Part 7 (2/2)

Perhaps of even greater benefit to the farmer's image and expertise was the growth of local farmer's organizations and cooperatives. The largest and most prominent nationally was the Grange, a farmer's a.s.sociation initially started in Was.h.i.+ngton, D.C., in 1867. Fairfax County boasted four chapters of this organization, formed in the late years of the 1920s. The Grange interested itself in agricultural activities and civic matters and it was upon its recommendation that the county agent was appointed.[164] Of more immediate concern, however, were the local farmer's clubs, and the unofficial a.s.sociations of orchardists or dairymen who met to discuss surpluses, crop problems or the need to advertise. The farmer's clubs were the outgrowth of community groups which sprang up spontaneously in the county from the mid-nineteenth century on, but which were expanded and formalized by H. B. Derr in the mid-1920s. As he described them they were

unique in their plans in that they are composed of twelve families and they meet once a year at each home.... They meet in time for dinner and after dinner ... the men go over the farm and discuss current farm problems. Then they return to the house and listen to some speaker who has been invited for an informal talk.[165]

Broadening and sociable, the clubs became an outstanding feature of Fairfax County farm organization.

The minutes from the meetings of Farmer's Club #1, which was based in Herndon and was made up predominantly of members from the Floris area, show the variety of subjects discussed. A meeting in March, 1921, included a lecture on contagious abortion (a disease chiefly affecting dairy cows). Road conditions were discussed in April, 1924. Problems of milk cooling and the effectiveness of the agricultural high school were topics in March, 1928, and the following month state legislator H. E.

Hanes addressed the club on farm issues and voting procedures in the upcoming elections. The club members also joined together to buy seed in quant.i.ty in order to reduce cost and effort.

Informative as the meetings were, of equal importance was the bond of friends.h.i.+p and professional affiliation which the farmer's clubs fostered. By working closely with men of similar interests, a network was built up which increased the agriculturalists' pride and effectiveness; not only could the farmer identify with the att.i.tudes and problems of his a.s.sociates, but could work with them to fulfill mutual needs. The sincere respect felt among members of this group is shown in the following tribute, written after the death of one a.s.sociated farmer, S. L. Chapin:

Be it resolved: That we pause to drop a tear of sympathy and love, to express in our humble way the deep feeling of our loss. Bold and fearless in the expression of his opinion, kind and considerate at all times, and under all conditions. His life and a.s.sociation with his fellow men were full of love and tenderness.... To his bereaved family we tender our deepest sympathy and may the recolections (sic) of his cheerful disposition ever remain fresh in our memories, as we recall many pleasant incidents of his a.s.sociations.[166]

As farmers organized, they reinforced their own values and occupational ident.i.ty, and what is more, they combined their efforts to work for the change they sought most. The Maryland and Virginia Milk Producers a.s.sociation is an obvious example of this. Smaller cooperatives, many of them outgrowths of the farmer's clubs, sprang up throughout the county, though none of them had the longevity or impact of the Maryland and Virginia Milk Producers a.s.sociation. A Floris Milk Producers a.s.sociation was founded in 1925 to operate and repair milk collecting trucks and the Dairy Marketing Company and Fairfax County Farmer's Service Company (which featured cooperative buying of seed) started a few years later.

None of these bodies remained permanent features of the area's organizations, but all helped the farmer to see the advantage of collective effort. The professional att.i.tude adopted by the farmers'

groups is evident in the stringent standards required in their service contracts. No longer was an informal gentleman's agreement sufficient.

Farmers expected seed to be of a certain weight and quality, milk to be delivered ”at a coolness satisfactory to the dealer,” and sanitary measures to be strictly followed.[167] In effect the cooperative movement enlarged the farmer's working partners to include not only his family and hired labor, but the community as a whole.

[Ill.u.s.tration: The Floris Home Demonstration Club, 1930 winners of the County Champions.h.i.+p for most effective club. Photo in H. B. Derr Reports, Virginiana Collection, Fairfax County Public Library.]

[Ill.u.s.tration]

[Ill.u.s.tration: A 4-H Club display at the county ”Achievement Day,”

showing the stress on nutrition of the Oakton and Pope's Head Clubs.

Photos in H. B. Derr Report, 1930, Virginiana Collection, Fairfax County Public Library.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: A community fair, c. 1922, similar to those held in the Floris area. Photo in H. B. Derr Report, 1922, Virginiana Collection, Fairfax County Public Library.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: A suggested model farm for Fairfax County developed in 1924 by County Agent H. B. Derr. The model includes crop rotation, annual budget and a schedule of livestock feeding and purchase. Photo in H. B. Derr Report, 1924, Virginiana Collection, Fairfax County Public Library.]

Women and children were also encouraged to professionalize. Working jointly with the agricultural agent was a ”home demonstration agent” who gave advice, lectures and demonstrations geared toward increased economy and convenience for the homemaker. Home Demonstration Clubs were organized in each community to acquaint farm women with the newest research on food preservation, household efficiency and organizational skills. Courses in fancy needlework and cake-baking were sometimes featured but the home demonstration agents' work more frequently took a pragmatic bent. The seriousness with which the homemaker was regarded, and the new image of professionalism which she hoped to evoke is evidenced in the schedule of cla.s.ses led by agent Lucy Blake in early 1938:

January Home Lighting and Wiring February The Homemaker as Planner--Her Job and the Planning Center March Schedules and Deadlines April Citizens.h.i.+p May The Homemaker as Handyman June The Homemaker as Buyer[168]

In addition, the clubs raised money for neighborhood beautification and worked on community projects. The Floris Club annually canned fruits, vegetables and meats for a hot school lunch program and also donated their time to serve it. As in the more male-oriented Farmer's Clubs, the organizations fostered pride and ident.i.ty among the farm women, as well as concretely improving conditions on the farm.[169]

The home demonstration agent also ran the county's 4-H clubs, branches of a nationwide organization founded in 1903. Four-H members dedicated their ”heads, hearts, hands and health” to improving rural conditions; the club's goal was to give practical training to children whose life was likely to be spent on the farm. Boys were schooled in agronomy, mechanics and animal husbandry and pursued individual projects in these fields. Girls also worked both with groups and individually in such areas as ”food for health,” clothes remodeling and room improvement.

Summer camps, rallies and fairs were also sponsored by 4-H Clubs. At one camp, held near Woodlawn, the week-long program included workshops in canning, basketry and utilization of dairy products, a sidetrip to see fireworks, and those perennial camp favorites of swimming, ”weenie roasts” and stunt nights.[170]

[Ill.u.s.tration: The 4-H Girls Camp at Woodlawn. Fewer boys were able to attend such camps since their labor was needed on the farm. Photo in H.

B. Derr Report, 1925, Virginiana Collection, Fairfax County Public Library.]

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