliated building was Ken Snyder, chief administer of the MFBF. In his companies. speech, he explained events leading to the Federation erecting its Board members presented soil donated by counties in their own office building. districts for a special planter. This planter, located at the base of the
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MFBF sign outside the 1948 to 1954. In 1964 he was awarded an MFBF building, was titled Honorary Life Membership. “Minnesota, USA Planter.” Russell Johnson, Hennepin County, received a third key Ken Snyder and MFBF for his many years of participation and leadership on the President Myers presented county and state level of the Minnesota Farm Bureau. honorary keys for the new For many Farm Bureau couples, the state annual building to deserving meeting was, and is, a highlight of their year. Willis individuals. James (J.L.) Hinkeldey, Jackson County, remembers one meeting held Morton, Stevens County, at the Radisson Hotel in downtown Minneapolis in the received one key. He was late 1960s. Delegates from Nobles County and Jackson MFBF president from 1951 County were talking in the hotel. “The discussion was to 1957, but he had been about barbeque chicken. Henry Peterson from Nobles involved with Farm Bureau County told about how it was done and how good it was for about 30 years. He was a to eat. The food manager of the hotel overheard the well-known breeder of Soil in the planter beneath the white sign conversation and asked to join our group. Needless to say, purebred Holstein cattle and came from counties across the state. the social hour was ‘on the house’ after that. He thought it Shropshire sheep as well as a would be a good idea to try out in the Haberdashery. producer of certified seed. In 1927 he was elected to the MFBF Don’t know if they ever did try it.” board of directors. With the exception of a three-year period, he Willis also remembers the “popcorn served on the state board from 1927 to 1957. He served many years soup” served once at the Radisson South MFBFacts on the service company board of directors and was secretary of that Hotel for one of the annual meeting Meal rates board a number of years. He also served one term on the AFBF luncheons. Actually, popcorn was used as for the 1961 board of directors while he was MFBF president. a garnish for the soup, but many at the MFBF annual A second key went to Walter Croswell, Blue Earth County, a long- meal had never seen popcorn used that meeting: time Farm Bureau member who served as president of the service way. company after L.O. Jacob’s death in 1959. He was a leader in the Annual meetings provided many breakfast establishment of the Blue Earth County Service Company and served opportunities for socializing, but passing $2.25, lunch as county Farm Bureau secretary/treasurer 32 years. In addition to resolutions that established the next year’s $3.25, and his Farm Bureau activities, he served in the state legislature from Farm Bureau policy statement motivated banquet $4.50.
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delegates to attend the business sessions. The lists of resolutions (SMV) signs on all equipment traveling on highways. By 1966, the from year to year and decade to decade have provided insight into now familiar SMV triangle was an effective warning to motorists. the changing and the on-going concerns of those in the business of Farm Bureau cooperated with farm safety councils and the news farming. One resolution at the 1960 annual meeting addressed tractor media to encourage farmers to use the sign and to inform the public safety: of the significance of the triangle mounted on the rear end of farm We urge a state-wide informational and educational program by equipment. County Farm Bureaus, 4-H clubs, FFA chapters and other all segments of government in cooperation with local sponsoring organizations participated in getting both the message and the signs groups, for training farm tractor operators and all motorists of the into their communities. In October 1966, the Minnesota Farm dangers involved in overtaking a slow moving vehicle. We further Bureau Service Company advertised a free SMV sign with the recommend that amendments be made in the 1959 law—to properly purchase of each pair of snow tires. and clearly identify such slow moving vehicles at all times. This Resolutions on oleomargarine continued to appear on annual might include a distinctive flashing light for night and/or telescoping meeting resolution lists. The 1961 resolution reaffirmed Farm pole. We are opposed to the principle of licensing farm tractor Bureau’s opposition to the sale of colored margarine. The next year operators as we believe this is a futile way to warn the approaching when delegates recommended that the tax on margarine and the color motorist. restriction be appealed, Minnesota and Wisconsin were the only A 1963 resolution addressed a continuing concern for safety: states prohibiting the sale of colored margarine. An editorial in the We recommend that the legislature provide a standardized symbol March 1963 News not only explained what brought about the for this purpose [conspicuously marking slow moving vehicles on change, but also illustrated the principle upon which Farm Bureau the roads] of the large triangular decal type now used in Ohio. After functions. such a standard has been established and after a reasonable length A lot has been said recently about the oleomargarine issue. As of of time, we recommend that slow moving vehicles and equipment be now the issue is dead for at least two more years as the Senate required to carry this identification at the time of the original sale Agriculture Committee has voted to kill it. and thereafter. There has been some misunderstanding about the Farm Bureau The issue of safety in automobiles resulted in a 1961 resolution position on the issue. Up until the MFBF annual meeting last fall, urging the use of seat belts in all cars. Another resolution that year Farm Bureau was opposed to colored oleomargarine for Minnesota. recommended “amber reflectors or lights be placed on slow moving But this last fall a number of county Farm Bureaus passed vehicles to identify them as such. Licensing of tractor operators will resolutions at their annual meetings calling for us to favor the yellow not solve the problem of tractor safety.” Four years later, the MFBF product. As a result, a resolution was drafted by the state resolution adopted a resolution encouraging the use of slow moving vehicle committee to that effect for consideration by the voting delegates and
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thus became the policy of the our agricultural plant that Khrushchev had, we would be a lot better organization. It was not a unanimous off. The Russian boss knows our ability to feed our people is our MFBFacts decision on the part of the delegates, but biggest asset, and I would hope every American might realize our a majority favored it. Farm Bureau agricultural productive capacity is an asset and not a liability.” In 1961 more operates on the democratic idea that In the same decade than 700 majority rules. that saw the attended policy Thus, it did not make any difference establishment of the development/ how state board members or staff Young Farmer membership members personally felt about the issue. committee, the MFBF meetings It had become the adopted policy of the was led by a young around the organization and the board and staff are president and vice state. responsible for carrying out that policy. president. P. Dillon That is why Farm Bureau appeared at Hempstead served as hearings favoring the repeal of the color president from 1965 to ban. 1969 and had the Daylight saving time (DST) was another issue to appear regularly distinction of being the in annual resolutions. The 1962 delegate session reaffirmed the youngest state Farm previous year’s resolution of restricting DST from the last Sunday in Bureau president in the May until Labor Day. The resolution admitted that DST for the nation. He was the summer months had been desirable; however, “Central Standard fourth generation to Time (CST) throughout the year would be more desirable.” farm his family’s The 1962 annual meeting brought over 1,000 people to the Hotel Houston County farm, Leamington in Minneapolis; about 600 people attended the banquet. which was The program included finals of the Young People’s Talk Meet and homesteaded in 1855. Talent Find, insurance company president’s month awards, honorary He was primarily a membership awards and an address by Dr. Earl Butz, dean of beef cattle farmer. P.D. Hempstead, Houston County, agriculture at Purdue University. The audience was receptive to his President Hempstead’s served as MFBF’s president from address and interrupted his presentation three times with applause. vice president was 36- 1965-1969. Dr. Butz pointed out that “if all Americans had the appreciation of year-old Rice County
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The MFBF has come to depend on the Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company (FBMIC), established in 1959, to build Federation membership. In its first annual report, FBMIC explained the challenge it faced. In order to do its best for Farm Bureau, the company declared that it needed multiple-line selling to serve the complete insurance needs of the members and to provide income for the agents. The company expressed the need for full-time agents able to attend training sessions and meetings. Farmers selling insurance on a part-time basis would fall behind when crops needed to be planted or harvested. The October 1961 News presented an interesting analogy when it likened Farm Bureau to a three-legged milk stool. All three legs— education, legislative activities and services to members—were needed to make Farm Bureau effective. The article stated that Farm Bureau did not go into the insurance business just to “be in business and make money.” Farm Bureau insurance provided special services unique to farmers. The example of a car hitting a hog on the road or a feed salesman being gored by the farmer’s bull illustrated the need for insurance protection unlike that needed by the farmer’s city 1969 insurance photo. Left to right: Lloyd Knutson, Henry relatives. To meet those needs, Farm Bureau established its own Iverks, J. Delbert Wells, Lawrence Beckman, Clif Pyle, Harold insurance company. Turnock, Melvin Woell and A.H. Gredvig. In the early years, farmers themselves sold the insurance, but the apple farmer Carroll Wilson, who succeeded President Hempstead in time came when the appeal went out for full-time agents. A headline 1969. on Page 3 of the January 1962 News read, “Farm Bureau Looking In 1966, President Hempstead was appointed to the AFBF policy for Men.” John Hayword, agency manager stated, “We have found development committee. The committee, new to the AFBF, had the over the past two years that the truly successful Farm Bureau responsibility of developing and recommending a long-range counties also had full-time agency forces. To continue to build Farm cooperative plan of action for county, state and national Farm Bureau and Farm Bureau insurance, we need more men interested in Bureaus. making a career of writing insurance. Realizing that many farmers
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make decisions concerning changing their careers during the winter One of the county members helping with membership that year months, we are making an all-out drive to interview as many of them may have been Lionel Reeves, whose photo appeared in the May as possible to discuss an agency career.” 1968 News. Lionel joined Farm Bureau in 1918, and his wife Pearl Cottonwood County Farm Bureau leaders worked with the was on the Cottonwood County Women’s Committee at that time. insurance agents to build membership and sign new accounts. Their The previous year they received a Farm Bureau honorary life cooperative effort was reported in the July 1962 News. “We have felt membership after farming 52 years. Lionel didn’t let his age (81) for a long time that Farm Bureau leaders would make some of our slow him down because he signed 23 new Farm Bureau members in best insurance agents. The insurance force in 1968. Cottonwood County is proof of this,” said Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company division sales manager Byron Howard. “The sponsored automobile safety demonstrations in insurance force has been successful. Currently 1966. Since excessive speed was the single Cottonwood County is number one in sales in greatest cause of car accidents, company Minnesota.” director Edward Adams traveled to high schools Wayne Strong, former county president and in 14 counties to demonstrate that even speeds agency manager for Cottonwood County with of 20 or 30 miles per hour could be dangerous. Farm Bureau Insurance Services at that time Over 2,600 students saw firsthand how a said, “This is a two-day deal. We ask our driver’s false sense of security could, and often Farm Bureau leaders to help us with our did, result in dangerous situations. insurance sales, and we in turn help them with “When drivers know the facts and base their their membership drive. I don’t believe any driving on those facts, we’ll witness a sharp county can have a really successful total decline in traffic deaths,” asserted Director program or any agent can be personally Adams. successful without these ingredients.” That same year, the insurance company The article went on to say, “Wayne and his instituted the good student discount. Young three agents are geared up for what they hope drivers could receive a 20 percent reduction in to be a record June Life Insurance Campaign car premium rates if they maintained a B grade in Cottonwood County.” All four agents were average or better, ranked in the upper 20 former farmers and Farm Bureau leaders in Lionel Reeves signed 23 new members percent of the class or were included on an the county. when he was 81 years old. honor roll or dean’s list. A policyholder was
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also able to get a 20 percent discount for being a claim-free driver. bills and proposals, and it seems that we spend more time being The words property tax stimulated activity among Farm Bureau against these things than being for positive legislation. members in this decade. Minnesota Farm Bureau leaders helped Getting good legislation is little different than growing good corn. write a bill initiating a 3 percent sales tax during the 1961 legislative A farmer spends more time killing weeds in his cornfield than he session. In spite of the efforts of farmers, the bill, which ended up on does planting and harvesting his crop. Likewise, we find that we the agenda at an extra session of the legislature, would not become a have to spend much time killing bad legislation if we are to clear the reality until six years later. A front page June 1967 News headline way for good legislation to grow. read, “Property Tax Relief, Reform a Reality! Major Farm Bureau It gets discouraging at times working for good legislation when Victory.” MFBF President Hempstead commented on the victory by the bad legislation keeps cropping up, just as it gets pretty saying, “MFBF worked long and untiringly to bring about discouraging killing weeds in the cornfield in June. But just as the meaningful statewide tax reform and substantial property tax relief. farmer knows that killing those June weeds will result in a good crop Passage of the tax relief and reform package was indeed a red letter in October, we know in Farm Bureau that we must kill the “supply- day for our organization. Our efforts have been rewarded and our management weeds” if we are to reap our “October crop” of sound longtime objectives realized—thanks largely to an informed and farm legislation. We are making progress. Most of the bad provisions active Farm Bureau membership at the grassroots and to receptive of the Cochran-Freeman bills have been killed. The turkey and lawmakers.” wheat referendum schemes were defeated. The potato schemes are in The reform package included a 3 percent excise tax that exempted trouble. items such as feed, seed, fertilizer, chemicals and electricity used for So to those who get tired of killing “weeds,” we say buck up. production on the farm. At the same time, the law eliminated We’re a lot closer to farmer freedom and opportunity in the personal property taxes on livestock and farm machinery. American market system than we were three years ago. Another Bill Anderson, editor of the News, addressed the frustrations of “weed or two” to kill, and we can start talking about the “harvest.” working to get favorable farm legislation passed in June 1964. His Sometimes the delays in passing legislation resulted from issues of editorial was titled “Killing the Weeds.” greater concern demanding congressional attention. For example, in Certainly any farmer we know would much rather grow good corn 1964 Farm Bureau was supporting a bill that would limit beef than kill weeds. Most any farmer would much rather sell a good load imports into the United States. The bill was all but ignored while of hogs than vaccinate them for cholera. And it’s much more fun to Congress debated the civil rights bill. “As long as the Senate drive a tractor than it is to repair it and service it so it will run. continues to debate the controversial civil rights bill, it will be This is much the same position we find ourselves in, in Farm impossible for that body to take action on the meat problem,” Bureau, as these thoughts refer to policy. Many times we are against commented Ken Snyder, MFBF chief administrator.
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A Farm Bureau letter- 164 bushels at a fertilizer cost of writing campaign in In 1963 the service company $12.59. The lowest acre fertilizer Minnesota and across the MFBFacts offered two gallons of Unico cost was $4.38 with a yield of 117 nation successfully killed white paint for $9.70. bushels and an increase over the “weeds” in early 1961. check of 25 bushels, a return of MFBF administrative assistant Ken Snyder, was quoted in the July $5.78 for each fertilizer dollar. All this points to the importance of 1961 News, saying, “Much of the slowing of the current farm bill good soil and crop management which will produce top yields at a which outlined a complete control program for farmers is credited to very reasonable fertilizer cost. It also shows that over a period of letters of opposition to the bill from farmers to their congressmen. years an average yield of more than 100 bushels per acre is possible. Such correspondence had been encouraged at 11 meetings held Some farmers are producing more than 140 bushels, so setting such across the state by the MFBF in June. ... It is felt that these meetings a goal does not seem unreasonable. had much to do with making congressmen stop and think about the In order to provide the best service possible to its customers, the pitfalls of such a bill.” Minnesota Farm Bureau Service Company held a paint school in The Minnesota Farm Bureau Service Company (MFBSC) was the 1966 for 16 company personnel at the South St. Paul warehouse. The oldest affiliate of the MFBF and served its members well for many company sold Unico paint, which was carried exclusively by 32 years. In the April 1963 News, Dr. C.O. Rost, director of research regional cooperatives in the country, as well as by the service with the service company, sang the praises of the seed offered company. The next spring the Milkhouse Paint white No. 203 and through the company. 251 as well as No. 415 red barn paint were offered at special prices. There is an old motto:“He didn’t know that it couldn’t be done, so Unico’s zinc metal paint, with a minimum six-year life, was also the durned fool went ahead and did it.” They used to say that you promoted at this time. couldn’t grow 100 bushels of corn per acre, but between 1956 and Dan A. “Doc” Williams retired in the summer of 1963 after 1962 inclusive, 2,070 farm trials in Minnesota showed that it can be serving as manager of the service company for more than 30 years. done. The average yield per acre over the 7-year period on these Prior to working with Farm Bureau, he taught industrial arts in trials was 108 bushels. The trials were made by good farmers Grand Rapids and Duluth while he played professional football with because their check plots averaged 82 bushels per acre. Good soil the Kelley-Duluth and Ernie Nevers Duluth Eskimos teams. He even management, fertilizer, weed, disease and insect control made the held a part-interest in the Duluth franchise, which is the same difference. The increase of 26 bushels by these practices certainly franchise under which the Minnesota Vikings play. paid off. ... While managing the service company, Doc was also active in and The highest acre yield obtained by any of these 100 farmers was helped form several other associations and organizations. He was a
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leader and officer in organizations such as the American Farm three-day blizzard back home meant that his dairy cows were left Research Association (an AFBF affiliate) and the Midwest Soil unmilked and unfed because neighbors couldn’t get to his farm. “It Improvement Committee. He was president of the St. Paul Ammonia ruined the cows,” said Harold. He made another trip to Washington Company at the time he retired from MFBSC. shortly after the big tractorcade organized by farm protesters. When Harold Ogburn, Faribault County, remembers when the service the Farm Bureau delegation met with the secretary of agriculture, he company was the first to sell fertilizer and how it was difficult to sell told the group that it was nice to speak to a group of farmers who bag fertilizer after bulk fertilizer was introduced. Harold was took their hats off when he spoke to them. honored with a lifetime Farm Bureau membership in 1996. His dad Other memories are of sitting at a banquet with Val Bjornson, who had been a Farm Bureau member in New York, and his mother- and was state treasurer at the time, and working with Clarence “CW” father-in-law, Minnie and Walt Heinrich, were also members, so it Meyers, a Faribault County Farm Bureau member who later became seemed logical that Harold would be a member. But when asked why president of the MFBF. he had been a member for so many years, Harold replied, “I believe Harold characterized President Meyers as a very slow talker who [in] what they’re trying to do.” chose his words carefully. The wheat referendum was a big issue Harold moved from New York to Minnesota in the early 1950s, when he was first elected president. After being president of MFBF, but he didn’t join Farm Bureau immediately because the $10 President Meyers was appointed by Gov. LeVander in 1967 to serve membership was “a heck of a lot of money” that he didn’t think he on an advisory board to the Minnesota Department of Economic could afford. He changed his mind, however, when a couple of Development. The 21-member board was created by the state Farmers Union men tried to convince him to join their organization legislature for the purpose of restructuring and giving new impetus by telling him that Farm Bureau was run by bankers. Angered by an to the department. accusation he knew to be false, Harold drove into Blue Earth, paid Two Minnesota Farm Bureau members starred in a movie his $10 and joined the Faribault County Farm Bureau. produced by Massey-Harris-Ferguson in 1960 in cooperation with The first time Harold attended Prescott Township’s Farm Bureau the AFBF. The brothers, Walter and Charles Thor, played principle unit meeting, he was elected president, a position that included a seat roles in The New Man on the Land, which was filmed on their farms on the county board. Since then, he has served in many county in Washington County and Meeker County. The movie showed them leadership positions. His first experience on the state level was being working hard to produce a typical crop of hay in Minnesota. This a voting delegate at the meeting to consider combining Minnesota production was the second in a series by the implement company and Iowa’s insurance companies. designed to show the past, present and future of agriculture. Harold’s memories of Farm Bureau activities include four trips to The MFBF board of directors voted in 1966 to bring electronic Washington, D.C. One year the trip was especially costly because a record keeping to Farm Bureau members. The AFBF, the MFBF and
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several other state Farm Bureaus had When the electronic records service was in place, the Agricultural been part of exploratory and Business Corporation was established for the Minnesota/Iowa developmental programs. The MFBF MFBFacts program. J. Merrill Anderson, Iowa Farm Bureau president, was held a special conference to explain From 1958 to president of the corporation, and P.D. Hempstead, MFBF president, the system and to provide information 1960, the was vice president. to leaders on potential commodities amount of The MFBF is known for helping member farmers, but an article in marketing and researching activities. potatoes used the July 1961 News illustrates how the Federation also helps The service used electronic data agribusiness enterprises. processing equipment and utilized for french fries Jack B. Bishop, president of the Fosston Potato Products, Inc. monthly coded reports from and dehydrated [East Polk County], called the MFBF offices. He said he understood subscribing farmers. mashed there may be a market for dehydrated potato flakes in Holland and Two recordkeeping programs were potatoes wondered if Farm Bureau could do anything for him in finding the available under the cooperative doubled. market. This message was immediately forwarded to the AFBF in program between Minnesota and Iowa. Chicago, which in turn contacted the Farm Bureau Foreign Trade One program provided income tax office in Rotterdam, Holland. Within two weeks, Bishop received a information, while the second expanded on the income tax program letter from the food handler in Kruiningen, Holland. The letter and offered limited farm management information. A third plan still follows: in the development stage would add an annual farm profit and loss “Of the Farm Bureau Trade Development Corporation, an affiliate statement, a farm balance sheet statement and an enterprise analysis of the American Farm Bureau Federation, we received your address and comparison. as manufactory [sic] of Dehydrated Potato Flakes. Dehydrated Meetings held around the state introduced Farm Bureau members Potato Flakes is an unknown product in Holland and we are much to the new service. According to Dick Stewert, MFBF commodity interested to import this product. Please will you give us by return director, “Farm wives, often the record keepers and ‘always partners post an offer for a trial shipment of 450 pounds Dehydrated Potato in the farming operations,’ [were] extended a special invitation to Americana Potato Flakes, C.I.F. Rotterdam, in packs of 100 gr. nett attend the enrollment meetings.” He went on to say, “Farmers are packed in cardboard boxes of 25 pieces. … If possible, we should managing large volumes of capital, and if they are going to avoid like to receive of you a guarantee to introduce this product here in wrong and costly decisions, a good complete set of farm records is a Holland without competition.” must. If the management skills necessary to compete successfully in The potatoes were shipped. This is just another example of Farm today’s agriculture are to be applied, better farm records are needed.” Bureau efforts to help create more markets for our farm products.
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Mrs. Bollum reported, “I am sure some of our women will be interviewed for Hollywood after seeing and hearing them perform in the four skits presented on Thursday morning. The skits were delightful. They brought out a point of action in all phases of Farm Bureau. Norma Rostad, our song leader, truly led the women in some of the finest singing I have heard for a long time. The chorus and sextet were wonderful for such a short time of practice.” Sixty-two men and women entered their angel food cakes in the baking contest, and the winners were listed in the article: 1st Place: Mrs. G.A. Walser, Benton County; 2nd Place: Dennis Olson, Norman County; 3rd Place: Mrs. William Witt, Olmsted County; 4th Place: Mrs. George Helgeson, W. Polk County; 5th Place: Mrs. Tony Gartner, Jr., Renville County; 6th Place: Mrs. William Becker, Freeborn County; How many people can you identify in this photo from a 7th Place: Mrs. Carl Tesch, Waseca County; and Camp Koronis Women’s Conference? 8th Place: Mrs. Olaf Ostensen, Chippewa County. In a Women’s Leadership Conference speech delivered in 1964, The Women’s Committee continued to be a strong branch of the Mrs. Bollom related what American farm women had accomplished. MFBF. Just as their predecessors had reached out to those in the Her words spoken more than 40 years ago can be an encouragement military during WWII, Farm Bureau women from several counties for today’s busy farm women. sent special packages to the men serving in Vietnam in 1967. Mrs. Women are being called to account these days. There was a recent O.M. Bollum, MFBF Women’s Committee chair from Goodhue article in “Life” magazine which stated that American women are County, reported that the women were “packing boxes of cookies, more powerful than ever before. If they should mobilize all their candy bars, corn for popping and magazines for our boys serving the resources they would have an overpowering strength of many U.S. armed forces in Vietnam.” nations. Are we, as farm women, ready to be called to account? Are Baking contests continued their popularity in this decade. The we ready to accept the responsibilities of democracy, of creating, Women’s Column in October 1963 carried an account of that year’s even fighting for a free world? Do we lead or do we lag? Do we camp at Lake Koronis where championship bakers were recognized. accept when we should struggle?
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On the whole, the of fifty years—we farm homemaker has have witnessed things earned her right to never dreamt then— prestige and respect in new discoveries, vast our democracy. She has technological labored to produce food changes, and and fiber with which to advances that stagger clothe America. She has the imagination of produced children to even those who have re-populate it, she has a lead role in them. conscientiously cleaned … Knowing as I do her home and children from personal with equal vigor; always experience the keeping a well-filled strength and the cupboard and deepfreeze effectiveness with to feed her family well. which we in Farm Mrs. Bollum bid The Dodge County Women’s Committee earned money for their projects when they Bureau approach all farewell at the close of served an American Dairy Association dinner for 300 people. problems, I am 1968 after more than 30 satisfied that, as we years of actively leading Farm Bureau women. She penned her look to the future, we can—and will—make a positive and a message to rural women for the November 1968 News. worthwhile contribution. I have decided to relinquish my duties. It comes to all mortals, in County women’s committee members sought ways to help in their time, that we must—or we should—pass the torch on. Everyone and communities and demonstrate the Farm Bureau spirit. In 1960, the everything have been good to me since I began in 1936 as Farm Dodge County Women’s Committee, with the help of the Farm Bureau Women’s Chairman in my native Goodhue County. Then Bureau Youth Group, served the American Dairy Association (ADA) came the district chairmanship; then nine years ago the MFBF banquet in their area. The Women’s Committee needed funds for board of directors, and since that time, too, your MFBF Women’s their projects, so they accepted the inquiry from the ADA to serve chairman. ... the banquet. Mrs. Jens Peterson, Farm Bureau Youth Group leader, In the span of thirty-two years—or more appropriately, in the span supervised the youth who served the meal to 300 people. Each
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county unit provided food and one or two helpers to prepare the early 1969, President Hempstead said that Clifford had been “a meal. tireless worker whose talents and energies have always been devoted MFBF employees often were reassigned a new responsibility to the best interests of farmers working through Farm Bureau.” during their tenure with the Federation. Some of the changes in this Clifford’s thank you note to Farm Bureau after his retirement party decade affected people many current Farm Bureau members will expresses the heartbeat of other longtime staff members. remember. For example, Bill Kaschmitter, who had been agency To the leaders and members of county Farm Bureaus in District I, manager for Stearns County Farm Bureau Insurance Services, joined on behalf of Mrs. Pyle and myself, I say thank you. Working with you the MFBF staff as District II fieldman in 1961. His father Otto had and for you has been satisfying and rewarding in many ways. My served on the MFBF board of directors from 1951 to 1954 and had long association and involvement in Farm Bureau convinces me, also been a Farm Bureau insurance agent for Stearns County. Two now more than ever before, that the organization includes some of years later Bill resigned his MFBF position and was hired as the best people in the world—you. It is those such as you to whom insurance agency manager for Ramsey and Washington counties. Farm Bureau owes its success. Other staff changes announced at that time included Richard One of the most memorable and appreciated experiences I have “Dick” Siewert’s promotion to commodity director after serving as ever had occurred on Friday evening, April 18, when you hosted and the northeastern Minnesota Farm Bureau fieldman. “We have been recognized Mrs. Pyle and me. Let me assure you that this occasion without a commodity director for some time, and we feel this area is will never be forgotten by either of us. of growing concern to our farmers,” said President Hempstead. Although I am no longer your employee, I shall never be any less “Without a constant study of the various commodities produced in Farm Bureau. Nor shall I ever lose sight of what I have known for Minnesota and an awareness of changing market patterns, it is those many years—that Farm Bureau is people ... and you, the difficult for Farm Bureau to function properly.” Leland Turners, members, are the greatest. former agency manager for Farm Bureau Insurance Services in Through the years, MFBF members have come to respect and Olmsted County, replaced Dick as fieldman. admire staff members, only to have them move on to other Howard Handeland joined the MFBF field staff in 1962 as District agribusiness employment. Sometimes staff personnel have moved to III fieldman. In 1968 his experiences as fieldman enabled him to Farm Bureau positions in another state, but a number have taken a carry out his new responsibilities as organization director of MFBF position on the staff of the AFBF. Legislative Director Bill Anderson field services. Readers will learn more about Howard in Chapter 9. left the MFBF at the end of 1966 to accept the position of assistant When longtime staff members retire, they take with them legislative director with the AFBF. Bill had joined the MFBF staff in memories of the countless people they have met and worked with. 1961 and worked for a time as information director before assuming When Clifford Pyle, District I fieldman for nearly 20 years retired in the position of legislative director. He helped execute MFBF policy
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by directing Federation policy development programs as well as and 1958. Information about Vern’s years with the MFBF can be developing and coordinating its political education program. “We found in Chapter 9. appreciate the fine job Bill Anderson has done in his areas of Minnesota Farm Bureau continued to be a strong voice for responsibility. We congratulate him on having been selected to serve agriculture during the decade of the ’60s. The YF&R Committee the AFBF in such a key role and wish him and his family every organized at the end of the decade would strengthen that voice and success,” said President Hempstead. reach a new segment of the rural population in the future. As LaVerne Ingvalson, a man many current MFBF members personnel changes occurred and county and state leadership changed, remember working or traveling with, was hired to replace Bill. He Farm Bureau’s grassroots membership maintained its position as a came to Farm Bureau from Minnesota Power & Light Company, leader in the agricultural community through varied local programs where he had worked for eight and a half years. A native of Mower and promotions. County, he taught vocational agriculture in Wadena County in 1957
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Grain farmers rate the success of their crop year by the amount and the quality of grain they harvest. Livestock farmers rate the success of their livestock operations, in part, by the offspring of their prize animals. So too, one measure Maintaining of the success of Farm Bureau is the quality “offspring,” or leadership, that has emerged from the grassroots. a Vigorous Gov. Al Quie exemplifies a political leader who started as a county Farm Bureau leader. After serving as Rice County Farm Bureau president three years, he began representing his legislative district in the Minnesota Senate in 1954, a Stand position he held until 1958 when he was elected to represent his congressional district in the U. S. House of Representatives. After serving in Congress 11 1970-1979 years, he served one term as governor from 1979 to 1983, sandwiched between the two terms of Gov. Rudy Perpich. The future governor grew up on the family farm settled by his grandfather Halvor Kvi in 1856, near Dennison and Nerstrand. His father, Albert Knute Quie, began farming early in the 20th century. Because of improvements he made in the dairy herd, Albert’s monthly income equaled his father’s yearly income from the cows. As a teen, the young Al Quie accompanied his father to hear what he termed a “soil conservation evangelist.” He was hooked on conservation after hearing the speaker and has been interested in environmental issues ever since. Gov. Quie considered himself a steward of the land he farmed and said, with a measure of pride, that the yellow hills of his farm were black when he turned it over to the next farmer because he had used good soil conservation practices. Because of his interest in conservation, he chose a soil science major at St. Olaf College after he returned from World War II. He kept busy, not only with his studies, but also with other responsibilities. He married his wife Gretchen midway through college and also served on the local school board. Before his senior year, he switched his major to political science. He “stretched the last semester into two,” the former governor admitted with a grin, and farmed full Chapter Seven
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time during his senior year. direction—going as fast as he could, as far as he could. While serving as a state senator, Quie campaigned for Dwight I walked to the middle of the pasture, sat down in the grass and Eisenhower in 1956, spending part of that summer in Wisconsin waited. It was a good thing I told Gretchen not to hold supper for working on agriculture issues for the campaign. A couple years later me. as he and Gretchen were discussing whether he should leave farming The battle of the wills lasted until 10 o’clock when Balou to enter politics full time, they heard U. S. Representative Andreson cautiously approached the governor. He reached up to pet the horse’s had died. State Sen. Quie won the election to succeed Andreson and nose and rub his head. After being slowly rubbed all over, Balou became U.S. Rep. Quie. followed Gov. Quie home. Because of his knowledge of horses, he The Quies returned to Minnesota when he began his term as respected Balou and succeeded in making friends with a horse who governor in 1979. Although Gov. Quie farmed for just 11 years had wanted nothing to do with him. (1948-1959), his farm background equipped him to be an effective The governor has applied that same philosophy to working with public leader. He cites his position as a member of the Twin City individuals on the opposite side of the political fence. While Milk Producers board as good preparation for his years in Congress. governor, he and Attorney General Warren Spannus held opposing He said that he was one of two congressmen who understood the ideas on how to deal with drunk driving. When Gov. Quie publicly federal milk marketing orders. acknowledged that the attorney general had some good ideas, As a farmer, he learned to look at outcomes. “You learn the Attorney General Spannus began listening to the governor, and principles of how to get the greatest outcomes,” he said. That before long they were able to work together on the problem. principle helped him in his political career. Gov. Quie was considered one of the 12 top environmentalists Gov. Quie’s life-long love affair with horses taught him the when he was a congressman, and as governor, he considers importance of understanding the opponent’s comfort zone. In his streamlining environmental laws one of his major accomplishments. book Riding the Divide, he tells the story of how he volunteered to Combining agencies so they could share information with each other train Balou, a friend’s horse. Balou had the bad habit of refusing to helped keep businesses in Minnesota. He sees his second let his handler catch him. Since Gov. Quie has always liked horses accomplishment that of instituting, by executive order, the merit that are a challenge, he accepted the challenge of training this horse. system of selecting judges. A third accomplishment was indexing So one day I took off about 2 o ’clock, telling Gretchen I might not individual income tax during a time when inflation pushed income be back for supper. I picked up Balou and took him out to my up without an equal increase in purchasing power. pasture. I started walking toward him, making the mistake of Allen Olson, former governor of North Dakota, summarized the stretching my hand out in a gesture of friendliness. As I approached bedrock principle of Gov. Quie’s life when he wrote, “I know him as this independent thinker, he snorted and took off in the opposite a man of integrity. It is not surprising that this character trait flavors
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his thoughts on faith and family, politics, the transferring from the high supports and people he encountered and the people who surpluses of WWII to post-war conditions, rode [on his nine-summer trail ride along the captured Garfield’s attention because he continental divide] with him.” Gov. Quie knew that production needed to adapt to readily acknowledges that God gave him the changing markets. gifts that he has used, and continues to use, in Garfield was nominated from the floor for his life. a seat on the Nicollet County Farm Bureau Being known as the youngest county Farm Board at the 1963 annual meeting. He was Bureau president at the time didn’t intimidate elected without having his own Farm Bureau Rice County Farm Bureau President Quie. At membership. (He was participating under his one MFBF annual business meeting, he was dad’s membership at the time.) Four years speaking on an issue of importance to him. later he was elected county president, and he Hatie Annexstad, Nicollet County Farm has continued to hold leadership positions in Bureau member, pointed to him as he was Farm Bureau for more than 40 years. speaking and told the young man seated next Garfield has served on the board every year to her that he could be a leader like that except for one since 1963. He served as young county president. The young man county president 11 years and was on the Hatie encouraged was long-time Nicollet state board of directors 16 years. Other years County Farm Bureau member Garfield he had been county secretary. Eckberg. Like other good Farm Bureau leaders, “I went with my folks to Creamery Hall for Garfield has encouraged potential leaders to unit meetings,” Garfield recalled. get involved. Early in his tenure as county Following in the footsteps of his father president, he noticed a Nicollet County Farm who had joined Farm Bureau in 1944, Vern Ingvalson, MFBF legislative Bureau member with leadership potential. Garfield joined Farm Bureau in 1964. When director, (left) was responsible for Before an annual meeting, he told a fellow he was a young person, he became interested communicating Farm Bureau’s position member, “We can’t lose Lokensgard. He’s in the workings of Farm Bureau by reading to Gov. Quie (right) as well as to too good.” Merlyn Lokensgard was elected the newsletters that came to his home. The legislators. county secretary at that annual meeting. Then 1956 farm bill, which had the challenge of a year or two later in 1972, Merlyn was
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The Eckberg family visited with Land values decreased American Farm MFBFacts 26 percent from 1984 to 1985. Bureau Federation (AFBF) Bureau’s efforts to pass the tax reform bill, which replaced the tax on President Bob personal property and livestock with a 3 percent sales tax. Another Stallman piece of legislation he remembers was the enabling legislation for following the commodity check-offs. The MFBF had hired an attorney to draft the Multi-County legislation which passed, but was defeated in a referendum of Farm Bureau Spring Banquet producers because it lacked a two-thirds majority. The bill was later on March 29, amended so a simple majority, rather than the two-thirds, was 2005. Pictured, needed. The referendum passed after being amended. After left to right, are Paul Eckberg; President Stallman; Marissa, Garfield’s initial visit to the legislature, he has missed just two Farm Sam, Garfield and Marjorie Eckberg. Sam and Marissa provided Bureau trips to the state Capitol. dinner music for the evening. Garfield, a former Minnesota Farm Garfield has promoted Farm Bureau both inside and outside the Bureau board representive and Nicollet County Farm Bureau Federation. As a dairy farmer, he practiced and promoted humane secretary, served on the banquet planning committee and has care of farm animals. In 1981 he was one Farm Bureau member who been instrumental in bringing five AFBF presidents to the was featured in an AFBF Information Division film on the animal Nicollet County area. welfare/rights issue. The film presented this issue from the elected county president, and Garfield was elected secretary. perspective of the farmer-producer. Merlyn’s election as county president was merely the first step in Wabasha County Farm Bureau, under the leadership of President his rapid climb to the presidency of the MFBF. He worked on the Ed Zabel, invited this rural “film star” to their annual banquet the state Resolutions Committee in 1973 and 1974. According to next spring. At the time, Garfield was Nicollet County president and Garfield, Merlyn “took off on the resolutions process.” He ran for chairman of the AFBF Dairy Advisory Committee. He talked about state vice president in 1974 and won over a field of five candidates. bills currently before Congress, including the animal welfare bill. When MFBF President Wilson resigned in 1977, Vice President Anyone who has chatted with Garfield will attest to the fact that Lokensgard moved into the presidency. he is a walking encyclopedia of information about Farm Bureau, Attending his first state legislative meeting in 1967 sparked even history prior to his involvement with the Federation. Based on Garfield’s interest in what an organization can do. He cited Farm his knowledge and experience, he sees the necessity of keeping the
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county as the parent of the organization in the future. Garfield serving on the county board in the early 1970s and was elected believes Farm Bureau has weathered many storms because it is a county chairman in the 1980s. He began his 15-year position on the “bottom-up” organization. MFBF board of directors in 1987. Other state leadership Garfield and his wife Marjorie live on the family farm established responsibilities include resolutions, credentials, commodity and long- in 1872, and the fourth generation of his family is currently farming range committees. the land. Bennett said these leadership experiences were possible because Another Farm Bureau member with a long history of leadership is “the Farm Bureau organization is intent on giving its members the Bennett Osmonson who joined the East Polk County Farm Bureau ability to receive training and assume leadership roles.” He learned when he was just 18 years old. His dad Blanchard held a number of from many training sessions, but a formula for success presented by positions in Farm Bureau and believed that freedom from T.C. Peterson many years ago at a YF&R training is one he will government interference was essential for a farmer’s success. He never forget: “K (knowledge) + T (tools) + A (attitude) = S sold Farm Bureau insurance in the 1950s and started a life insurance (success).” policy for Bennett. Attending the county Farm Bureau annual Gloria served on the county women’s committee for several years. meeting was a family activity. Bennett remembers the Farm Bureau “We always felt the Farm Bureau crowd was our extended family fertilizer truck making deliveries to his farm and the many tons of with many members nationwide,” they said. fertilizer bags he helped store in the old granary. When they considered attending the 1977 AFBF annual meeting in A 1965 graduate of Fosston High School, he had completed the Hawaii, the young couple followed the sage advice of MFBF fall quarter and two months of winter quarter at the St. Paul campus President Lokensgard who said, “Some things in life we do cost of the University of Minnesota when he returned home to take over money we don’t have, but memories of experiences we gain will far the farm. Blanchard was battling colon cancer and died in April outweigh any negatives we encounter.” 1966. Many members who signed up for the trip had to cancel because Bennett, his wife Gloria and several other couples learned of the their 1976 crops were devastating, so their seats were opened up to YF&R program when Ed Grady and Leonard Franklin held a others. “As a young couple, we looked at each other and said, ‘Let’s meeting in Detroit Lakes. A few years later he and Gloria served on go!’ We didn’t have the cash, no plans for the kids, and no one to do the state Young Farmer Committee from 1972 to 1974. chores at home. In less than a month we had the details worked out,” “We gained tremendous insight to the American Farm Bureau and they remembered. “We did it! Ten days, four islands, a few days at to the extensive network with many other couples from other states,” the convention for $512 a person and a few days in Los Angeles on recalls Bennett. the return trip were a memory of a lifetime.” In addition to serving on the YF&R committee, Bennett began When Bennett began operating the farm for his mother in 1966,
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they milked a few cows and raised pigs, potatoes, Al served as secretary and as president of wheat, barley, corn silage, flax and alfalfa on 560 Kandiyohi County Farm Bureau before being acres. Today he milks 160 cows in two herds with elected to the MFBF board of directors, a position his son-in-law Brian, grows corn for silage and he held for three years. When Tony Stadum of grain, beans and alfalfa. The farm size has increased Norman County resigned his position as MFBF vice to 900 acres. president in 1978 to run for the state legislature, Al Bennett has not missed an MFBF annual meeting was elected vice president at the July 20 delegate since 1972. “It is a homecoming for us to renew session. friendships and seek out new ones,” he said. “My basic premise was if you’re going to speak A few years after Bennett joined the East Polk for farmers, you jolly well better be an active County Farm Bureau, a young farmer in Kandiyohi farmer,” he said. “The willingness of Diane and our County, Al Christopherson, joined his county Farm sons to help made it possible to devote the time Bureau. It became apparent to him while he was in needed to serve Farm Bureau. My mantra was to do college that the agriculture industry was “guided the very best I could and to give my all for Farm less by fate and more by those people who have a Al Christopherson served Bureau. The staff and board of directors provided stake in agriculture.” He said that he didn’t have any as MFBF vice-president motivation with their expectations. All of these “grandiose plans,” but he knew he wanted to be from 1978-1988. He was people were so dedicated; how could I do any less?” involved in Farm Bureau because he saw Farm elected president in 1988 Demands on Al’s time increased as he accepted Bureau as the vehicle to accomplish anything he and served until 2005. the responsibilities of MFBF vice president and could not do alone. then stepped into the presidency in 1988. He Kandiyohi County had no YF&R program when Al joined Farm became a member of the AFBF board of directors in 1993 and Bureau, but shortly after joining, he was elected a county board served on that board until his retirement as MFBF president in 2005. member. Al and his wife Diane have vivid memories of attending Demonstrating the mantra to do his best for Farm Bureau, Al their first AFBF annual meeting in Los Angeles in 1972. They had to became a national spokesman on world trade issues. His knowledge walk through Cesar Chavez’s picket lines to attend the sessions. “We of and his interest in this area led to his appointment as chairman of were impressed with the meeting and the people who attended—both the International Trade Advisory Committee of the American Farm the Minnesota delegation and members from across the county,” said Bureau Federation in 1997. “Trade is one of the high-priority items Al. “That experience really inspired me to become involved at the on the AFBF agenda for the following year as developed by more state level.” than 300 delegates at the policy development session,” he said at the
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time of his appointment. “The trade MFBFacts advisory committee travels to foreign countries to analyze their agricultural In 1979, import needs including factors such as 45 percent of handling capabilities, do they need bags or Minnesota’s can they handle bulk deliveries and ag economy was products used in their culture.” based on During the three years Al served on the agriculture. trade committee he visited Costa Rica, Brazil, Argentina, the Philippines, New Zealand, Australia, Belgium, Switzerland, France, Canada and Mexico. The contact with wheat producers in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta lasted five years. In addition to the trade committee work, Al volunteered with the Citizens Network in Russia and the Ukraine. This network was funded through Aid to International Development (AID), a U.S. government program. He visited these countries five or six times to assist farmers making the transition from collective or state-run farms to private Stan Ahlgren, left, with President Christopherson shown receiving the MFBF Honorary Life membership, served on the first business entrepreneurship. corporation board, and his wife was vice president. “While this was not a function of the AFBF, nevertheless, some of the experiences while in Moscow and other parts of Russia remain as Al’s fondest memories of his 17 years as MFBF president are of some of the most memorable events I experienced,” said Al. the conversations he had with so many members. “I may forget The 10 state Farm Bureau presidents who served on the trade many of the names, but I’ll never forget the faces and the stories advisory board focused on a consistent, long-term market-oriented they tell.” farm policy that would rely substantially less on government and Although he now devotes his energies to doing his own farm work increasingly more on the market. “It’s exciting to be a part of this instead of being a voice for agriculture, Al watches and listens to trade advisory committee, and I look forward to helping increase what Farm Bureau is saying and doing on the state and national U.S. ag exports through this work,” he remarked as he began his levels, and he still attends county, state and national Farm Bureau responsibilities. annual meetings.
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Even though Farm Iowa. Since the Bussas Bureau is a “bottom-up” In 1978 seed corn was $30 to $42.50 lived in Cottonwood organization dependent MFBFacts a bag; alfalfa was $95 for each County, he wasn’t on its grassroots 50-pound unit. centrally located in members, paid Minnesota. During his employees fill an 26 years with Farm important role. Al Bussa Bureau, Al traveled began his career with Farm Bureau as District III fieldman for 19 more than a million miles in all kinds of weather and road counties in 1969. A year later he redirected his energies to the conditions. To cover those miles, he drove 21 different cars leased by Safemark tire and battery program in the Minnesota Farm Bureau Farm Bureau. Business Corporation (MFBBC). “I tried to cover the state once a month,” Al stated. “I figure, MFBF President Carroll Wilson, elected in 1969, was president of driving 55 miles an hour, that I spent seven or eight years sitting in the corporation wholly owned by the Federation. Mrs. Stanley the car seat. I still hate eating in restaurants.” Ahlgren was vice president and Ken Snyder, MFBF chief Rarely did he let the weather prevent him from traveling to his administrator was secretary/treasurer of the corporation. The board next destination, but he had some “memorable” experiences. “I came of directors included Stanley Ahlgren, Mrs. L.O. Gustafson, Elmer over a hill one time to drive smack into a herd of cattle,” he related. Bunge, Delbert Best, Harold T. Peterson, Jack Lacey, Russell “Don’t know how I dodged them, but another time three slow Johnson, Norman Wright and Philip G. Burseth. raccoons weren’t so lucky.” The Safemark program was available through the American Farm Al was with the corporation a number of years before shifting Bureau Service Company, which did the negotiating for product gears to again serve as fieldman in southwestern Minnesota. In manufacturing. According to the March 1971 News, “The Safemark November 1985, he had quadruple heart bypass surgery, but even tire is premium grade, manufactured to Farm Bureau specifications that didn’t keep him down for long. He appreciated being told by designed to provide members with a top quality product at the lowest Farm Bureau to take as much time as needed for recovery. Al’s wife possible cost. … The Safemark battery is also manufactured to Farm Maxine, who normally stayed at home with their three sons, drove Bureau specifications with special emphasis on farm use.” Al to Farm Bureau commitments before he had recovered This new service needed a capable field representative to interview sufficiently to get behind the wheel of his car again. and hire dealers across the state, and Al Bussa was the man for the Maxine remembers the many enjoyable times they experienced job. Accepting the position as field representative, he was now with Farm Bureau. They traveled to Hawaii for the AFBF annual responsible for the entire state as well as 12 counties in northern meeting the year they celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary.
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Although much of Al’s time was devoted to MFBF responsibilities, Country Club golf course. they still enjoyed the trip. Another memorable trip was the tour to One of Al’s bosses, Chris Radatz, was hired as the southeast New England when Al served as the official Farm Bureau guide. district fieldman in 1976. Chris, his brother and two sisters grew up Their tour bus driver was a young man who somehow managed to in a Farm Bureau family in Winona County, and currently all four drive them into West Point via the back entrance where there is no are involved in fields of agriculture. After graduating from the security check. Personnel at the base were quite surprised when a University of Wisconsin-River Falls, Chris was feed mill manager bus full of senior citizens anticipating a tour of the grounds seemed and sales representative for the Manitowoc Farm Supply Cooperative to appear out of nowhere in the middle of the base. for about two years before beginning his long career with the One of the lighter moments Al remembers is the time he appeared Minnesota Farm Bureau. at one session of an MFBF annual meeting wearing a Mickey Mouse From 1980 to 1983 Chris served as YF&R program coordinator outfit to promote the upcoming AFBF annual meeting in Orlando. before serving as director of field services from 1983 until 1989. As Al’s responsibilities changed, state personnel also changed. He Then he was named director of the marketing and commodity remembers having the following as his “bosses” over the years: services. In 1994, Chris succeeded Vern Ingvalson as director of Howard Handeland, Ralph Ruble, Carl Sproat, Joel Lundquist, Paul public policy, a position he still holds today. Vern left behind large Bliss, Chris Radatz, Ron Trok, G.W. Hagaman and John Berg. shoes for Chris to fill, but Chris has built upon the strong In 1995, shortly before Al Bussa retired, the relationship Vern had at the state Capitol with MFBF awarded him the Distinguished Service lawmakers as he communicates Minnesota Farm Award. The text on the plaque summarizes Al’s Bureau’s policy with legislators. service to Farm Bureau for 26 years: “Two of Al’s Gerald W. Hagaman, another of Al’s bosses, was most outstanding characteristics are his hired as MFBF chief administrator/secretary in 1978. enthusiasm and ability to turn strangers into He came to Minnesota after working as natural and friends. County Farm Bureau leaders have been environmental resources division coordinator at the guided by his years of practical experience along AFBF for five years. Gerry began his Farm Bureau with his deep conviction that Farm Bureau career in his home state of Illinois in 1953 when he membership benefits improve the quality of life was county organization director. He held a number and profitability of every Minnesota farmer.” The of positions in the Illinois Farm Bureau organization golf club Al received as a retirement gift helped for 20 years before moving to the AFBF. him hit his first hole-in-one three years later Sketch of the safety decal Gerry evidently believed the state office needed a designed by Leona Schalow. (after 25 years of golfing) at the Windom major housecleaning because a photo story in the
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April 14, 1984, Voice showed MFBF staff members hard at work. The cutline with the photo explains what was accomplished when Gerry enlisted help from the staff: “When we started, we thought it would take about an hour, but we soon learned different. A 30-foot dumpster was brought in and filled by noon with the accumulation of 25 years of records, old signs and an amazing collection of Farm Bureau memorabilia.” Later, new carpet in the lunchroom and office spaces contributed to the look the office needed as the headquarters of the state’s largest and most effective general farm organization. After serving as chief administrator/secretary for 16 years, Gerry retired in March 1994. Numerous awards he had received for his efforts included the MFBF Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award, the FFA American Farmer Degree, the Minnesota FFA State Farmer Degree and the FFA State Farmer Award in Illinois. Besides his Farm Bureau activities, Gerry was active in church and civic groups. How many MFBF members can you identify visiting Cong. John Zwach from County Farm Bureaus would be severely Redwood County in the early 1970s? limited in their effectiveness if they didn’t have years after Farm Bureau organized in that county. After 50 years in office assistants to coordinate the people and programs of the this position, she retired from her “first and only job.” Her counties. The April 1975 News carried the story of Bernice Schwab, responsibilities as a new employee included assisting the county who began working in the Hennepin County office in 1924, just 10 extension agent, the home economist and 4-H, as well as Farm
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Bureau. She estimated that she members traveled to the 1971 annual meeting on two chartered worked under 15 to 20 county buses. Slippery roads and several inches of new snow created MFBFacts presidents and recalled a time when challenges for the bus drivers, but everyone arrived safely at the The average the county membership listed more Hotel Raddison in downtown Minneapolis, ready to enjoy the annual cost per patient than 2,000 farm family members. meeting. per day in U.S. Bernice decided it was time to retire The concern about equal representation in the state legislature when her managerial duties “got to increases as the agricultural population decreases. Farm Bureau’s community be more than [she] could handle.” efforts in 1974 helped defeat a bill that would have reduced the size hospitals in Otherwise, she insisted that she of the legislature after the 1980 election. The measure was defeated 1967: $53.14. The would have continued working. 65-64, three short of a majority in the House. MFBF President figure rose to Farm Bureau members willingly Wilson sent a personal letter to each House member expressing the $96.77 in 1972, share their knowledge, expertise Federation’s position: an increase of and programs with others, and Geographically, reducing the size of the legislature would increase 82.1 percent. Leona Schalow was privileged to the size of out-state districts and hobble rural legislators in share her safety decal with more performing effectively. Some of our senatorial districts now are than 20 other states. After her larger than Rhode Island. We are concerned also that, should the husband was fatally injured in a silage chopper accident in 1975 in legislature’s size be reduced, enlarged districts might result in Blue Earth County, she used that tragic event to warn others of the candidates for public office being selected more by organized, dangers in farming. The heart-shaped decal bore the inscription special interest groups than by the individual citizen. “Please be Careful. We Love You. Your Family.” The Women’s On the national level, Farm Bureau experienced a “major victory” Committee distributed the crimson decal as part of a farm safety early in 1975 when the U.S. Department of Agriculture removed project, and Mr. and Mrs. Robert Rupp, Waseca County, took the export curbs on all major farm commodities. MFBF President decals with them when they visited Japanese farms. Leona received Wilson had written to President Ford and urged him to instruct an award from Farm Bureau Insurance for her heart-felt safety Commissioner of Agriculture Butz “to move back into the world project. market in a very ambitious manner.” Since Farm Bureau is a “bottom-up” organization, it depends on The thrill of victory was short, however, because of the Ford grassroots member participation at the state annual meeting, where Administration’s moratorium on grain sales to the Soviet Union a MFBF policy is determined. Under the leadership of county few months later. Speaking for the MFBF, President Wilson stated, president Everett Sharp, 80 Blue Earth County Farm Bureau “We think the Ford Administration is making a real mistake if it
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doesn’t rescind the moratorium. The curtailment of agricultural world markets and lower incomes for American farmers. exports by the action of the president and by longshoremen refusing One long-standing major concern to Farm Bureau for many years to load ships is one of the most important issues farmers have faced has been the locks and Dam 26 on the Mississippi River. The in years. These kinds of restraints on farm exports are seriously organization’s policy in 1976 called for the replacement of the locks harming not only us as farmer producers but consumers and and dam at Alton, Illinois. This replacement “should proceed at the taxpayers as well.” earliest possible date through prompt and resolute action by the The MFBF disagreed with the terms of the agreement, according Congress, and Farm Bureau should give support to the necessary to the November 1975 News. Under the agreement, the USSR would legislation.” MFBF’s position on building new locks and dams was buy a minimum of six million metric tons of wheat and corn each formally submitted to the Subcommittee on Water Resources of the year until 1981. The United States government reserved the right to United States Senate Committee on Public Works. Farm Bureau reduce the quantity to be sold in any one crop year if the estimated urged replacing the outdated and deteriorating structure because of total U.S. grain stockpile dropped below 225 million tons. Farm the “strategic importance in the barge movement of agricultural Bureau saw the long-term agreement as setting a dangerous commodities downriver and for export of coal, fertilizer, chemicals precedent that could find the government dominating international and petroleum upriver.” trade in agricultural commodities in the future. Once the trend was A headline in the May 1976, News proclaiming “Action Needed established, other more serious controls on farm exports would likely … Yesterday!” expressed the urgency of the problem. The article follow. discussed the collapse of a guide wall to the main chamber of a lock. The July 1978 News printed Farm Bureau’s position on Temporary repairs were made, but a tow boat tore a steel plate loose international trade. two weeks later. The article went on to say, “The time for action is As a matter of long-standing policy, Farm Bureau opposes now. Approximately six to eight years will be required to replace the government controls on exports of agricultural products. If farmers locks and dam. Congress should appropriate the funds needed this are to compete in the world market for production equipment and year to construct a replacement for the locks and dam at Alton, supplies–fuel, chemicals, fertilizers and machinery in particular–they Illinois.” must be allowed free access to world markets and world market Minnesota Sens. Humphrey and Anderson, along with Reps. Quie, prices without fear of embargoes or the strict licensing of exports. … Hagedorn and Frenzel, sponsored bills authorizing construction of a Export controls on agricultural commodities would reduce new lock and dam on the Mississippi River. In a letter to the confidence in the reliability of the United States as a source of Minnesota delegation, MFBF President Wilson urged them to supply and would stimulate investments in other countries to develop sponsor replacement legislation. “This project commands top priority alternative sources of supply. The result would be reduced access to of the Carter Administration and the 95th Congress,” he wrote. He
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mentioned that time was important since approximately 10 years families hosting the delegation included the Don A. Schulz family, would be needed to complete the project once construction began. the John Derham family, the Charles Sammon family, the Marvin A delegation with representatives from more than 20 agribusiness, Donkers family, the Cecil Hutton family and the Richard Hanson business and utility organizations, including Farm Bureau, met with family. the Minnesota congressmen in Washington for two hours in March Minnesota Farm Bureau’s effective leadership continued on the 1977 about the locks and Dam 26. Farmers are still waiting for local, state and national levels because grassroots members actively legislation that will allot funds to make the necessary repairs and carried out programs in their counties, supplied state and national improvements requested in 1977. resolutions that set Farm Bureau’s position on current issues The Farm Bureau’s voice was heard around the world, and through affecting agriculture and trained potential leaders. A threat to the the years visitors from other nations have visited Minnesota’s farms. very existence of many family farms was beginning to surface at the In 1973, 12 Italian farmers traveled in the United States for 18 days close of the decade, and it would quickly become the focus of Farm observing how typical American farm families lived and worked. Bureau members and leaders in the next decade. Their destination in Minnesota was Rice County. Farm Bureau
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The decade of the ’80s saw the demise of numerous farms because of adverse financial circumstances. Interest rates grew rapidly, exceeding 20 percent at one point. Farmers were unable to repay their loans and were forced to sell out. The Weathering less fortunate ones lost their farms through foreclosure by their lending institutions. One such farmer was 64-year-old Lincoln County Farm Bureau the Farm member Don Norgaard. Don purchased his 200-plus acre dairy farm on the northern shores of Lake Crisis Benton for $25,000 in 1958. In the 1970s he began increasing his dairy herd and expanding his operation so that he could include his son as a partner and 1980-1989 eventually transfer ownership. The Production Credit Association (PCA), Don’s lending agency, encouraged the expansion and loaned him the money. Then, interest rates started rising. At the same time, Don experienced another financial hurdle when a disease killed many of the heifer calves he needed for herd replacements. By 1980, he owed PCA nearly $95,000. In an attempt to pay that debt, Don sold his machinery and dairy herd in June 1982, but his indebtedness was still about $64,000. Burdened with the weight of his financial obligations, Don stopped at the local coffee shop one morning in March 1983. To his chagrin, the pending foreclosure auction of his farm was the topic of conversation. That morning was the first Don had heard about the auction. According to PCA officials, the notice of the foreclosure was printed in the legal section of the paper in January, but no one had bothered to notify Don. A couple days after his visit to the coffee shop, PCA finally communicated with him about the auction scheduled for March 21. Between 200 and 300 concerned, angry and frustrated farmers assembled on the steps of the Lincoln County Courthouse in Ivanhoe on a cold, blustery Monday morning. They brought their protest signs and intended to block the sale of Don’s farm. Organizers of the protest included Citizens Organized Acting Together (COACT) and American Agriculture Movement members and Chapter Eight sympathizers.
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About six weeks prior to the Minnesota’s farmers by auction, farmers had begun working with government organizing and joining COACT. leaders. A few weeks before At their third meeting, they had Don lost his farm, Gov. Perpich vowed to protest the next farm had appointed MFBF Vice foreclosure, which happened to be President Al Christopherson to Don’s. The protest was noisy, but an 11-member farm crisis nonviolent. Organizers got the commission. He was one of recognition they wanted because seven farmers on the local, state and national television commission assigned the task and newspaper reporters were on of recommending ways to deal hand to witness the auction and with farm mortgage tell the nation about the serious foreclosures and related financial problems driving matters. farmers from their farms. A year earlier in 1982, the The only bid received for the MFBF had lobbied state dairy farm came from PCA, lawmakers and successfully which bid $64,223, or about one tabled a farm foreclosure bill fourth of the value of the land. that would have jeopardized an As the Lincoln County sheriff addressed the group gathered on Don didn’t relish his sudden place the steps of the courthouse, Don Norgaard (lower left in photo) adequate source of credit and in the spotlight because people stands with his back to the activity and listens to words of operating capital for the across the nation learned that he encouragement from his pastor and his pastor’s wife. agriculture industry rather than had lost his life’s work. It’s hard aid farmers facing financial to determine who was the bigger distress. loser that day. Was it Don who now had to face retirement knowing Thirty years after the legislature divorced the MFBF from the he had lost everything he had worked hard to build up over the past extension service, the two organizations joined forces to aid farmers 35 years? Or was it his son who lost the only dream he had at that in crisis. A letter from Patrick J. Borich, dean and director of the time, the dream of taking over his dad’s dairy farm? Minnesota Agricultural Extension Service, was published in the The MFBF actively pursued a solution to the crisis facing April 16, 1985, Voice. The letter reflects the cooperative effort
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of the two groups. Monday, the bank reopened. The next day, a public meeting was held On behalf of the Minnesota Agricultural Extension Service, I am to explain procedures that FDIC operates under. Over the weekend writing to express our thanks and appreciation to the Minnesota the bank was purchased, and the new owners took over. When this Farm Bureau for their support of Senate File 546 regarding crisis happens, the new owners have thirty days to review loans and decide intervention for the current farm situation in Minnesota. For the first which ones to keep and which ones to let FDIC have. The 30-day time in Extension history, members of the Extension Service and period in this case ends July 15. vocational agricultural instructors are working together to help farm The real problem, according to these farmers, is that declining people solve some long-range financial concerns, and perhaps to land and machinery values contributed not only to the bank’s failure avert future economic problems through better joint educational but to their personal financial problems. According to one, “I don’t programs. Your active support of this bill through Vern Ingvalson think the new bank is going to take my loan. The assets I secured my has helped us get this message to the Minnesota State Legislature. loan with have deteriorated. I’ve gone to FmHA, but the declining Again, thanks to the Farm Bureau for helping us take a giant step values won’t give me the collateral to borrow enough to pay off forward for our agricultural communities. We look forward to FDIC. If they don’t write off the difference, I’m going to have to continuing a rewarding and productive relationship for many years liquidate. I only hope they realize that if I liquidate, they are going to to come. get less than if they accept my payment on funds I’ve gotten from A story about Farm Bureau members lobbying state legislators for FmHA. …” property tax relief appeared in the same issue of the Voice. President A consensus of the group is that they feel FDIC did not do a good Lokensgard expressed Farm Bureau’s position, “Instead of all this job of informing everyone of the procedures that FDIC operates talk about income tax relief, we should be talking about property tax under. That and the fact that FDIC people were totally unfamiliar relief.” with agriculture. As more and more farmers experienced financial problems, the A story on an inside page of the July 23 Voice discussed the ripple effect flowed through rural communities. A headline in the campaign for a temporary moratorium on farm foreclosures to help July 23, 1985, Voice read, “Farmers: Wake Up! Swift County stop land and machinery prices from declining. A moratorium would farmers are sending that message to other counties.” This article told also provide time for struggling farmers to work out their finances so the account of an area bank suddenly closing. they could continue to farm. The problem, according to the article, “They are in for the hassle of their lives when their banks close,” was that the state’s 100,000 farmers held a debt of nearly $12 billion. said one farmer when the Swift County Bank was closed on Friday, Low commodity prices, high interest rates, and declining land prices June 14. According to the group, thirty-two FDIC examiners walked put $4 billion of that debt at risk for default. After discussing the into the bank and announced that they were closing it. The following pros and cons of a moratorium, the article concluded by stating Farm
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In his address to delegates at the MFBF annual meeting in 1985, Jerry Hagaman summarized the Federation’s role in the crisis when he said, “Farm Bureau is the only organization that is offering positive programs to address the problems in agriculture today. It is better to light the candle than curse the darkness. I cannot remember a year when we have been kept busier on the legislative front, both in the position of trying to pass positive legislation which would be in the best interests of farm families and in the role of opposing negative legislation that would have had an adverse effect.” In addition to the financial crisis, farmers in this decade faced other challenges. For example, the animal rights issue had become a major threat to livestock farmers by 1986. At an animal rights conference, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) presented the message that ALF (Animal Liberation Front), with a history of attacking confinement farms and research facilities in Europe, was poised to enter the United States. Speakers and participants at the conference endorsed the major theme: the District III men gathered for a meeting in 1982. legislative goal of their movement was to completely eliminate the exploitation of all animals for food, sport, fashion, and especially Bureau’s policy: “We oppose mortgage foreclosure moratoriums. … research. They interfere with the legal contract between the individual and the Livestock farmers in Minnesota and around the nation responded lending institution and may result in a reduction in the availability of quickly. In Minnesota, the result was the formation of the Minnesota affordable credit for everyone.” Forum for Animal Agriculture, a coalition of concerned farm and After meeting with Farm Bureau and three other farm groups, livestock groups, including the MFBF. The 1985 farm bill contained Gov. Perpich agreed to endorse a voluntary moratorium that a provision, added at the insistence of animal rights groups, that encouraged “a policy of seeking options other than foreclosure on revised standards for the humane handling of animals and directed farm real estate. [They endorsed] the expansion of voluntary the secretary of agriculture to establish standards that minimize pain professional financial counseling or voluntary mediation through and distress in animals on the farm and in research. Project Support or similar programs.” April 7, 1986, was an important day for livestock farmers because
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the state legislature passed a bill that imposed penalties for persons unlawfully releasing animals from confinement buildings. The bill included zoos, research facilities and educational facilities as well as farms. MFBF President Lokensgard said the law would help guarantee farmers their rights to raise livestock without harassment from animal rights groups. Farmers in central Minnesota faced another challenge, a summer drought, in 1987. Areas with the most severe drought were in Pine County, Kanabec County, Isanti County, northern Morrison County and southern Crow Wing County. Farmers, primarily from southern Minnesota, shipped over 50,000 hay bales to affected counties. Area FFAers assisted in the loading and unloading of the hay, and Area Technical and Vocational Institute (ATVI) students donated their time as part of their training to haul the hay to drop-off points. Tim Nystrom, from the Stearns County Extension Office, helped coordinate and distribute 2,000 bales in his area. The MFBF launched its first ethanol information campaign in the fall of 1986. President Lokensgard said that the effort was directed toward automobile mechanics, service station owners, petroleum distributors and auto mechanics students. Instructors in 85 high A law requiring a 10 percent ethanol blend in fuel sold in schools and 25 AVTIs also received the information and were urged Minnesota died in the state legislature the next spring, but an to support the effort. The purpose of the campaign was to convince amendment favorable to ethanol enhanced the promotion of ethanol mechanics and the petroleum industry that “ethanol is tested and in Minnesota. One provision of the amendment prevented the use of approved as a gas blend, and has been unfairly blamed for causing “no ethanol” signs at gas stations. damage to carburetors and other car parts.” The issue of migrant workers appeared in the Oct. 10, 1982, Parade magazine, a national Sunday newspaper supplement. AFBF Land values dropped 26 President Delano issued a strong protest against the inaccurate, MFBFacts percent from 1984 to 1985. irresponsible article. He said that Farm Bureau, while “deeply concerned” about areas where issues of poverty and ill-treatment do
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in fact exist, insisted that “a principal more than 50 years and still meet regularly with people whom they problem of addressing the farm labor met as Rural Youth. The group, known as “Circle C,” is one of four problem question ‘is simply to tell the truth MFBFacts such groups in Nobles County that continues to meet socially. Over about it.’” 1981 labor the years Jim was active in Farm Bureau, as well as serving on his MFBF county delegates passed a costs were 31 local school board and in other community organizations. He also resolution at the 1986 annual meeting that percent of the served on the Institute of Agriculture Advisory Committee and the expressed MFBF’s policy. The resolution food dollar. National Council on Agriculture Research. After their children were supported improved farm grown, it was Jean’s turn to exercise her leadership abilities, employer/employee relations, having particularly on the Women’s Committee. migrant workers draw on their own wages for living expenses and The first of three Women’s Committee programs launched in the making migrant worker wages subject to state income tax 1980s was the 1st Care program in the fall of 1982. Jean said that withholding. The resolution opposed mandatory farm worker microsurgeon Dr. Van Beek contacted Farm Bureau about starting contracts, compulsory unionism for farm workers and government or the program. Even though he was late to their first meeting because church involvement in unionization activities. he had filled in as umpire for his son’s baseball game, Jean was The resolution spoke to an amendment to the immigration law that impressed with Dr. Van Beek. The program that started as a pilot was before Congress. The amendment would require every employer program in 12 south central and southwestern Minnesota counties who hired one or more persons for one hour or more, regardless of enlisted the expertise of women with health care backgrounds and whether the person hired was an American or an alien, to carry out expertise in the program to act as trainers. The goal of the program the required documentation and to keep the record. Agriculture was to teach farm families basic emergency medical treatment at the leaders insisted they would prevent any bill from passing that did not scene of a farm accident. include a workable plan to provide for needed farm workers. The First Care caught the attention of KXKI-TV in St. Cloud, which sponsors of the bill and the leadership of Congress realized they hosted a program on Farm Bureau’s project in 1984. Trainer Elaine would need to meet the needs of agriculture before the bill would Graf, who explained First Care on the broadcast, said, “First Care is pass. an important part of Farm Bureau. We can tell because of the great Jean Fellows chaired the Women’s Committee from 1980 to 1989. coverage we have received from the media. If we can help farm Her Farm Bureau involvement began in the Nobles County Rural families during emergencies and promote Farm Bureau at the same Youth program. Jean Dieter, whose husband Bob had chaired the time, that’s great.” Rural Youth group, played cupid to get Jean and another Rural Youth Another presenter on the television broadcast was Marilyn member, Jim Fellows, together. Jim and Jean have been married Kaschmitter, Benton-Mille Lacs County Farm Bureau member. Her
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family’s training in First Care helped her son recover from a farm first I felt this was sensationalism, but as I thought about it, I accident. A few months after the training, Marilyn and Bill’s son realized that seeing these slides will be a great help to me Brian was the victim of a serious farm accident just as he was psychologically if I ever find my loved ones caught in an auger. … starting his senior year in high school. Marilyn explained what I am a registered nurse, now a farm wife and partner, raising four happened: children ages two to thirteen. I am not working outside my home at Brian was feeding pigs and a young son Glen [currently Benton- the present time and wanted to use my nursing background to help Mille Lacs County Farm Bureau president] was planning to mow the others. This program has given me that chance. Over the three-year lawn. Brian had the auger running from the silo and for some period since it was started, I’ve had the opportunity to show it to 375 reason, he went into the silo to check the auger. That’s when his foot people. got caught in the auger and the force of being caught also caused Soon other state Farm Bureaus wanted to institute a First Care him to fall. He broke his arm, and his leg broke in three places. program. In the fall of 1985, Pam Pohlmeier and Ruth Baird, Meanwhile, Glen had been having trouble getting the lawn mower McLeod County, were two of four instructors invited by the Illinois started. If the mower had been running, he may not have heard Farm Bureau to present First Care training sessions in Dewitt, Henry Brian’s cries for help. Marilyn remembered from her 1st Care and Peoria counties. More than 20 people attended each training training that she needed to remain calm and not panic. “It had really session, and these counties agreed to be the pilot counties for First prepared us; we felt that we knew what to do. You learn to keep your Care in Illinois. In 1986 the Wisconsin Farm Bureau enlisted Dr. Van head on your shoulders. And I know I would never have had those Beek’s help to initiate a similar program there. Earlier that year phone numbers handy otherwise, and that is absolutely essential.” Minnesota’s First Care program was recognized for its outstanding She noted that Brian was the one in her family who hadn’t taken the contribution to farm safety when it won an award of commendation training. from the National Safety Council’s National Citation awards Marilyn concluded her account of the incident by saying, “You program in the local category. just hope that nothing will ever happen to you, but it can and does Although he created the program, Dr. Van Beek credited Farm happen. 1st Care really prepares you to handle it.” Bureau leaders who organized the program and volunteers who Martin County 1st Care trainer Mary Jogadzinske’s perspective of presented the training with the success of the program. “The reason the program was printed in the July 9, 1985, Voice. for its success is because of the volunteer efforts of some very Dr. Van Beek grew up on a farm and learned first hand how his dedicated farm wives and nurses. They have been very instrumental family dealt with accidents. He saw the need for a specific program in making First Care work,” he once said. to help others. Using slides, he shows photographically what arms The second program introduced by the Women’s Committee was and legs look like after being extracted from an auger accident. At the Minnesota Ag in the Classroom program started in 1984.
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Recognizing the need for using the education hog farm where Glen and Beth explained their system to increase understanding of farrow-to-finish operation. Then they toured agriculture, the federal government, in 1981, the dairy farm of David and Mary Huebert began a national Ag in the Classroom where they learned all about dairy farming. program. A 16-member task force compiled Next stop was the hobby farm of George and agriculture and education ideas, determined Mabel Gehrke where they could pet and feed projects to develop and encouraged interested the lambs, hold some baby chicks, and also groups to participate. see the big garden the Gehrkes have. Now it The MFBF was just one of many ag-related was time for lunch at the home of Mrs. Edwin groups to take advantage of this opportunity (Esther) Schuft. Mr. and Mrs. Raymond to tell the agriculture story to school children. Streseman, Agnes Hoffman, and Mable Al Withers of the Minnesota Department of Gehrke helped serve lunch. Agriculture coordinated the program. In 1988, After lunch the children helped plant a Al received the Governor’s Teamwork Award, Black Hills spruce tree. On the bus again, which was presented to a state program or accompanied this time by James Lindeman employee who best exhibited an outstanding who explained the different kinds of grain capacity to organize an effort to achieve a growing in the fields along the route to his common goal. farm. Here he showed them some of his A second way to interact with school machinery and what each piece does. He also classrooms, Adopt-a-Classroom, was showed them the different kinds of grain he introduced at Women’s Committee district plants—corn, oats, wheat, soybeans and peas. meetings in the fall of 1985. The goal of the The young people enjoyed putting their hands program was to explain to metropolitan fourth Albie Walsh, Swift County, brings into the different kinds of grain. Then it was graders what farming was all about. agriculture into a school classroom. time to return to their school to catch their Esther Schuft, McLeod County, reported on buses. her county’s Adopt-a-Classroom experience in the Voice. The Women’s Committee also began the Feast for Least On May 26, the fifth grade class of the Tanglen Elementary School promotional/educational project in the ’80s. Early in 1985 the Lac in Hopkins came to the Brownton Public School to meet their pen qui Parle County Farm Bureau demonstrated the small percentage a pals and tour area farms. The first stop was at the Glen Klofleisch farmer received from the commodity they raised at a Feast for Least
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attended by 450 people. Dave and Pat Kathy Deveraux and Marlys Skarr. Craigmile (co-chairs), John and Sherry The following year, Lyon County Farm Bureau members provided MFBFacts Dessonville, Allen Moe (county a feast for the Physicians Task Force on Hunger in America, a group In 1988, president), Mary Ann Bannerman (county studying areas of economic trouble and the effects on the people of Minnesota extension agent) and the county Farm that area. Besides enjoying the feast, they visited with several farm ranked sixth Bureau board all worked to make the families, the local food shelf and other local agencies. They were nationally in event a success. impressed with how effective the feast was in showing them how acres “Our purpose was to have an much of the food dollar the farmer received. educational experience for the public in a Jean Fellows, MFBF women’s chair, remembers preparing a Feast accepted into positive way to see how little return the for Least in the Betty Crocker kitchen. “That was exciting,” she said. the 10-year farmer gets for his produce,” said Sherry. The committee worked with the General Mills kitchen staff to CRP program. Each food item on the menu was prepare a meal they served to business people. identified with the price the consumer The state Women’s Committee also served, with the help of area paid and the return a farmer had from that item. Ten farm service Farm Bureaus, feasts to targeted groups. In 1986 they served nearly groups had booths that provided information about their services. 600 Minnesota kindergarten teachers at the Minnesota Kindergarten MFBF Vice President Al Christopherson, John Berg, Paul Anderson, Association Workshop in Duluth for less than a dollar a meal. This and John Tjaades answered questions about Farm Bureau policy and menu offered a choice of three meats (ham, turkey or barbequed legislative initiatives. beef), baked potatoes with butter, sour cream and/or cheese, cabbage Lyon County Farm Bureau members sponsored their 1986 Feast salad, whole wheat roll, Minnesota sundae and a soy flour ginger for Least during the two-day KMHL Farm and Home Show. The cookie. menus consisted of barbequed beef sandwich (16 cents), hot ham and After the meal, committee members presented the Adopt-a- cheese sandwich (13 cents), egg salad sandwich (8 cents), Minnesota Classroom program, with each committee member concentrating on sundae with honey and sunflower seeds (6 cents), and Coke (1 cent). a different commodity to present the teachers. Jean Fellows The cost represents what a farmer receives from that food item. explained why the committee reached out to kindergarten teachers About 600 feasted the first day and 800 the second day. Various when she commented, “We wanted to demonstrate … what the commodity groups provided food, and other groups, businesses and farmer’s share of the food bill is and also to illustrate that so many individuals provided non-food items. The committee responsible for businesses are interdependent on the farmer. We have to have the this feast included Sandy and Peggy Ludeman, Gordon and retailer, the processor, the transportation, all of the other areas, Carolyn Boerboom, Greg and Paula Boerboom, Dennis and before the food that’s produced by the farmer gets to the table.”
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Members on the committee with Jean were The bags, made of 6 percent corn starch and 94 percent synthetic Marjorie Eckberg, Nicollet County; polymers, would break down almost immediately rather than sit in Darlene Tesch, Waseca County; LaDelle MFBFacts landfills for many years without decomposing. Farm Bureau workers Neal, Wadena County; Carol Krause, 1987 Farm distributed the bags to the 35,000 to 40,000 fair visitors to the Farm Wright County; Sherry Dessonville, Lac Bureau seed Bureau building. qui Parle County; Darlene Beyer, Traverse prices: $44.50 The prospect of eating a tasty meal has been one of the methods County and Sandy Peterson, West Polk to $58 (corn) Farm Bureau has used to draw people to meetings. Dodge County’s County. March 1982 Ag Day held in Dodge Center included a brunch for The Minnesota Legislature created the and $70 to farmers and businessmen. The main speaker was Vic Richardson Agricultural Utilization Research Institute $111 (alfalfa from the adult ag program in the Owatonna school system. The (AURI) in 1987. Al Christopherson, and forage Women’s Committee helped with the afternoon activities, which MFBF vice president, was one of the nine mix) featured ideas for cooking with soybeans and eggs as well as general original members of the board. The information about agriculture. mission statement, “to promote the establishment of new products Chippewa County Farm Bureau’s 1984 spring banquet in Clara and product uses and the expansion of existing markets for the City drew 125 people. Not only did they enjoy a delicious meal, but state’s agricultural commodities and products,” has been fulfilled they were treated to an interesting program with farm radio many times as researchers have created useful value-added products. broadcaster Lynn Ketelson as master of ceremonies. His impromptu In 1988 the MFBF began printing the Voice with soy ink, one of presentation had everyone laughing. Six members—Gerald Kleene, the value-added soybean products. Editor Joan Plante spoke for the Irene Beckman, Merle Morlock, Harlan Pieper, Mary Sue Kruger organization when she said: and Gene Paine—were randomly selected to participate on two Ag We are proud that MFBF is now using a United States farm Bowl teams. The competition went down to the last question, which commodity to produce its twice monthly publication. … Soybean ink broke a tie. The evening ended with an auction that continued the is just one of the new products being manufactured from farm good spirit of the banquet. Committee members responsible for commodities. … Farm Bureau is vitally interested in supporting and organizing the evening included Neal Dodd, membership chair; Alan promoting alternative uses for farm products, and we are excited Petersen, young farmer chair; Deb Schwartz, women’s program about the latest steps in that direction. chair; Leroy Petersen, board secretary; Gary Means, Safemark Corn growers were not left out of innovative product promotions dealer; Judy Thompson, insurance agent; Owen Gustafson, vice in 1988 because MFBF members distributed biodegradable plastic president and policy development chair; and Sharon Petersen, bags made from corn starch at their Minnesota State Fair exhibit. Chippewa County Farm Bureau president.
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The efforts of the Blue Earth County, Committee members for the event were Brown County, Le Sueur County, Garfield Eckberg (master of Nicollet County and Sibley County ceremonies), Doug Krenik, Doug Farm Bureaus drew 335 people to a Schultz, Gary Letcher, Steve Franta, spring banquet on the campus of Deb Sjostrom, Wilbur Adema and Judy Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter Hanson. on April 15, 1984. An opportunity to The Farmers Voice issues in the ’80s hear AFBF President Dean Kleckner carried many articles on computers. speak probably contributed to the good Fillmore County Farm Bureau member attendance. In his address, President Don Eichoff’s experience with Kleckner reflected on the early days of computers was included in the January Farm Bureau and reminded his listeners 25, 1983, Voice story entitled “Should a that Lillian Atcherson from Blue Earth farmer buy a home computer?” Don’s County wrote the official Farm Bureau wife had given him a computer for song. He characterized Farm Bureau as Christmas in 1981 because two of her a problem-solving machine. “All you brothers, who were managers in have to do is hitch it up and aim it.” He manufacturing businesses, explained enumerated areas of concern to Farm how useful a computer was when Bureau: a balanced budget; an open operating a business. world trading system; the Federal Don listed three elements of Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide computer usage that were vital to him. Act; animal rights; minimum wage and Howard Handeland found creative ways to motivate “I feel a spreadsheet, a printer and a federal tax policy. membership chairmen. These people are enjoying a good data base are all you need to At the conclusion of the evening, western theme. make good use of a personal computer. Dean and Kaye Compart, young With a little imagination you can make farmers from Nicollet County, presented President Kleckner with the the machine fit your operation.” One of the first problems he faced, book How to Talk Minnesotan, food products raised and processed in however, was the lack of personal instruction. “There was no one to the area, fishing gear to catch something other than bullheads, 1987 tell me how to do it. I had to dig through the documentation—in homer hankies and the services of a Landrace Boar for one year. other words, read the instruction manual—and that’s written in a
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different language altogether. I had to find out all the answers for needed from time to time. myself,” he said. At the same time, the MFBBC Safemark Division installed an In January 1984, the Voice began a series of columns to introduce, IBM Whisper Writer. The system allowed immediate transmission of investigate and analyze the new “implement” entering the farm—the dealer orders to the telex unit in the warehouse via Western Union computer. The first article looked into the future and saw possible Easy Link Service. The shipper could receive a hard copy, so the uses for computers on the farm. chance for errors decreased. The previously used courier service, The time has arrived for computers and the applications they which had delivered orders daily, became obsolete. perform. What we see now is the tip of the iceberg. Milking parlors In 1981 the Young Farmers announced three programs they were will contain monitoring systems in the pipeline. They will detect sponsoring. The first, Young Farm Wife, would recognize an diseases and health problems of the animal, check the percentage of outstanding farm wife between the ages of 17 and 30. The second, protein, somatic cell count, mastitis and heart checks. We will blend Young Farmer of the Year, would recognize farmers under 30 who and balance the ration for each animal by the computer. … Tractors demonstrated exceptional efforts in farming, use of capital, will monitor themselves for wear, and they will keep records of all management abilities and leadership achievements. The third moving functions so you can determine overall cost and parts program was a discussion meet. replacement. The list of applications will take five or ten years The Minnesota Farm Bureau continued training young leaders before we see them. But they are viable and will probably happen. through these and other Young Farmer programs and activities. The series of articles may have been published to prepare MFBF Eighty-three young farmers attended the 1982 Young Farmer members for the arrival of computers in the state office that year. Conference at the Radisson Arrowwood near Bemidji. Stevens The Member Development Division began using an IBM model that County took home the traveling trophy for sending 16 young farmers was hooked up with the data bank at the Farm Bureau building in to the conference. The farmers in attendance represented a total of Des Moines, Iowa, via a leased line. A story in the June 19, 1984, 35,000 acres farmed. Farm operations ranged from two potato Voice explained the benefits of the computer. farmers to 16 dairymen. Six of the attendees were part of a family We are better equipped to provide better service to our insured operation, 22 farmed in a partnership, and 23 farmed individually. Of members. The next step, to input transmittal data into the system, those in attendance, 22 were serving as county Farm Bureau board will save our secretary from duplicating her efforts. The terminal members or as Young Farmer chairs. The total farming operation also provides the ability to print the information needed which is investment of the attendees was $16.4 million. stored in the computer. Calculations are done by the computer, One young farmer who was a finalist in, but did not win the Young saving us valuable time in calculating the percent of last year, Farmers and Ranchers Achievement Award competition in 1987, percent of backdoor loss, updating totals and many other things grew up in a Blue Earth County Farm Bureau family. Kevin Paap’s
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earliest recollections of Farm Bureau include seeing the tractor courtesy of Farm Bureau stop sign at the end of his grandfather’s White-New Ideas driveway. Kevin and his wife Julie are the fourth Farm Equipment generation to farm their Century Farm near Garden City. Company. David As a young Farm Bureau member, he held leadership and Diane were positions in his county Farm Bureau and served on the livestock farmers state resolutions committee. He used his expertise as an who burned about emergency medical technician (EMT) by working with the 7,000 bushels of First Care program and was appointed by the governor to a corn cobs each year seat on the first Emergency Medical Services Regulatory to heat their water, Board. He has been involved with numerous community their house and an and agricultural organizations, and before being elected insulated farm shed. MFBF president in 2005, Kevin was president of the Minnesota Farm Minnesota Soybean Growers Association. Bureau established Minnesota young farmers David and Diane Serfling, the MFB Fillmore Foundation in 1987, County, were runners- with the goal of funding programs and activities like the Young up in the AFBF Young Farmers, Freedom Seminar, scholarship program, educational and Farmer contest in research programs aimed at better understanding of government and 1989. They received a agricultural issues, women’s programs, and Adopt-a-Classroom. In one-year subscription commenting on the Foundation, MFBF President Lokensgard said, to Farm Bureau “We feel all of these programs and activities benefit the farmer and ACRES marketing the farm family and result in a better quality of life and that it is so information and essential to continue and expand them. We hope to continue analysis program and a preparing for the new challenges of the future, and it is important year’s free use of a that these activities which we have been involved in through the computer. For their years be upgraded.” Kevin Paap, far right, participates in a state award, they won a Al Bussa made the first donation to the Foundation because he felt Hawaiian themed YF&R conference. year’s free use of a strongly about Farm Bureau’s commitment to education and
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their 530-acre grain and livestock farm In 1986 the average farmer until his death in February 1989. His MFBFacts fed 116 people. successor, Al Christopherson, commented on President Lokensgard’s years of leadership after his death. “Merlyn was a leadership training. He decided to make the donation, he said, after great man who cared deeply about thinking about all the Farm Bureau leaders he had known and agriculture. He was an inspiration to worked with over the years. “I have seen so many young people start many, and he will be missed by all.” out in this organization when they were too shy to speak up ... and President Lokensgard reflected on his over the years, they just developed into outstanding leaders on both career as a Farm Bureau leader when, in the county and state levels. That’s all due to the Farm Bureau 1988, he announced his retirement leadership program.” because of poor health: “In my first year Merlyn Lokensgard, MFBF president from 1977 until 1988, began as president, the biggest task was that the MERLYN farming in 1958, and he and his wife Emilie continued operating board LOKENSGARD work closely together. I felt we made excellent progress. All the people who I’ve served with on that board have been very constructive. They’ve done a good job.” He felt that one of the biggest accomplishments of Farm Bureau during his tenure was “to be a steadying, credible force in agriculture during what [he called] the radical economic times [farmers] went through. [They] experienced some of the greatest times in agriculture, followed by some of the
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greatest turmoil. It was necessary to bring Chief Administrator Hagaman said that President Lokensgard was MFBFacts forth the message that agriculture [would] the eternal optimist. He never hesitated to do whatever it took to get survive, that economic laws and principles a job done, “Traversing from one corner of the state to the other, 1986 [would] hold.” sometimes driving all night to respond to those who called upon him Safemark He was also proud of the fact the Farm to share of himself in the interest of his organization.” multi-tred Bureau remained a strong organization. In spite of adverse financial circumstances for many farmers in tire prices: One of the highlights of his career was the this decade, Farm Bureau continued to be a strong voice for $37.10 to chance to represent the Midwest on the agriculture. Capable individuals were ready to replace Farm Bureau $54.36. AFBF board of directors for three years. “It volunteers and employees who retired or moved on to other was a distinct honor to be among 25 people positions. Ag in the Classroom is still an effective way to tell the in the United States selected to give story of agriculture to school children. As Farm Bureau gained direction to the AFBF,” he said. “And we had the opportunity to greater respect from legislators and congressmen, the Federation’s travel to other states where we could learn a little more about influence on legislation increased, and that influence is still strong agriculture as well as other state Farm Bureaus.” today.
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Farmers are continually researching ways to improve the yield from their crops. Plant population, tillage methods and fertilizer usage are three approaches to increasing yields. Before the advent of herbicides for soybeans, weed control Improving consisted of cultivating and physically pulling weeds while walking through the field. “Walking beans” died out with the arrival of the “bean bar” in the early 1980s. Today Roundup Ready crops sprayed with the herbicide generally result in the Yield a weed-free field. The Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation has experienced a similar progression 1990-1999 with its women’s program. In 1954, the Home and Community Committee became the Women’s Committee after ties with the extension service were severed. A second change came in 1991 when the Women’s Committee became the Promotion and Education (P&E) Committee. The structure and makeup of the committee changed, but the basic mission was the same: telling agriculture’s story to people who were misinformed or ignorant of the farming industry. Just as some farmers baulked at switching to chemical weed control, so too, some MFBF members didn’t like the idea of a P&E Committee. The adage “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” may explain their opposition to the change. President Christopherson addressed people’s objections to the committee modification in the June 15, 1992, Voice. Let me begin by saying that you will find that Minnesota Farm Bureau employs more women in a leadership position than probably most other state Farm Bureaus. ... Incidentally, we have five women county Farm Bureau presidents. … We have recently made a change from a Women’s Committee in Farm Bureau to a Promotion & Education Committee. … The purpose is to get more people into leadership roles regardless of gender … we are really trying to lead the way in recognizing people—not because they are men or women—but because they have talents that can be used to better achieve our goals in serving agriculture. Darlene Beyer, Traverse County, chaired both the Women’s Committee and the newly formed P&E Committee. As chair of the Women’s Committee, she was a Chapter Nine
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voting member of the MFBF board of directors while the YF&R chair was a nonvoting member of the board. A Structure Committee was formed to study the problem of unequal representation on the state board, and one of the recommended changes was the P&E Committee plan. In an effort to get more women involved and to surface more leaders among the women, the concept of a P&E Committee was patterned after a similar committee in Michigan and a couple other states. Darlene remembers observing women delegates at a national meeting. “P&E women had enthusiasm. I sure wanted to see that in Minnesota,” she said. “It took a lot of communication to convince Minnesota delegates this [P&E] was the way to go.” The Structure Committee was sensitive to the Women’s Committee, and the restructured committee worked its way gradually into P&E. Two major changes were adding another committee member from each district and allowing men to serve on the committee. Darlene had a unique experience when she attended the 2008 P&E Conference. “It was kind of like a momma watching her baby grow The Steele/Waseca County Farm Safety Camp presented up,” she quipped. “I was thrilled to see the enthusiasm and the mix shocking information. of men and women there.” Jackson County Farm Bureau made the change to P&E change. Some counties added a Promotion and Education Committee immediately. Its first committee members were Sharon Hinkeldey, while keeping the Women’s Committee. Some counties have done Mark Pietz, Curt Chergosky, Bob Hartman, Kathy and Kevin Zinn, nothing. Dan and Michelle Cranston, and Bill and Rhonda Brandt. Bill It seems to me that these counties are missing opportunities to tell endorsed the new committee in a December 1991 Voice article. the ag and/or Farm Bureau story. Is there a Farm Bureau member A year has passed since the delegates of the Minnesota Farm who would deny that this story needs tellers? When adults don’t Bureau voted to replace a state Women’s Committee with a realize that their corn flakes come from field corn, children ask Promotion and Education Committee. Some counties made a similar about the origin of chocolate milk and entertainment stars promote vegetarianism, there is a problem. Farmers are not going to solve
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this problem by ignoring it. Every able body is needed to tell the • Become an active participant in the legislative process. world that the U.S. farmer is producing safe, abundant and bargain- “Felt” hamburgers were a teaching tool created by the P&E priced food. Committee. The burgers came complete with a sesame seed bun, I recently had the opportunity to visit classrooms in Plymouth and beef patty, onion slice, tomato slice, cheese, pickles, lettuce, mustard St. Paul as part of Farm-City Week. The children are very far and catsup. Made out of felt in two sizes, the burgers worked well removed from the farm. It was very difficult for them to comprehend for Ag in the Classroom presentations on nutrition. that their cereal might come from my farm. When they have no Third grade teacher Susan Lindquist wrote about the P&E ag concept of what a field looks like, how can they care about erosion, penpal program from a teacher’s perspective in a letter printed in the wetlands or the need for chemical application? Yet unless we reach August 1998 Voice. these kids, they will be making decisions for us in a few years based Dear Pen Pal Coordinator, on false information. There is an urgent need to assure our Little did I know that when I signed up for a farm pen pal it would consumers that the farmers are “good guys.” be such a wonderful, educational experience. My third grade class MFBF P&E Committee member and District 35A Rep. Carol from L.C. Webster in North Saint Paul was paired up with the Phil Molnau from Carver County wrote the Jan. 16, 1995, P&E column. and Jan Damhof family in Blomkest [Kandiyohi County]. The She encouraged farmers to be involved in the political process. majority of my class was totally unfamiliar with farm life. Through Although her comments were written more than a decade ago, they letters, email, videos and photographs, they connected with the still apply to farmers today. Damhofs and their dairy farm. With the government so heavily involved in agriculture, it is One of the highlights of our year was a visit from the Damhofs. imperative that farmers and those who work in the agriculture They spent nearly four hours with us sharing information about their industry stay informed and become involved in the political process. farm. I jokingly said, “The only thing missing is a live cow!” Well, Even though state government might seem bureaucratic and they had taken care of that as well. They brought a two-week-old calf intimidating, it is easier than most people think to get information that the children got to name (Elise for L.C. Webster). and let legislators know your opinions. We would love to be pen pals with the Damhofs again, if that is a As a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, I want to possibility. offer a few tips for getting your message heard at the State Capitol. Thanks again for introducing us to a great program. • Contact your representatives. A popular attraction at the Minnesota State Fair Farm Bureau • Get to know the committee structure. building, a P&E responsibility, was the interactive Wheel of Farming • Take advantage of public information—subscribe to inaugurated in 1998. That year, nearly 30,000 fairgoers learned about “Session Weekly.” agriculture by spinning the wheel and answering a question or
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making the sound of a particular farm animal or answering a question on agriculture. Sometimes the line wound its way through the building and out to the sidewalk as people waited to spin the wheel and earn a prize provided by the corporate sponsors (Jennie-O, Phillip Morris, Old Dutch, Betty Crocker and Pillsbury). Participants received a prize for what they had learned about agriculture. In subsequent years, many fairgoers looked forward to visiting the Farm Bureau building and playing the Wheel of Farming to earn a treat from sponsors. Each year, more and more farms attain Century Farm status. This recognition was begun by the Minnesota State Fair in 1976 as part of the nation’s bicentennial celebration. In 1993 the MFBF became a co-sponsor, and now fairgoers can look Above, Marilyn up any Century Farm in the kiosk at the Farm Bureau building. Kaschmitter gave “As we started the research on the early days of the instructions for the Minnesota Farm Bureau, it was the ‘Great State Fair’ that Ag Scavenger Hunt in front of the Farm pulled our founders together. First, because of the natural Bureau Building. At timing lull between duties in the field; second, to bring their left, thousands of commodities, livestock, seed, inventions, crafts and garden state fair goers produce in for judging at a public exhibition; and maybe most learned about importantly, as the only social vacation that a family could agriculture with the share. Many of these traditions are the same today,” said Wheel of Farming, MFBF President Al Christopherson. introduced in 1998. Jim Werner, chief administrator from 1994 to 2003, replaced Gerry Hagaman. After growing up in Germany and serving in the German army he came to the United States as an exchange student, later returned to attend the University of Wisconsin at Madison and became a U.S. citizen in 1974. He began his Farm Bureau career as a field representative in Wisconsin in
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DelRay Johnson 1973. He went from there to the AFBF and worked as area assists the field service director in the northeast region before coming Traverse County to Minnesota. In the July 1999 Voice, Jim discussed Farm board of directors Bureau’s role in equipping school buses with flashing at their October lights. 1997 meeting. Left One of Farm Bureau’s most visible accomplishments to right: Marlene regarding a serious issue, school bus safety lights and Fiedler, Diane laws now used in every state and most western countries, Vollmers, Ron is a prime example of how problem-solving solutions Harvey (standing), Bob Beyer, Ila Mae worked on by our Farm Bureau members benefit our entire Harvey (standing), society. Bill Raguse, How was this accomplished? A Farm Bureau member DelRay Johnson was on his way to a county Farm Bureau meeting when he and Orville witnessed a little girl being hit by a vehicle as she left the Vollmers. school bus. He talked about this terrifying incident at the meeting, and the board passed a resolution requiring all traffic to stop when a school bus was loading and Steele County board members at unloading children. a 1997 meeting. The county resolution, adopted at the county annual Pictured front, left meeting, was later adopted at the state Farm Bureau to right: Bill Souba, annual meeting. In the spring, Farm Bureau introduced it John Brower and to the state legislative body, where it also passed. The Alan Terpstra. governor signed the bill, and, like wild fire, the legislation Middle: Leland was adopted in other states. Johnson, Lorenz The reality of this story is that it takes only one Wilker and Eugene concerned member to bring about constructive and Larson. Back: Gary effective position changes. Joachim and Paul Because local school funding was dependent on ag land Knutson. property tax, farmers explored other avenues of school
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funding to lighten their tax burden. That house, garage and one acre. Since then all school referendums avenue came in the house, garage and exempt ag land, as well as timber land and non-seasonal recreation one acre (HGA) legislation. The first MFBFacts land from property tax. HGA law was passed in 1989, but it In 1910 there A highlight of the state annual meeting for many people is hearing needed language clarification, so on were 32 million elected officials speak. After U.S. Sen. Rudy Boschwitz spoke at the March 25, 1999, more than 300 farmers 1989 annual meeting, his thank you letter to the MFBF was printed from all the major farm groups attended a American in the January 1990 Voice. In that letter he thanked the MFBF for the property tax reform rally at the Capitol. farmers. opportunity to speak and mentioned that he was impressed with the Led by Sen. Kenric Scheevel, Fillmore In 1991 there strong attendance. He then praised the Federation for honoring County, the rally focused on bills to were 4.6 Emilie Lokensgard. eliminate school funding from ag land million I very much admire the family orientation of your organization. property taxes. Sen. Scheevel had American Husbands and wives are never introduced without the introduction of authored a bill that would limit taxes on farmers. the other spouse. I was most impressed with the recognition of Merlyn agricultural land. He stated, “Farmers are Lokensgard’s widow, Emilie. Her place at the table with the president as committed to education as anyone, but and the honorees was absolutely unique in my experience. In most the present tax system was put in place in 1849 when 50 percent of organizations, the death of an active spouse leaves the survivor the people were needed to grow food and raised their families on the forgotten. It speaks volumes about the Minnesota Farm Bureau farm. But today only 1.5 percent of the people grow the food, and Federation that this is not so. they need permanent tax reduction to only the house, garage and one Delegates to the AFBF convention in January 1990 were privileged acre for school funding.” to hear President George H.W. Bush speak. He praised the efforts of MFBF President Christopherson, Mark Pietz from Jackson County Farm Bureau in the fight for fiscal responsibility and a reduction in and Lowell Binford from Rock County were MFBF members who capital gains taxes—two priorities of the organization. “Your support testified before the Senate Property Taxes and Local Government has been instrumental in the fight for the capital gains tax cut and the Budget Division after the rally. Mark emphasized that ag land fight isn’t over yet,” he said. “Passage of our capital gains proposal, property taxes were on the rise, regardless of farm profitability. which would apply to the sale of farmland, will be one of my top Lowell compared Minnesota’s ag land property taxes to farmer- priorities in this legislative year.” In what he termed his “first major friendly property taxes in Iowa. address of the decade,” he called on Farm Bureau members to rally for It wasn’t until the 2001 legislative session that a bill was enacted a capital gains tax cut when Congress returned later that month. including language on referendum market value dealing with the During Farm Bureau Week, July 20-26, 1998, volunteers
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celebrated the organization’s 80 years of service to agriculture. area participate in the Norman County leaders set up five “issues meetings” at the farms of meeting. county members. MFBF President Christopherson, the featured We didn’t try to speaker, addressed topics ranging from international trade to ag develop specific policy research to help solve the wheat scab problems in northwestern recommendations Minnesota. Others participating in the meetings were Bennett because that wasn’t our Osmonson, MFBF board of directors’ member; Jennifer Stevenson, focus. We knew we Farm Bureau insurance agent and Dennis Sabel, MFBF field service would never get director. agreement on policy Radio station KRJB in Ada began the day by interviewing Norman because farmers County Farm Bureau President Ken Visser and President represented many Christopherson. “The meetings were for discussing issues only, not different ag groups Einar Oftedal, Lyon County, earned trying to promote membership,” said Ken. “It seems more effective several trips to AFBF annual meetings with differing to talk about issues first, then follow up with membership with his Farmer Idea Exchange entries. approaches and information.” Office assistant Pam Mattson worked with media for He is shown here at the 1996 meeting philosophy. We stuck to coverage of the event, which included an evening news story on in Reno. discussing issues and KVL-TV in Fargo featuring President Christopherson and county making the politicians President Visser. aware of what we are thinking about. We farmers may not agree on The next year, Norman County membership chair John Brainard every issue, but if we don’t get organized and find issues we can organized a meeting of farmers, legislators and congressmen so agree on, then go to work and get out a message to our lawmakers, farmers could discuss their concerns face-to-face with their elected we won’t get anything done. officials. John’s comments on the success of the meeting were Farm Bureau members in Houston County and across the state printed in the April 1999 Voice. were saddened by the death of Farm Bureau leader Donald Kruse in When we started organizing the meeting, we thought fifty or sixty 1996. He had been a Farm Bureau member since 1950. During that county members and area business people would be a good number. time, he had served on the county board 29 years, having been After talking with area bankers, they were so interested and elected vice president in 1972 and president in 1974. Then in 1992, enthusiastic about supporting us that our board of directors decided he was elected to the MFBF board of directors from District I. Don to expand the meeting to other farmers and have a dinner, too. We started farming in 1961 and farmed 1,400 acres in partnership with were real pleased to have 100 farmers and business people from the his sons Lawrence and Kevin.
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“Don had the ability to size up a situation, while also recognizing intended to work in the Jackson County Farm Bureau office for a people’s feelings, then make a sound judgment keeping in sight the year or two to help out with expenses, retired in 1993 after working overall objective,” said MFBF President Christopherson. He went on 34 1/2 years. The first annual meeting she attended lasted past to say, “He was one of Farm Bureau’s ‘blue chips,’ exemplifying midnight. “Every resolution was more than rehashed, and the big exactly what good Farm Bureau members are like. But of all his issue that night was county welfare,” she wrote at the time of her many attributes, the thing I’ll miss the most, as will those who have retirement. also worked with him, is his good attitude and sense of humor. He During her tenure, Frieda saw three generations of members in the was always fun to talk with.” organization. When she began working, more than 20 grandparents Duane Alberts, Dodge County, was elected to replace Don. A Farm of third generation Farm Bureau members were Farm Bureau Bureau member for 12 years, Duane had served on the county board, members: and as vice president and voting delegate/alternate to annual Walter Anschutz George Hay Arnold Post meetings. In 1995, he was influential in getting a zoning ordinance Fred Benson Mrs. Ella Lilleberg John Rademacher to protect livestock and poultry producers. This action won an AFBF Orin Christopher Edwin Madsen Walter Stenzel County Idea Exchange Award. Duane’s grandfather started his Edward C. Freking Andrew Matasovsky Donald Untiedt registered Holstein herd in 1919 when he brought six cows from the William Freking R.G. Milbrath August Voss University of Minnesota via a two-day train ride to the farm near Alvin Glaser Linver Pietz Rudy Voss Pine Island. His grandfather was one of the first to use artificial Eli Hartman William Pohlman Charles Winzer insemination for selecting mates from the famous Pabst Holstein The biggest change Frieda experienced was Blue Cross Farm in the 1940s. Duane still represents procedures. Until the early 1980s she wrote most of the insurance District I on the MFBF board of directors. contracts, but when she retired in 1993, she wasn’t allowed to give a MFBFacts If any employee of Farm Bureau could quote. She recalled that insurance became complicated in 1966 when The first be called the “unsung hero,” it would be Medicare supplements began. Although the idea was to make things the OA (office assistant). The individual simpler for those on Medicare, most people, including office statewide who fills the position once called workers, found the procedure quite difficult. P&E “secretary” is the one who keeps things Destruction caused by the tornados in 1998 motivated farmers to Conference running smoothly in the county. The OA is help those affected by the storms. Residents in south central and was held Aug. the one who communicates with board southwestern Minnesota suffered severe property damage when 12-13, 1999. members and prepares the agenda for board March 29 tornados swept across the area. The MFBF worked with meetings. Frieda Grein, who originally the Minnesota Extension Service providing cleanup workers for the
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300 to 350 farm families damaged by the minutes of terror, but 100 yards tornados. The April 5, 1998 Voice carried a closer and my house and barn would report of cleanup efforts. have been taken like my neighbor’s Blue Earth County Extension Educator farm just down the road.” Kent Thiese said,“Fields were littered with Missling helped organize all kinds of tornado debris over at least volunteers from his district and 35,000 acres. Farmers can’t just pile up reminds us that, “If we aren’t directly debris by the mailbox and wait for a pay affected by the disaster, it’s easy to loader and dump truck to haul it away as forget that people are still struggling. city victims can. That’s why volunteers Farmers hit by the tornado are taking with trucks and other equipment were vital a step back and evaluating where to the rural cleanup to prepare for spring they’re heading, and depending on planting.” their age and financial status, it may Waseca County member Paul be tough to stay in farming.” Zimmerman was called out Sunday night Robin Kinney [former south central as a member of the Mankato unit of the Jeff Missling, right, relaxes in the golf cart with area program director] worked National Guard to handle security, look Chris Radatz at Farmfest. extensively with recovery efforts since for survivors and help with gas leaks.“We the tornado’s path went right through rolled into town about 1 a.m. to a sight I’ll never forget,” said her district. She handled telephone calls for placing volunteers, Zimmerman. “The town was black except for a fire raging on Main helped organize food efforts, worked in the fields for cleanup and Street. Demolished cars littered the streets and were shoved into “lost a lot of sleep for a good cause. It made me proud to see all the houses. It was like entering a place that had been bombed. I Farm Bureau people working together to help southern Minnesota volunteered to stay for a week, working nearly round the clock, farmers.” sleeping in the Mankato Armory.” Counties unaffected by the tornado sent groups of volunteers to Southwest Area Program Director Jeff Missling’s farm is just south neighboring counties to help with cleanup efforts. of where the tornado passed through near Jeffers. “I barely had time In 1994 Vern Ingvalson retired as MFBF’s legislative director. to dive into my barn for cover and grab my goat before the windows Ken Snyder, MFBF chief administrator, brought home more than a smashed in,” Missling said. “My billy goat was banging his head mess of fish from a trip to northern Minnesota in 1967. While on the against the barn wall to relieve the pressure in his head. It was a few trip he had asked Bill Matlimaki, director of the University of
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Minnesota Northwest Experiment told President Hempstead that Vern wasn’t working hard enough. Station for names of individuals who Ken said that he needed to take Vern out behind the wood shed after might serve as MFBF’s legislative work. If Vern quit, so be it. If he stayed, he would be a better, harder director. LaVerne Ingvalson’s name working employee. was on the list, and the rest is history. “He chewed me out for about an hour,” said Vern. “I was Vern grew up on a farm in Mower bleeding.” He knew the confrontation was needed, and his success County. His parents, Nels and Levena representing Farm Bureau in the legislature is proof that he heeded Ingvalson, were active in the county the admonition. Farm Bureau, and Levena was active Life during the legislative sessions could be grueling, and Vern in the Women’s Committee. Vern’s was glad to see the day end. He said he behaved a bit too college education was interrupted aggressively a couple times because he was kicked out of a when he enlisted in the U.S. Air representative and a senator’s office. Ken said Vern was just doing Force during the Korean War. He his job, but Vern returned to those legislators and apologized for married Marlene during a military being too harsh. During the legislative sessions, Vern said he would leave a few months before he was Sandy Lengsfeld was on lose eight pounds running around the capitol, and his brief case was assigned duty at Kadena Air Force the MFBF staff. his office. Base in Okinawa for 18 months. He received Farm Bureau’s highest honor, the Distinguished After completing his four years in the air force, Vern earned a degree Service to Agriculture Award, at the MFBF annual meeting when he in agriculture education at the University of Minnesota. He taught retired in 1994. On Dec. 15, over 200 friends, relatives and vocational agriculture in Wadena one year before being hired by the coworkers attended his retirement party. Earlier that year on May 5, Minnesota Power & Light Company as a farm consultant in the the Minnesota House of Representatives approved a resolution Little Falls area. commending Vern for the 27 years he represented Farm Bureau at Learning about the position over a weekend with Ken set Vern and the Capitol. Reps. Edgar Olson and Jim Girard authored the Marlene’s heads spinning, but he accepted the offer. They bought a resolution applauding Vern for his honesty, integrity and diligence in home less than a mile from the Federation office, and Vern often communicating Farm Bureau policy to legislators. walked to work. In his written memoirs, Vern commented that his After his retirement, Vern and his wife Marlene hosted Farm “previous work as a teacher and as a farm consultant was not nearly Bureau tours for several years. Hundreds of Farm Bureau folks as intense and challenging as [his] new work as a lobbyist.” enjoyed the international trips to Switzerland, Hungary, Austria and He had been on the job about three months when his boss, Ken, Bavaria (1995); New Zealand and Australia (1997); Norway, Sweden
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and Denmark (1998); England, just as Vern did. Howard’s dad Scotland, Ireland and Wales was a buttermaker in Brainerd (1999); and Switzerland, France when Howard was born, but and Germany (2000). Because of his dad went into farming Vern’s health the last trip was in when Howard was seven 2003 to Alaska. years old and moved the Mrs. Gwen Robertson, Lac qui family to the country. In high Parle County, was one of 46 school Howard participated in Farm Bureau members to tour FFA and was elected chapter Scandinavia in 1998. She president, district treasurer reported that the trip was one of and state vice president. He the most successful and popular was the first member of his for Farm Bureau members, who local chapter to be awarded traveled across fjords, visited the State Farmer degree. goat farmers and toured historic “I had all intentions of places. The following year 27 being a farmer,” he said. He Farm Bureau members toured the also considered becoming a British Isles for two weeks. They county agent, but his saw farms, castles, cathedrals and background in agriculture famous stone walls, but the Vern and Marlene Ingvalson led this group of Farm Bureau ultimately led him to Farm highlight of the trip was touring members to Switzerland, Germany and France in 2000. Bureau. Prior to being hired the Rolls Royce factory in by the MFBF, Howard was an Scotland. Dorothy Herrmann, insurance agent in Crow Wing McLeod County, traveled on several of the Farm Bureau tours. She County and Morrison County beginning in 1958. summarized the two week tours by saying, “Traveling with Farm “Because I’m a people person, I preferred the Federation,” he said. Bureau is tough work. We are kept busy most all of the time and Howard was hired as fieldman for southwestern Minnesota in 1962 there is a limited amount of time to rest.” when farm activism was at its peak. “There were confrontations Howard Handeland’s years with Farm Bureau nearly parallel those between farmers, sickles pulled across roads, things like that. Our of Vern, and he came to the MFBF office from northern Minnesota people were harassed, but they stood their ground,” Howard
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he began, and his efforts in that area paid off. “We put our total efforts into membership. What made it successful was that we tied policy development in with membership. We had a lot of fun with membership contests in those days,” he said at his retirement party in Howard Handeland and his wife Delores 1990. State membership enjoy Howard’s surprise birthday party grew from 29,083 in and celebration of his 25 years with 1969 to 37,195 in 1978. Farm Bureau in 1987. “That was a great time.” Howard believed in showing appreciation to people for their efforts to demonstrate that “there is a fun side of Farm Bureau,” and 1993 official MFBF staff photo. (left to right) Back: John Berg, Chris Radatz, Al Bussa, DelRay Johnson. Middle: Robin he applied that principle working with membership chairs when he Kinney, Nancy Petschl, Patty Blankenship, Donna Tornell. instituted a fishing trip for all who made quota. The first year’s trip Front: Vern Ingvalson, Don Houghton, Jerry Hagaman, Brad was to Lake of the Woods. A man from Houston County said he Lechtenberg and Ken Vrchota. drove 500 miles to go fishing, and he wasn’t even a fisherman. One year Howard leased a lodge on Leech Lake and had so many who remembered. He and his wife Delores lived in Windom while he made their membership goal that he didn’t have enough rooms worked with the 19 counties in District III until 1968 when he was reserved. named MFBF director of member development. Later his He took the field staff to the lodge the day before so they could responsibilities also included directing the field staff. catch enough fish for a fish fry the first night. In an effort to soften “I loved what I was doing,” Howard said of his Farm Bureau the news that some of the men would have to share a room, he told experiences. The Federation was struggling with membership when them a humorous fish story before giving them the bad news.
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Another successful incentive was awarding bogus encompassed grain, canning crops and a 400-sow, bucks for meeting goals. At the completion of the farrow-to-finish unit. Their century farm was being run incentive period, Howard supervised auctions in each MFBFacts by several sixth generation family members. district and had maybe 50 items at each auction. He Sixteen farm “It was great fun doing this competition with my remembers a scoop shovel selling for $75,000 (bogus families wife—we’re a great team,” said Paul. “I think Farm bucks) at one auction. affected by Bureau is a great organization for taking ordinary Convinced that the Federation needed trained leaders, 1997 floods farmers and training them to be agricultural leaders for he instituted a county president training program. received tomorrow.” Howard also coordinated the YF&R and women’s The Zimmermans’ activities and recognitions weren’t programs and was in charge of the farm records program $1,000 limited to Farm Bureau. In 1998, the family received the for a number of years. He experienced the advent of scholarships Environmental Steward Award during the National Pork computer bookkeeping systems for office secretaries and from MFBF. Producers Council’s annual legislative seminar. The conducted annual training sessions for office workers. award was sponsored by the National Pork Producers Howard’s grandfather, who was a Farm Bureau member, gave him Council, the National Pork Board and National Hog Farmer a piece of advice that he never forgot: whatever you decide to do in magazine. That same year they were one of the four outstanding life, do it with vigor and enthusiasm. That attitude shaped Howard’s farm families recognized by the Jaycees in their Outstanding Young personality and demonstrated itself many times at the Minnesota Farmer program. Farm Bureau. “I’m very glad I worked for Farm Bureau. I like the Andrea wrote about being a farm wife from the wife’s perspective people and the organization. I don’t know anything else I would for the September 1999 News. She was a city girl warned by her have enjoyed more,” he said when he retired in 1990. mother to never marry a farmer. Obviously, the advice wasn’t Paul and Andrea Zimmerman’s participation in YF&R resulted in heeded, and she gradually learned about farming and became a voice their receiving recognition several times, starting in January 1993 for agriculture. when Paul advanced to the Final Four of the Discussion Meet at the I was the epitome of the non-farm wife. I did not understand the AFBF annual meeting in Anaheim, California. Paul enjoyed meeting farm family working relationship. My college training tended toward young farmers from across the country, and he came home feeling the business views of mission statements, quarterly reviews and so more positive about agriculture and the future it holds for young forth, rather than the traditional “This is the way it has always been farmers. done” mentality. Blissfully, (as in ignorance is bliss) I left all farm Then in 1996, Paul and Andrea won the MFBF YF&R concerns to my husband. Achievement Award. At that time, their diversified farm However, when Paul started to get involved in Farm Bureau, our
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area program director, Robin Kinney, was not training in the military has been helpful to him content to let me sit on the sidelines. She in agribusiness. would call and talk to me, not just Paul, she MFBF’s first fundraising golf tournament was introduced me at meetings along with Paul, in 1998, and since then, thousands of dollars she put my name on agendas next to Paul’s, have been donated as a result of the summer she asked my opinions on issues, she informed tournament. The Minnesota Farm Bureau me of events and, in general, made me feel Foundation depends on Farm Bureau members very included and welcome. My agricultural and friends to provide funding for projects like education had begun. … For the first time I 4-H, FFA and scholarships for students in an ag- felt that I had something to contribute. … related major. What better way to donate money I still do not work on the farm and I tell my for these worthy causes and have fun doing it story for a number of reasons. First, Robin than by swinging a golf club on a manicured Aldean Luthi encourages a bidder to Kinney and Farm Bureau cared enough to green in the middle of the summer. raise the last bid at the Foundation educate a city girl about farming practices. It Auction. Every Farm Bureau member can participate in can be done! Second, I now see the value of another Foundation fundraising activity because tradition and the history of “It’s always been done this way” all a member needs is an auction number and a checkbook. The mentality as well as the role of farming in a smaller and more Foundation Auction, begun in 1993, had been a fundraising project competitive global marketplace. Third, my husband and I have of the Stevens County Farm Bureau. Aldean Luthi and Doug Wulf grown closer. I can coherently discuss basis margins, markets, pigs auctioned about 20 donated items for Stevens County Farm Bureau’s per sow per year and many other facts. Fourth, my commitment to first fundraiser auction in 1983. farming is complete. I will encourage my children to stay in Paul Stark, District IV MFBF board member, was the county agriculture. I am proud of our farm. I am thrilled to be part of such president when county members decided to sponsor an auction at the a giving profession. 75th annual MFBF meeting. Each county was asked to donate an Today Paul and Andrea farm 1,800 acres with his brother and run item valued at $75 for the auction. Three auctioneers, Doug Wulf a farrow-to-weaning hog operation. In January Paul retired as a and Mike Schmidgall from Stevens County, and world champion colonel from the Army National Guard after serving for more than auctioneer Dick Houghton, were assisted by the Stevens County 20 years. Three of the last four years he was in the Middle East— board of directors. When Gil Gutchneckt was elected 1st District two years in Iraq and one in Kosovo. Paul said that YF&R U.S. Representative, he took over some of the auctioneering leadership training was beneficial in the military, just as leadership responsibilities.
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The auction grew until it became a major event center can look out the boardroom or lunchroom of the annual meeting. It provides a time after the windows on the west side of the building and enjoy the banquet for members and MFBF employees to let serene view of tall grasses waving on the sloping their hair down and have fun. The “lucky” ones grounds to Lake Lamay, which is surrounded by trees. are able to take a treasure home with them from Raspberry bushes near the back patio provide a tasty the auction to remind them of Farm Bureau, and treat in the summer. funds are raised for Foundation projects. In April 1998, Wayne Edgerton, Department of The Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation and the Natural Resources agricultural policy director, and Tom Minnesota Farm Bureau Financial Services offices Wenzel, vice president of the Minnesota Waterfowl needed more space, so ground was broken at the Association, presented and hung a wood duck house present site at 3080 Eagandale Place in Eagan on outside the Farm Bureau center. July 1, 1996. The Federation and financial services “We thought this would be a really neat place for a moved into the new building in February 1997, wood duck house as we enhance our natural resource and nearly 250 Farm Bureau members, Farm opportunities in the metropolitan area,” said Edgerton. Bureau insurance managers and career agents, “This gives us a chance to celebrate the new building agricultural leaders, government officials and and take advantage of the natural habitat by your Eagan business people attended the open house on building and the excellent nesting area that the lake Aug. 12. The headline in the September Voice This rock, which sits in the offers.” read, “Celebrating a Proud History and Bright lobby of the MFBF Eagan December 1999 was not only the end of the year and Future at the Farm Bureau Center Open House.” office, was donated to the of the decade, but it was also the end of a century as Participants in the ribbon-cutting ceremony and office by President well as the end of a millennium. Thanks to medical dedication program included Al Christopherson, Christopherson after he science and electronic technology, life for those MFBF president; MFBF board of directors; Gene made the top bid at a entering the new century would be greatly improved Hugoson, Minnesota Department of Agriculture Foundation auction. Linda over those living at the beginning of the century. commissioner and Martin County Farm Bureau Wenzel represents Rock Scientific and technological advances had contributed member; Tom Gibson, chief executive officer of County Farm Bureau, to an agriculture industry that would boggle the minds Farm Bureau Financial Services; the Eagan which donated the rock. of the founders of the Minnesota Farm Bureau. The Ambassadors; and emcee Tom Rothman, farm roots of Farm Bureau were deep and firmly established, director of the Minnesota Farm Network. ready for the challenges of a new century. Visitors and employees at the new Farm Bureau
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The Minnesota Farm Bureau has flourished since it sent out its first roots in 1918. Having weathered a variety of challenges in its first 90 years, the Federation, with its established root system and effective programs, will continue Cultivating a to weather challenges as it presses on to the century mark of its existence. This organization cannot be satisfied with what was accomplished in the past, but it New Crop must continue to aggressively meet challenges in the future. Throughout the history of the Federation, some local Farm Bureau leaders took 2000-2008 the next step in leadership and were elected to positions at various levels of government. While those achievements are commendable, Farm Bureau’s effectiveness still depends on local participation. The Federation has risen to its high level of influence because of its grassroots members. One former Carver County Farm Bureau couple who has had an influence on thousands without ever leaving their dairy farm illustrates two extremes of active participation in Farm Bureau. “We’ve never been super active in Farm Bureau,” admits Steve Molnau. “We milked cows. I was the guy that stayed home, and she [Carol] was the one to get involved.” Steve chose to limit his leadership activities to the local level, but Carol Molnau expanded her sphere of influence. After serving one term on the Chaska City Council, Carol spent 10 years in the Minnesota House of Representatives, and today she serves as lieutenant governor of Minnesota since taking office in 2003. Working along side her dairy farmer husband, she practiced the strong work ethic instilled in her as a child. That work prepared her to meet the challenges she faced as Minnesota Department of Transportation commissioner, and continues to face as lieutenant governor. “She’s a farm girl. She couldn’t sit and do nothing,” said Steve. “When Carol was a legislator, she would be up at 4:30 a.m. to feed calves and breed cows.” Carol adds, “I was the only one in the legislature with haylage in my hair.” Chapter Ten
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Steve and the lieutenant governor’s 600 to 700-acre Carver County While the Molnaus were quietly promoting agriculture in the farm had a unique location in the center of the city of Chaska. center of Chaska, others were appreciating their efforts. In 1985, Gradually, development ate up the land they farmed, so in 2001 they Steve and Carol, along with their three daughters—Heather, Kristen relocated to their current farm near Lafayette in Nicollet County. and Megan—received the first Minnesota All-American Farm They were the last farmers to leave their area in Chaska. Family Award, co-sponsored by The Farmer and FarmFest. As Steve put it, “The farmland left before we did.” Carver County extension agent Vernon Oraskovich, who Steve pioneered in rotational grazing for his dairy herd. The “city” nominated the Molnau family for the award, was quoted in the July neighbors liked to look out their windows and watch the Guernsey 1985 Voice. “If every family did what the Molnaus do, farming cows grazing. The Molnaus were conscious of their non-agricultural wouldn’t have negative images in urban areas.” neighbors and tried to be good neighbors—they even cleaned up At that time, Steve and his wife were active in 4-H, FFA and the behind the tractor and spreader after they had carried natural East Central Guernsey Breeders Association. Steve was a director of fertilizer from the barns to the fields. the Carver County fair board and the Dairy Herd Improvement The Molnau’s farm location made it ideal for providing on-the- Association, and a past director for St. John’s School, the county farm tours to promote not only their farm, but farming in general. American Dairy Association and for the east-central Guernsey group. Hundreds of visitors, from school children to foreign dignitaries, Carol had been the American Dairy Association secretary and signed the family guestbook each year. Some of the city school treasurer, county Home Council Study Group secretary, Rural Family children had never been out of the city and knew absolutely nothing Stress Force member, local softball coach, tug-of-war team member about farming. One inner city school group was surprised to learn and former World Professional Arm Wrestling Association that the farm had electricity and telephones. champion. A number of international visitors also learned about Minnesota The same Voice story quoted our future lieutenant governor: “My agriculture on the Molnau farm. One time a vice premier of idea of relaxation is to haul hay all day and then go play tennis at education from China visited to see soybeans harvested. A few years night. I like to fall into bed totally exhausted.” later Carol met the man again while on a trade mission to China. She credits the work ethic of being a farmer for empowering her in President Mikhail Gorbachev was once scheduled to visit their her political career. Being a dairy farmer for 26 years in the farm, but after both American and Soviet officials had approved the metropolitan area, she learned that farmers have to get involved. She meeting, the Secret Service cancelled the visit because of road also learned that farmers look for solutions. For example, if rain is construction, which presented a security problem. Even though the on the way and the baler shears a pin, that farmer looks for an tour was cancelled, the Molnaus were invited to the governor’s immediate solution so he can finish baling before the storm hits. mansion with Gov. Perpich in appreciation of their efforts. These two concepts have been both helpful and frustrating as she
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works in of the many current Farm government. Bureau leaders who have When freshman followed their parents’ and Rep. Molnau grandparents’ leadership roles. received her desk Ron has worked on the assignment on the Promotion and Education House floor, she Committee, serving as the chair met another in 2002. Clifton and Lea Pagel, freshman Ron’s parents, have been active representative, in Farm Bureau for more than Tim Pawlenty, 50 years. Clifton began who occupied the attending Marion Township desk next to hers. (Olmsted County) Farm Bureau YF&R conference participants role played on It seems meetings with his dad, who was the floor of the House of Representatives providential that a instrumental in organizing the early in this decade. Brian and Marytina rural farm wife Goodhue County Farm Bureau Lawrence, front row, found seats at Rep. Pawlenty and Rep. Molnau’s desks. found herself in 1923. Clifton remembers one seated next to an meeting when the speaker was urban attorney, Myron W. Clark, who was the since they now lead Minnesota’s state government as lieutenant Olmsted County Farm Bureau governor and governor. president a number of years, and Farm Bureau’s adopt-a-legislator program is an excellent way for who later became commissioner urban legislators to be educated about agriculture, but having county of the Minnesota Department of members meet with their adopted lawmaker during a “Day on the Agriculture. Steve and Carol Molnau judge a Hill” isn’t enough. Carol believes that counties need to get those Clifton held his first elected commodity contest for the legislators out of St. Paul and onto the working farms. Farmers need office at the age of 18 when he Carver County Farm Bureau. to spend the day with them so the legislators can leave with a better was elected chairman of the understanding of the role agriculture plays in our state economy. Marion Township Farm Bureau. Ron Pagel, Olmsted County Farm Bureau president, is an example Dues were $5 at that time. In 1961, the Pagels moved to Eyota
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Conference attendees (top) learn how to use “I Spy a Hazard,” the safety trailer display that shows hazardous spots on the typical farm site.
Bottom left, Ron Pagel was intent on his construction using miniature marshmallows and spaghetti while Lary Michaletz was ready to assist Ron.
Bottom right, Garfield Eckberg and Dave Weinand were challenged to build with a toddler’s construction set.
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Township, where he was township chair as well as a help to him. member of the Olmsted County board of directors. He The best part about the discussion meet was that it also served as secretary, vice president and president of MFBFacts was focused on solving problems and working together. the Olmsted County board and represented District I on One acre It was a discussion and not a debate. The skills I learned the MFBF board of directors from 1985 to 1991. Clifton produces have been extremely beneficial for serving in the served on the Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance board a 37,000 Minnesota House of Representatives because I learned few years, and his wife Lea served on the Women’s pounds of to listen to others’ ideas and to respect their Committee for many years. potatoes or contributions to the discussion. Also, I can’t place a Farm Bureau is dependent on its strong leaders on all 11,600 value on the friendships and subsequently the contacts levels in the organization as well as outside the pounds of that I made through Farm Bureau. In life you soon learn organization. Often those leaders start their leadership sweet corn. that you don’t know everything, and I am grateful to training in the YF&R program. Rod Hamilton, have access to people with different experiences and Cottonwood County, represents those who employ their backgrounds. And they are just a phone call away. leadership skills outside the organization. Rod joined Farm Bureau Rep. Hamilton was severely censured by his Republican Party when he was invited to participate in the YF&R Discussion Meet. during the 2008 legislative session for breaking from party policy “After reviewing the policy book, it didn’t take long to decide that and voting with the Democrats on a transportation bill that Farm I would like to be affiliated with Farm Bureau,” he recalled. “But I Bureau had worked hard to promote among legislators. Rep. wasn’t quite sure about participating in the discussion meet. It Hamilton listened to people in his district and to farmers across the sounded a little intimidating. I was assured that I would have a lot of state concerning the transportation issue. He credits his experience in fun and meet many great people.” Farm Bureau for preparing him for the awkward circumstance he In 2001, the second time he entered the meet, his discussion skills found himself in last spring. won him first place. The prize for winning the discussion meet All the training I received with Farm Bureau was really applied included a trip to Washington, D.C. for Rod and his wife with the when I broke away from my party and voted to override the YF&R. It was his first trip to the nation’s Capitol, and he appreciated governor’s transportation bill veto. I did my due diligence to being able to have his wife accompany him. understand the issue, worked with members in the majority party to Rod, a contract finisher of hogs, has been able to use the skills he make changes in the bill that farm groups and others couldn’t learned in Farm Bureau as he debates issues in the state legislature. support, updated everyone of my intentions so there weren’t any He was elected to represent House District 22B in 2004. Rep. surprises, gathered support from multiple groups who publicly Hamilton affirms that the YF&R program was a tremendous stated their support and then stayed true to my word by doing
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Rod Hamilton (second from right) won Rep. Hamilton mentors the next Rep. Hamilton meets with Farm Bureau the 2001 Discussion Meet over his generation of leaders at the 2008 constituents from Nobles County and opponents (from left) Jeff Eickoff, Red, White and You Conference. Cottonwood County. Fillmore County; Pete Bakken, Rock County; and Joel Mathowitz, Redwood County.
what I said I was going to do. senator, “Even though we disagreed on most of the political issues, The representative also learned to be professional and to treat we still have something in common. I also have multiple sclerosis.” people with respect even if they disagreed with him. He recalled Sen. Wellstone responded with a smile, “I knew there was visiting with the late U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone during his YF&R trip something I liked about you.” to Washington. It was obvious that the two disagreed on topics they To the Hamiltons, that conversation illustrates the important discussed, but the future representative and his wife stayed back a principle of building relationships and articulating in a professional moment when the group was leaving so that he could say to his manner.
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Bryan Boll, 2002 MFBF YF&R marketing and distribution. He Discussion Meet winner and West One U.S. farmer provides is also responsible for the Polk County Farm Bureau MFBFacts enough food for 144 people calving and maintenance of the member, was among 10 worldwide. cattle operation. outstanding young agricultural Jennifer Russell, Washington leaders selected from across the United States in 2003 for the first County’s discussion meet contestant in 2005, not only won the Partners in Agricultural Leadership (PAL) honors program. Altria MFBF competition, but also went on to win the AFBF competition Corporate Services, Inc. and the American Farm Bureau Federation in Nashville, Tennessee. Her prize was a 2006 Dodge Ram 2500 SLT developed PAL after the AFBF recognized a need for trained Quad Cab 4X4 pickup with a 5.7 HEMI Magnum engine and a paid spokespersons and advanced leadership training that would capitalize registration to the 2006 YF&R Leadership Conference in Des on the enthusiasm of its YF&R program. Moines, Iowa. Upon completion of the PAL program, Bryan observed, “This Jennifer was the recruiter/career counselor for the Agricultural and experience opened my eyes to how the agricultural community needs Food Science to speak up about our industry and how many forces are working Academy in Vadnais both for and against agriculture. We need to exercise our voice and Heights and then speak our opinion, or we will not be heard.” He and his wife Melissa worked for the farm 1,000 acres of sugarbeets, wheat, soybeans and edible beans Minnesota Farm with his father. Bryan also has a commercial trucking operation. and Food Coalition The MFBF introduced the Excellence in Agriculture Award for as the animal YF&R members in 2004. Started by the AFBF a year earlier, the specialist. She and program recognizes young farmers while they actively contribute to her family currently the agriculture industry and build their leadership skills through live in Wisconsin. involvement in Farm Bureau and their community. Another Bryan Lawrence, Sherburne County, was the first Minnesota leadership program young farmer to receive the award in 2005. He then competed at the that began in 2007 AFBF annual meeting and earned fourth place. Bryan and his wife was the Farm A representative from Dodge trucks gives Marytina are involved in a turf grass and cow/calf operation. Bryan Bureau Leadership Jennifer the keys to her new truck after works with sod ground where he facilitates management of Experience. This winning the 2006 AFBF Discussion Meet. employees, the decisions encompassing seeding through harvest, multi-state program
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aims to build critical leadership skills in witnessed history being made when they emerging county Farm Bureau leaders, attended their scheduled Day on the Hill develop a network of farmers from on March 6, 2002. The biodiesel participating states and broaden mandate was being debated in participants perspective on the future of conference committee that day. When the agriculture. Graduates of this program bill passed, Minnesota became the first include: Ron Nelson of Chisago County, state in the nation to mandate the use of Julie Becker of Martin County, Nathan biodiesel. Implemented Sept. 29, 2005, Nelson of Pine County, Nathan Collins of the mandate meant that all diesel fuel Swift County, Dan Kuhns and Dan Traxler would be a 2 percent biodiesel blend. of Waseca County and Amy Anderson of Day on the Hill for Steele County in Washington-Ramsey County. 2000 may not have been as momentous, Some legislative issues take several but the five Owatonna Chapter FFA years to resolve. The bill written to remove members accompanying Farm Bureau all but the house, garage and one acre from President Christopherson and other Farm member Gary Joachim enjoyed their day Bureau members worked with Gov. Pawlenty property tax roles for school operating and were glad for the opportunity to see for the passage of the ethanol bill. referendums finally passed in a special government in action. session on June 28, 2001, after being When the Promotion and Education debated for several years. Committee merged with the Minnesota MFBF President Christopherson responded to the new law by Farm Bureau Foundation in 2002, Yvonne Erickson, West Otter Tail saying, “Farm Bureau members have spent countless hours stressing County Farm Bureau member who co-chaired the new committee, with legislators the need to change how we fund K-12 education in wrote about the resulting changes in the November 2003 Voice. Minnesota.” He went on to say, “Farm Bureau members’ policy has “Thinking outside the box” has been the challenge for the prevailed at the legislature this session. We are very pleased with Promotion and Education and Foundation Committees this past year. actions taken by the governor and legislators in regards to reforming The two committees were combined into one and the P&E name was Minnesota’s property tax system. We want to thank the governor and retained. Sander Ludeman and I agreed the chair position should be legislators who supported and worked for passage of Farm Bureau’s co-chaired this year. Suddenly the agenda grew several items longer. position on property tax reform and education funding.” P&E members had to think about investments, fundraising and Over 200 southwestern and south central Farm Bureau members distribution of funds that provide funding for many activities.
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• The MFBF and county Farm Bureaus support the CHS On average, one out of every Miracle of Birth Center and FFA Chapter House at the MFBFacts six rows of corn in Minn. is Minnesota State Fair. used for ethanol production. • The MFBF recognizes the FFA “Advisor of the Year” and sponsors the Minnesota Association of Agricultural Foundation members were now thinking about promoting and Educators “Young Educator of the Year.” education, the end use of the funds they raised. Two Farm Bureau honorary life members, Harold Ogburn from Challenges lead to accomplishments. The P&E Committee Faribault County members are now focusing more on the districts they and Erna (Orville) represent. … One tool developed was the newsletter “Farm Rolfing from to Fork,” targeting those involved in promotion and Yellow Medicine education on the county level. County, showed One of the first major accomplishments of the newly their appreciation structured P&E Committee was equipping a second safety for Farm Bureau trailer filled with safety demonstration materials for use in 2001 when they around the state at safety camps and school demonstrations. contributed items The Minnesota FFA Foundation, a recipient of Foundation they had made for funds, recognized the MFBF for 50 years of support at the the Foundation Minnesota FFA Convention in 2004. The MFBF continues to auction. Harold invest in the FFA because future agricultural industry leaders donated three and future Farm Bureau members will come from the youth crosses and a lefse organization. A few of the ways Farm Bureau cooperates turning stick he with FFA are listed here: made using oak • FFA state and regional officers serve as timekeepers for District 22 Sen. Jim Vickerman talks with Farm woodwork he YF&R discussion meets. Bureau members from his southwestern salvaged when his • MFBF YF&R committee and the MFB Foundation Minnesota district during their Day on the Hill visit. church was torn committees sponsor the Minnesota FFA Discussion Meet. Metropolitan Sen. Charles Wiger, standing left of down. Erna made • The MFBF has a representative on the Minnesota FFA Sen. Vickerman, joined the group to hear about issues from rural Minnesota. a quilt using more Foundation board of directors and provides assistance to than 2,000 pieces. state FFA contests.
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Items on the design included 16 tractors, 16 farm animals, four desiring to use them. The MFBF PAC may also promote or oppose a barns, four hearts and other small objects. state ballot question based on Farm Bureau farmer member- Another MFBF innovation that had been hotly debated for many established policy. The committee consists of 14 members, two from years was the question of forming a political action committee each MFBF board district. (PAC), a tool for screening and endorsing political candidates. A Food Check-out Day was started by the AFBF in the 1990s as a resolution at the 1987 annual meeting raised the issue of PACs and a means of communicating to consumers how inexpensive America’s survey mailed to Minnesota’s Farm Bureau members revealed that food is, and counties throughout the state have developed special members were evenly divided on the issue. One concern voiced at promotions to communicate that message. Under the leadership of the Mid-Year Leadership Conference in St. Cloud in 1988 was Linda Wenzel, the Rock County Farm Bureau P&E committee whether a nonpartisan organization could continue to work with stretched its promotion over several days in 2000. On Monday, they lawmakers in both parties if the organization began endorsing delivered Food Check-Out Day stickers and information to three candidates. Vice local banks, two grocery stores, a radio station and President Luverne city employees. Christopherson On Tuesday one Farm Bureau member was responded to that interviewed on the local radio station. Listeners learned concern by what Food Check-Out Day was all about, and they were encouraging members encouraged to visit a participating merchant on to express their Wednesday for more information. They were also opinion at their county encouraged to donate to the local food shelf. policy development “We felt this could be our way of supporting the meeting. The subject community and also thanking the producer for our safe, of PACs kept surfacing affordable food source,” Linda said. in county resolutions Members set up displays in the three banks and two in the following years, grocery stores on Wednesday. and at the 2005 annual “We took a brown paper bag and taped a list of the meeting delegates groceries that were in the bag to it as well as what that voted in favor of A booth at the MFBF annual meeting explains how the bag of groceries would cost in the United States, France, making PACs newly formed MFBF PAC will work for Farm Bureau and Japan,” wrote Linda for the Voice. Volunteers handed members. available to counties out stickers and food fact cards from the MFBF, and
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shoppers registered for six $10 grocery certificates donated by the brought a piglet to school. stores and for six t-shirts with the slogan “Agriculture, It’s County fairs are an ideal place to promote the agricultural industry Everybody’s Business” donated by the Rock County Farm Bureau. to the consumer, and individual counties have their own means of An additional display, including a small Christmas tree lit proclaiming the message. The Mower County Farm Bureau holds an with corn, cow, pig and horse lights and decorated with farm animal Ag Olympics competition at its fair in Austin. In 2004 participants ornaments, was set up in the elementary school library. Children carried a pail of corn with them as they completed several received Food Check-Out Day information and stickers. The display agricultural tasks and finished the competition by chugging a pint of stayed for several days, and the principal sent notes home to parents milk. Cash prizes were awarded to the top male and female in three explaining the display and encouraging them to contribute to the age groups. The Arrowhead Regional Farm Bureau drew a crowd of food shelf. over 200 people for The Barnyard Olympics at the Centennial Itasca Not only were several boxes of food collected, but the local County Fair in 2006. newspaper did a feature story on one of the classes participating in AFBF President Bob Stallman was the guest speaker at the Farm the Food Check-Out Day program. Bureau multi-county spring banquet in Mankato in the spring of Le Sueur County Farm Bureau members David and Karen Richter 2005. He addressed nearly 400 Farm Bureau members on the topic promoted agriculture in the spring of 2000 when they hosted 170 “Future Challenges to American Agriculture.” In his address kindergarten and sixth graders on their hog and crop farm. According President Stallman said, “By anticipating the trends for the future, to the June 2000 Voice, Robin Kinney, south central area program we do have the opportunity as an industry to create our own vision. director, several Montgomery-Lonsdale FFA members, and Connie And afterward, we must communicate that vision in a manner that and Judy Loewe of the county Pork Producers Association helped transcends our societal boundaries and builds a base of with the event. Students went home with literature from the Farm understanding and support with all Americans. It won’t be easy, but I Bureau, the Minnesota Pork Producers, the Minnesota Soybean have confidence America’s producers are up to the task.” Growers Association, the National Farm-City Council and the Le President Stallman and MFBF President Christopherson met with Sueur County Extension Service. county presidents and Minnesota commodity and industry leaders The Richters also developed an Adopt-a-Pig program for before the banquet. The event was sponsored by the following Montgomery-Lonsdale kindergarten classes. They videotaped a litter county Farm Bureaus: Blue Earth County, Brown County, of piglets at intervals as they grew and moved to the nursery and Cottonwood County, Faribault County, Le Sueur County, Martin finishing barn. Included in the video were scenes of their farm, fall County, Nicollet County, Rice County, Sibley County and Watonwan harvest, winter snow removal and grain handling. When the County. kindergarteners reached the letter “p” in the alphabet, the family The 2005 MFBF annual meeting marked the end of an era, for
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President Al Christopherson retired Diane did the spring and fall after 30 years as an MFBF leader. tillage, and Al did the planting and He had been a state board member harvesting. She fed and cared for the since 1974 and in 1978 he assumed hogs when Al traveled or was in the the vice presidency, which he held field, but they made farm decisions until accepting the presidency when together. Merlyn Lokensgard retired because Kevin Paap stepped up to the of poor health. MFBF presidency after serving as “When I was elected, I wanted to vice president of the Federation. give everything I had for the Knowing that the vice president often betterment of the Minnesota Farm moves into the presidency, the Bureau and to Minnesota decision to seek the vice presidency agriculture. I think the time is right occurred after much thought. Kevin for me to step down; I will miss the remembers asking AFBF President people the most, both the staff and Kleckner “a lot of hard questions” our Farm Bureau members,” when the two worked together on President Christopherson said. He Both MFBF President Christopherson and AFBF Blue Earth County’s 1996 still serves on several state and President Kleckner assisted in Blue Earth County’s 1996 membership drive. Kevin was elected national committees. membership drive. vice president at the 1997 annual An article in the October 1999 meeting. Voice featured Diane Christopherson, President Christopherson’s President Paap is a strong voice on agriculture issues and promotes supportive wife who kept the farm running when her husband was the agriculture industry. He recalls one Day on the Hill when he was away on Farm Bureau business. The article described her as “a fine scheduled to testify at a committee hearing. The hearing room was example of how United States farm women adapt to change in filled with Farm Bureau’s grassroots members who had met with agriculture and find satisfaction in partnering in a successful farm their legislators. business.” “I never got to testify, but I didn’t need to because we had the “I believe in being committed to what you do and doing the best grassroots there,” he said with pride. President Paap believes that you can. Put your emphasis on that and don’t sweat the small stuff,” Farm Bureau will continue to do what it’s done for the last 90 years. she said. “That’s what gives us our strength.”
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Farm Bureau often serves as a training ground for volunteers and harsh as it may sound, I believe that in employees. After volunteers develop leadership skills or employees order to survive in the new agricultural MFBFacts put into practice skills they learned in their training, they may move environment, producers will need to stop on to positions in other state Farm Bureaus, the AFBF, the thinking of themselves as “independent Today agriculture industry or in government jobs. Gene Hugoson was family farmers” and start thinking of Minnesota has appointed commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture themselves as “interdependent farm more trees than by Gov. Arnie Carlson in 1995. He continued to serve under Gov. families.” it had 70 years Jesse Ventura and he continues to serve under Gov. Tim Pawlenty. At We also need to realize that the days ago. the time of his appointment, he was a Martin County Farm Bureau are gone for producing what we want to member serving his fifth term in the legislature. Gov. Carlson, when produce when we want to produce it. announcing his choice for commissioner stated, “I chose Gene to be Just as many other industries have adopted “just in time” supply the state’s next agriculture commissioner because he is a leader in practices, in the 21st century producers must get to know their the agriculture community, he knows the legislative process, he is customers and learn the farm products they want.” extremely hard-working and he has a strong vision for keeping In 1981 Howard Handeland summarized the history and structure Minnesota agriculture profitable and sustainable well into the next of Farm Bureau. He cited the Federation’s success in recommending century.” and obtaining legislation favorable to agriculture and listed five That next century is now eight years old, and Commissioner reasons for that success: Hugoson is still working hard for Minnesota’s farmers. Because of • Policies are formed and adopted by his confidence in Farm Bureau, he looked to the Federation when he the membership. needed to fill vacancies in his office staff. Joe Martin and Robin • The organization is one of more than Kinney left their positions with the Farm Bureau to fill positions in 2,800 county Farm Bureaus in the the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Their expertise now U.S., which makes it possible for the reaches a wide audience as they assist Commissioner Hugoson in farmer members to directly participate. overseeing and protecting Minnesota’s agriculture industry. • Farm Bureau does not oppose, or criticize, without proposing an In his “Department of Agriculture” column in the March 2000 alternative or solution. Voice, Commissioner Hugoson discussed the future of agriculture in • The Federation enlists the aid of farm leaders throughout the the new century. nation and in the states in efforts to solve common problems. One key change in the production sector that needs to be • Farm Bureau operates upon the majority decisions of its recognized is the shift from independence to interdependence. As membership as members arrive at decisions in their own county
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annual meetings, through their number of farmers for their food, elected voting delegates at their Minnesota’s 79,300 farms fuel and fiber. state annual meetings and MFBFacts occupy 51 percent of the The American Farm Bureau through the voting delegates of state’s total land area. Federation was one of the first the states at the national large national organizations to conventions. adopt the book Sturgis Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure Howard saw these points demonstrated as he studied Farm by Alice Sturgis. The author, a widely recognized parliamentarian Bureau’s history and observed the organization through the eyes of a and authority on voluntary organizations, was interested in learning staff member for many years. The points represent the strong roots what made the AFBF so effective. Fifty years ago she published her that enabled Farm Bureau to grow into a strong, productive findings in Your Farm Bureau. Her concluding comments in that organization and will keep it strong in the 21st century. book still apply to Farm Bureau members in the 21st century and are President Paap believes that Farm Bureau will continue to do what a fitting conclusion to this brief history of the Minnesota Farm it has done for the last 90 years. “That’s what gives us our strength,” Bureau Federation as it looks forward to its 100th anniversary. he said. As Farm Bureau grows, its members will grow likewise in wisdom “Farm Bureau is the only general farm organization moving with and in ability, in confidence, in loyalty and in devotion. the changing industry of agriculture and responding to the needs of The best way to prepare for the future is to do the present well. the participants,” said former president Al Christopherson. “The need Through Farm Bureau, you can share in building a better for Farm Bureau is as great now as ever.” agriculture, and in realizing the practical ideal of a world that lives Farm Bureau will remain the leading farm organization in the in prosperity, in freedom and in peace. The future lies not in the United States as long as its state organizations and the local county hands of fate, but in your hands. units remain strong. That strength relies on nurturing and training As a member of Farm Bureau, you are more important than young leaders, as well as maintaining the lines of communication you think. with legislators and the general public who depends on a decreasing
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County Beginnings Dates of Incorporation
I Aitkin-Carlton County I Hubbard County 1921 I Pine County I Anoka County 1919 I Jackson County 1918 I Pipestone County I Arrowhead Regional County I Kanabec-Isanti County I East Polk County I Becker County I Kandiyohi County I West Polk County I Beltrami County 1919 I Kittson County 1917 I Pope County I Benton-Mille Lacs County I Koochiching County 1932? I Redwood County 1919 I Big Stone County I Lac qui Parle County I Renville County I Blue Earth County 1918 I Lake of the Woods County 1923 I Rice County 1918 I Brown County 1919 I Le Sueur County I Rock County I Carver County 1918 I Lincoln County I Roseau County 1918 I Cass County I Lyon County I Scott County I Chippewa County 1918? I Mahnomen County I Sherburne County I Chisago County 1918 I Marshall County 1935 I Sibley County I Clay County I Martin County 1918 I Stearns County 1919 I Clearwater County 1918 I McLeod County I Stevens County 1918 I Cottonwood County 1921 I Meeker County 1918 I Swift County I Crow Wing County 1917 I Mille Lacs County 1938? I Todd County I Dakota County 1917 I Morrison County I Traverse County 1913 I Dodge County 1922 I Mower County I Wabasha County I Douglas County I Murray County 1917 I Wadena County I Faribault County I Nicollet County 1918 I Waseca County 1919 I Fillmore County 1918 I Nobles County I Washington-Ramsey County (merger) 1980 I Freeborn County 1921 I Norman County 1918 I Watonwan County I Goodhue County 1920? I Northwest Regional County I Wilkin County I Grant County I Olmsted County I Winona County I Headwaters Regional County I East Otter Tail County I Wright County I Hennepin County 1914 I West Otter Tail County 1919 I Yellow Medicine County I Houston County 1920 I Pennington County 1917
Strong Roots: The People of the Minnesota Farm Bureau • 149 farm bureauhistorybook.qxp10/16/20084:41PMPage150 MFBF Presidents 150 •Strong Roots S.L. Allen •1919-1920 Faribault County A.J. Olson•1928-1936 : The People ofthe Minnesota Farm Bureau Renville County V.E. Holmquist•1920 Kittson County F.W. White•1936-1951 Lyon County L.E. Potter•1920-1922 Brown County J.L. Morton•1951-1957 Stevens County J.F. Reed•1922-1928 Lac quiParleCounty farm bureauhistorybook.qxp10/16/20084:42PMPage151 Merlyn Lokensgard• 1977-1988 C.W. Meyers•1957-1965 Faribault County Nicollet County Al Christopherson• 1988-2005 P.D. Hempstead •1965-1969 Kandiyohi County Houston County Strong Roots: The People ofthe Minnesota Farm Bureau Carroll Wilson •1969-1977 Kevin Paap•2005-Present Blue EarthCounty Rice County 151 • MFBF Presidents farm bureau history book.qxp 10/16/2008 4:42 PM Page 152
State Women’s Committee Chairs
1921-1935 Mrs. E.V. Ripley 1935-1959 Mrs. Bertha Minion 1960-1968 Mrs. O.M. Bollum 1969-1974 Mrs. L.O. Gustafson 1975-1980 Laureen Prigge 1981-1989 Jean Fellows 1990-1991 Darlene Beyer
Promotion and Education Committee Chairs
1992-1994 Darlene Beyer 2002 Ron Pagel 1995 Lori Beckel 2003 Yvonne Erickson 1996 Albie Walsh 2004 Darwin Roberts 1997 Sharon Ehlers 2005 Allen Paulson 1998 Carolyn Van Loh 2006 Charles Erickson 1999 Stacy Hildebrandt 2007 Connie Gunderson 2000 Albie Walsh 2008 Charity Vold 2001 Larry Michaletz
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MFB Foundation Chairs
The Foundation was incorporated Nov. 5, 1986, but the Foundation committee wasn’t formed until 1994. The committee merged into the Promotion and Education Committee in 2003.
1994-1995 P.D. Hempstead 1996-1999 Curt Pietz 2000-2003 Sander Ludeman Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee Chairs
1974-1975 Leonard Schulz 1988 Chris J. Taylor 1999 Terisa Vig 1976-1977 Mark Sather 1989 Randy Lessman 2000 Kelly Blomgren 1979 James Prokop 1990 Scott Frederiksen 2001 Brad Louwagie 1980 Polly Kruger 1991 Dwight Hasselquist 2002 Mike Gunderson 1981 Loren Schoenrock 1992 Bruce Brenden 2003 Mark Mattson 1982 Thomas Wingard 1993 Steve Scheffert 2004 Jeff Eickhoff 1983 Mark Wiese 1994 Steve Sjostrom 2005 Nathan Roth 1984 Kendall Langseth 1995 Marc Stevens 2006 Brian Molitor 1985 Darrell Newmann 1996 Tom Bakker 2007 Ken Oehlke 1986 Alan Petersen 1997 Tom Perkins 2008 Andy Lorenz 1987 Alan Larsen 1998 Brian Hicks
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MFB Federation Personnel 2008
I Board of Directors District II Kevin Paap, President Julie Sahr Paul Torkelson, Vice-President (resigned June 2008) Layne Ebeling Bob Shepard, Chief Administrator Tim Uhlenkamp Nancy Petschl, Treasurer District III Duane Alberts, District I Jill Willers Greg Bartz, District II District IV David Van Loh, District III Charity Vold, Chair Paul Stark, District IV Larry Lent Donavon Stromberg, District V District V John Gilbertson, Sr., District VI Malissa Fritz Mike Gunderson, District VII Mike Miron Andy Lorenz, Young Farmers and Ranchers District VI Charity Vold, Promotion and Education Calvin Larson Al Rasmussen I Promotion and Education (P&E) District VII Committee Joan Lee District I Scott Winslow I Young Farmers and Ranchers Duane Alberts (YF&R) Committee Cynthie Washburn District I Glen Groth District II Andy (chair) and Kirsten Lorenz
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District III I Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation Staff DiDi Christopherson Administration Team District IV Bob Shepard, Chief Administrator Nathan and Deb Schlief Kim Oakes, Executive Secretary District V Nancy Petschl, Treasurer Daniel and Seena Glessing Lori Wiegand, Bookkeeper District VI Tim and Rachael Neft Organization Development Team District VII Bob Shepard, Director Bryan and Melissa Boll Judy Pilcher, Support Staff Area Program Directors I Commodity Advisory Committee Chairs Dennis Sabel, East Central Area Beef Ruth Meirick, Southeast Area Glen Graff Anne Marie Sellenrick, South Central Area Dairy Amanda Revier, Southwest Area Mike Kuechle DelRay Johnson, West Central Area Equine James Dodds, North Area Dennis Egan Feed Grains Public Policy Team Kent Bosch Chris Radatz, Director Sheep and Goat Staci Bohlen, National Issues Specialist Blake Meshke Jeremy Geske, Local Issues Specialist Sugar Germaine Beyl, Support Staff Steve Kramer Swine Public Relations and Foundation Team Lynn Becker Kristin (Campbell) Harner, Director Wood Products Karin (Nordling) Schaefer, David Horn Special Programs Coordinator Jenna Wegner, Support Staff
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INDEX OF COUNTIES
Aitkin-Carlton County ...... 20, 27, 31, 32 Fillmore County ...... 10, 23, 113, 115, 124, 140 Anoka County ...... 32, 33 Freeborn County ...... 40, 41, 64, 68, 84 Arrowhead Regional ...... 145 Goodhue County . . .12, 13, 18, 22, 45, 68, 73, 84, 85, 137 St. Louis ...... 38, 40, 61 Headwaters Regional Beltrami County ...... 27, 32 Clearwater County ...... 40 Benton-Mille Lacs County ...... 84, 108, 109 Hubbard County ...... 25, 26, 27 Big Stone County ...... 14 Hennepin County ...... 18, 37, 68, 69, 75, 98 Blue Earth County . . . . .9, 18, 39, 61, 69, 73, 75, 99, 113, Houston County ...... 18, 77, 125, 130, 150 ...... 114, 115, 127, 145, 146, 150 Jackson County ...... 7, 8, 32, 75, 120, 124, 126 Brown County ...... 13, 25, 33, 68, 113, 145, 150 Kanabec-Isanti County ...... 58, 59, 107 Carver County ...... 18, 121,135, 136, 137 Kandiyohi County ...... 49, 68, 94, 121, 150 Chippewa County ...... 21, 73, 84, 112 Kittson County ...... 13, 150 Chisago County ...... 18, 23, 33, 69, 142 Koochiching County ...... 22, 27, 32, 66 Clay County ...... 47 Lac qui Parle County ...... 18, 22, 68, 110, 112, 129, 150 Cottonwood County . . . . .7, 18, 29, 39, 41, 68, 69, 79, 96, Le Sueur County ...... 36, 113, 145 ...... 139, 140, 145 Lincoln County ...... 24, 29, 32, 53, 55, 68, 103, 104 Crow Wing County ...... 32, 107, 129 Lyon County ...... 21, 63, 67, 68, 111, 125, 150 Dakota County ...... 11, 18, 37, 43, 68 Mahnomen County ...... 73 Dodge County ...... 8, 38, 85, 112, 126 Martin County .25, 32, 36, 64, 68, 109, 133, 142, 145, 147 Faribault County ...... 11, 12 13, 32, 47, 48, 64, 82, 143, McLeod County ...... 25, 70, 109, 110, 129 ...... 145, 150 Meeker County ...... 10, 18, 22, 34, 38, 82
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Morrison County ...... 60, 61, 107, 129 Rice County . . . . .10, 11, 18, 71, 77, 89, 91, 101, 145, 150 Mower County ...... 32, 45, 87, 128, 145 Rock County ...... 7, 60, 68, 124, 133, 140, 144, 145 Murray County ...... 7, 29, 52, 67, 68 Scott County ...... 18, 23, 24, 35 Nicollet County ...... 10, 18, 20, 24, 31, 34, Sherburne County ...... 141 ...... 60, 91, 92, 112, 113, 136, 145, 150 Sibley County ...... 113, 145 Nobles County ...... 7, 12, 19, 32, 50, 51, 67, Stearns County ...... 42, 86, 107 ...... 68, 69, 75, 108, 140 Steele County ...... 25, 120, 123, 142 Norman County ...... 84, 94, 125 Stevens County ...... 63, 65, 75, 114, 132, 150 Northwest Regional Swift County ...... 105, 110, 142 Marshall County ...... 18 Todd County ...... 39, 68 Roseau County ...... 32 Traverse County ...... 9, 10, 13, 18, 112, 119, 123 Olmsted County ...... 11, 12, 14, 18, 23, 63, Wabasha County ...... 92 ...... 68, 84, 86, 137, 139 Wadena County ...... 87, 112 Otter Tail County ...... 11, 18, 32 Waseca County . . . .9, 13, 84, 99, 112, 120, 127, 130, 142 West Otter Tail County ...... 74, 142 Washington-Ramsey County ...... 35, 36, 48, 49, 82, Pine County ...... 107, 142 ...... 86, 141, 142 Pipestone County ...... 7, 12, 34, 67 Watonwan County ...... 18, 68, 69, 145 Polk County ...... 32 Wilkin County ...... 36, 48 East Polk County ...... 83, 93, 94 Winona County ...... 11, 18, 25, 26, 97 West Polk County ...... 32, 62, 84, 112, 141 Wright County ...... 37, 69, 73, 112 Redwood County ...... 13, 18, 28, 98, 140 Yellow Medicine County ...... 11, 32, 34, 68, 143 Renville County ...... 18, 35, 36, 37, 84, 150
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Sheet music courtesy of the American Farm Bureau.
158 • Strong Roots: The People of the Minnesota Farm Bureau