North Dakota Farm Bureau Photograph Collection
Collection
Identifier: Photo 406
Scope and Content
The North Dakota Farm Bureau Photograph Collection contains four photographic prints, taken between 1918 and 1931. Most are taken of members attending meetings, or group photographs.The 1920 meeting photos were taken by the N.D.A.C. campus photographers, with the original glass plate negative as number 2269.
Dates
- 1918-1931
Access
The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the NDSU Archives.
Copyrights
Copyrights to this collection is held by the NDSU Archives.
History
The predecessor of the North Dakota Farm Bureau, the American Farm Bureau Federation, was organized in the eastern United States between 1910 and 1920. In 1919 the first convention was held and during 1920, 28 state Farm Bureaus ratified the constitution. A chapter of the American Farm Bureau Federation was organized in North Dakota in the early 1920's. A. C. McInnes of Dazey, North Dakota, was the first president, with William Guy Sr. of Amenia and Usher L. Burdick of Williston, as very active members. This organization lasted only a few years; nearly 20 years would pass before another Farm Bureau was organized in North Dakota.
Throughout 1941 and 1942, the activities and influence of other State Farm Bureaus and the American Farm Bureau Federation generated considerable interest among North Dakota farm leaders. As a result of this interest three prominent and successful farmers, W. A. Plath of Davenport, B. E. Groom of Langdon, and Roy Johnson of Casselton, consulted with Vernon Vaniman, representing the American Farm Bureau Federation, and made plans for a meeting in Fargo, November 14, 1941. At this meeting a temporary organization committee was selected, composed of 14 men, mostly from the eastern part of the state. Benjamin Gorder was selected chairman of the committee and W. A. Plath, secretary-treasurer. G. J. Stafne was employed as organization director; he and volunteers devoted many hours to preliminary work. It was decided that agriculture needed a general farm organization to reflect the ideas and needs of all producers and community groups.
The North Dakota Farm Bureau was officially organized at Valley City, November 19-20, 1942. Representing 21 counties at their first meeting, members reviewed and approved bylaws, including qualifications for active and associate members, and set annual dues at $5.00. W. A. Plath, Davenport, was elected president, a post he held until 1949, and G. J. Stafne, secretary-treasurer. Membership was to be completely voluntary with two types of memberships available: active and associate. An active member could be any person who owned or operated a farm and received a major portion of his income from agricultural products, while an associate member was any person interested in furthering the cause of the farmer and agriculture. Membership in 1942 was 530 and increased to 1,118 in 1943. Dues were raised to $10.00 at the first annual convention of the North Dakota Farm Bureau held November 8 and 9, 1943, at Valley City.
Shortly after the Farm Bureau was organized in North Dakota, it was recognized that women could be a strong factor in promoting the Farm Bureau in the state. The women accepted the challenge and the potential for growth became evident. On November 14, 1949, the Associated Women of the North Dakota Farm Bureau, more popularly known as the Farm Bureau Women's Committee, was officially organized. The first officers elected were Mrs. Victor Corey, Lidgerwood, chairman; Mrs. Ruth Annis Smith, St. Thomas, vice-chairman; and Mrs. Leonard Davis, Killdeer, secretary. The first recommendations, that the chairman write to county presidents urging appointment of two women to serve on each county board of directors, were accomplished at the 1949 convention. The women cooperated in the effort to develop the Farm Bureau in North Dakota and combined their energies and organizational abilities. Time and conditions, mostly economic and social, have changed the approach to problems over the years, but Farm Bureau Women have adjusted to meet these changes.
As the organization grew, so did the need for member services. The first provided for Farm Bureau members was insurance. In 1943, in compliance with a directive from the delegate body, the North Dakota Farm Bureau board of directors negotiated an agreement with the Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company of Iowa to make its insurance available to North Dakota Farm Bureau members. The agreement contained the provision that after a two year period the North Dakota Farm Bureau could originate its own company. The Nodak Mutual Insurance Company was incorporated on April 15, 1946, under the laws of North Dakota, and was licensed and began business on April 24, 1946. The company, a Legal Reserve Mutual, was owned by policyholders who were Farm Bureau members. In 1946 it had assets of $162,024 and in 1970, $5,429,560.
The North Dakota Farm Bureau through the years has initiated many pieces of legislation which have aided the farmer concerning, for example, the privilege of husband and wife joint income tax returns, a grower-supported wheat commission, the building of the St. Lawrence Seaway, a refund of federal gasoline tax, rural electrification, Livestock Sanitary Board, set aside programs, and trade development. Other programs supported were sunflower loans, Garrison Diversion, purchase of wetlands for mitigated acres, property tax, shelterbelt planting, water rights, one state fair, winter show, new uses of farm products, overseas marketing, sugar beet quotas, graduated land tax, incorporated family farms, and potato marketing.
The Farm Bureau was born out of the necessity for a farm organization concerned with the individual and having a relationship with the consumer through an unmanipulated market system. Its objectives are the same today as when it was formed in 1942: to make a continuous investigation and study of agriculture and all economic, social, and governmental matters which may affect agriculture; to disseminate accurate information among its members and the public; to make recommendations to local, state, and federal bodies, and take whatever action necessary or advisable in promoting and securing those things which would bring about successful agriculture within the State of North Dakota.
History copied from the North Dakota Farm Bureau Records finding aid at the State Archives of North Dakota: https://www.history.nd.gov/archives/manuscripts/inventory/10478.html
Throughout 1941 and 1942, the activities and influence of other State Farm Bureaus and the American Farm Bureau Federation generated considerable interest among North Dakota farm leaders. As a result of this interest three prominent and successful farmers, W. A. Plath of Davenport, B. E. Groom of Langdon, and Roy Johnson of Casselton, consulted with Vernon Vaniman, representing the American Farm Bureau Federation, and made plans for a meeting in Fargo, November 14, 1941. At this meeting a temporary organization committee was selected, composed of 14 men, mostly from the eastern part of the state. Benjamin Gorder was selected chairman of the committee and W. A. Plath, secretary-treasurer. G. J. Stafne was employed as organization director; he and volunteers devoted many hours to preliminary work. It was decided that agriculture needed a general farm organization to reflect the ideas and needs of all producers and community groups.
The North Dakota Farm Bureau was officially organized at Valley City, November 19-20, 1942. Representing 21 counties at their first meeting, members reviewed and approved bylaws, including qualifications for active and associate members, and set annual dues at $5.00. W. A. Plath, Davenport, was elected president, a post he held until 1949, and G. J. Stafne, secretary-treasurer. Membership was to be completely voluntary with two types of memberships available: active and associate. An active member could be any person who owned or operated a farm and received a major portion of his income from agricultural products, while an associate member was any person interested in furthering the cause of the farmer and agriculture. Membership in 1942 was 530 and increased to 1,118 in 1943. Dues were raised to $10.00 at the first annual convention of the North Dakota Farm Bureau held November 8 and 9, 1943, at Valley City.
Shortly after the Farm Bureau was organized in North Dakota, it was recognized that women could be a strong factor in promoting the Farm Bureau in the state. The women accepted the challenge and the potential for growth became evident. On November 14, 1949, the Associated Women of the North Dakota Farm Bureau, more popularly known as the Farm Bureau Women's Committee, was officially organized. The first officers elected were Mrs. Victor Corey, Lidgerwood, chairman; Mrs. Ruth Annis Smith, St. Thomas, vice-chairman; and Mrs. Leonard Davis, Killdeer, secretary. The first recommendations, that the chairman write to county presidents urging appointment of two women to serve on each county board of directors, were accomplished at the 1949 convention. The women cooperated in the effort to develop the Farm Bureau in North Dakota and combined their energies and organizational abilities. Time and conditions, mostly economic and social, have changed the approach to problems over the years, but Farm Bureau Women have adjusted to meet these changes.
As the organization grew, so did the need for member services. The first provided for Farm Bureau members was insurance. In 1943, in compliance with a directive from the delegate body, the North Dakota Farm Bureau board of directors negotiated an agreement with the Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company of Iowa to make its insurance available to North Dakota Farm Bureau members. The agreement contained the provision that after a two year period the North Dakota Farm Bureau could originate its own company. The Nodak Mutual Insurance Company was incorporated on April 15, 1946, under the laws of North Dakota, and was licensed and began business on April 24, 1946. The company, a Legal Reserve Mutual, was owned by policyholders who were Farm Bureau members. In 1946 it had assets of $162,024 and in 1970, $5,429,560.
The North Dakota Farm Bureau through the years has initiated many pieces of legislation which have aided the farmer concerning, for example, the privilege of husband and wife joint income tax returns, a grower-supported wheat commission, the building of the St. Lawrence Seaway, a refund of federal gasoline tax, rural electrification, Livestock Sanitary Board, set aside programs, and trade development. Other programs supported were sunflower loans, Garrison Diversion, purchase of wetlands for mitigated acres, property tax, shelterbelt planting, water rights, one state fair, winter show, new uses of farm products, overseas marketing, sugar beet quotas, graduated land tax, incorporated family farms, and potato marketing.
The Farm Bureau was born out of the necessity for a farm organization concerned with the individual and having a relationship with the consumer through an unmanipulated market system. Its objectives are the same today as when it was formed in 1942: to make a continuous investigation and study of agriculture and all economic, social, and governmental matters which may affect agriculture; to disseminate accurate information among its members and the public; to make recommendations to local, state, and federal bodies, and take whatever action necessary or advisable in promoting and securing those things which would bring about successful agriculture within the State of North Dakota.
History copied from the North Dakota Farm Bureau Records finding aid at the State Archives of North Dakota: https://www.history.nd.gov/archives/manuscripts/inventory/10478.html
Extent
4 Photographic Prints (4 photographic prints)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
North Dakota Federation of Farm Bureau, an affiliate of the American Farm Bureau Federation, is an organization whose mission is to enhance the livelihood of all North Dakota individuals, families and communities by advocating for agriculture. It was born out of the necessity for a farm organization concerned with the individual and having a relationship with the consumer through an unmanipulated market system.
Provenance
Donor unknown.
Property rights
The NDSU Archives owns the property rights to this collection.
- Title
- Finding Aid to the North Dakota Farm Bureau Photograph Collection
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Institute for Regional Studies Repository
Contact:
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu