Farmers’ InstitutesGary Moore, NCSU

Farmers’ Institutes

Found in nearly every state in the late 1800s Structure varied from state to state

Farmers’ Institutes

Ohio (1847) - County agricultural societies sent lecturers out on request

Farmers’ Institutes

New York (1842-43)- State agricultural society started a program of itinerant lecturers

Farmers’ Institutes

Institutes were held in counties, occasionally there would be 2-3 in a county

Meetings were 1-3 days in length, 2-3 days at first, then one day

Variety of speakers featured– Typically balanced between local

people and outside experts

Farmers’ Institutes Program

Welcome by local dignitary Overview by Institute official Speakers followed by question and

answer period Speeches were normally 30 minutes

or less Question box used to overcome

hesitancy to ask questions

Farmers’ Institutes

Lunch prepared by the ladies (a time to socialize)

Afternoon session consisted of more speakers

Program, cont.

If there was an evening session, it was often light hearted entertainment (had to entice farmers back from doing their evening chores)

Farmers’ Institutes

Recreational activities were provided for young people (baseball, games, races)

Institutes were scheduled for “down time” on the farms

Farmers’ Institutes

Once a year there was often a state wide Farmers’ Institute or Round-up

Farmers’ Institutes

By 1900 Farmer’s Institutes were operated primarily by:– Land-grant colleges (19 states)– State Departments of

Agriculture (17 states)– Counties (Delaware, Iowa)– Independent Board

(Minnesota)

Typical Topics

How to increase profits in dairying Maintaining soil fertility Are sheep profitable? Potato growing Good citizenship National Grange Rural Roads

Speakers

University Professors and Experiment Station staff– Farmers often had a deep suspicion of

scientists and few trained men could speak in a manner intelligible to the farmer

Well known farmers in the state Local farmers State Department of Agriculture staff

Farmers’ Institutes

American Association of Farmers’ Institute Workers organized - 1896

Farmers Institutes

1903 - Office of Experiment Stations (USDA) added an Farmers’ Institute specialist

1903 - Congress appropriated $5,000 for Farmers’ Institute work

Farmers’ Institute (NC)

State law in 1887 called for Farmers’ Institutes to be held in every county every two years.

State Board of Agriculture was responsible.

No funds were appropriated. Some institutes were held in 1890.

Farmers’ Institute (NC)

New Farmers Institute law passed in 1893. State Board of Agriculture was

responsible. $500 appropriated. State treasurer wouldn’t release the money,

plans were cancelled in 1893-94. 45 institutes were held in 1895-96

Farmers’ Institutes

Tait Butler and T. B. Parker were two early directors

Boys corn growing contest started in 1906

Educational reform was often a topic at Farmer’s Institute meetings

Women’s Institutes (NC)

A separate Women’s Institute program was started in 1906

Program conducted at the same time as the Farmers’ Institute

Some joint meetings were held

The NC Women’s Institutes claim to be the first in the nation

Train Institutes in NC

1908 - First Demonstration Train 1909 - Two Demonstration Trains

– Bladenboro to Rutherfordton, 800 miles round trip, SeaboardAir Line Rail Road - 30 institutes held

– Hillsboro to Murphy - 900 miles round trip, Southern Railway - 27 institutes held

Demonstration Trains

One car was equipped with modern kitchen appliances

Women’s Institutes were held in this car Equipment was demonstrated and lectures

given

Demonstration Trains

One car contained farm implements At each stop, the workings of the

implements were explained If a team was available, the implements

were demonstrated

Demonstration Trains

The trains continued in popularity fora number of years.

A provision in the Smith-Lever Act doomed the trains.

The End

Two factors contributed to the demise of Farmers’ Institutes– Establishment of the Cooperative Extension

Service– World War I