Title: North Dakota Farm Bureau Records
Dates: 1942-1984
Collection Number: 10468
Quantity: 16.5 feet
Abstract: Consists of board of directors minutes, committee minutes, subject files, publications, correspondence, audits, financial statements, policies, scrapbooks, reports, publications, photographs, audio recordings, programs, promotional material, memorabilia; records of the NoDak Mutual Insurance Company, 1946-1980s, including audits and annual statements; and minutes of the North Dakota Wheat Growers Association, 1951-1953. Records relate to administration of the Bureau and the NoDak Mutual Insurance Company, annual conventions, legislation, and farm issues.
Provenance: The State Historical Society of North Dakota acquired this collection as a gift from the North Dakota Farm Bureau on February 14, 1986 and May 16, 1986. This collection was processed and the inventory prepared by Karen Mund, Grace Wanttaja, and Kari Rombs Kohlhoff in October 1988.
Property Rights: The State Historical Society of North Dakota owns the property rights to this collection.
Copyrights: The North Dakota Farm Bureau has dedicated such copyrights as it possesses in this collection to the public. Consideration of all other copyrights is the responsibility of the researcher.
Access: This collection is open under the rules and regulations of the State Historical Society of North Dakota.
Citation: Researchers are requested to cite the collection title, collection number, and the State Historical Society of North Dakota in all footnote and bibliographic references.
Transfer: Three feet of material were removed from the North Dakota Farm Bureau Records and transferred to the appropriate collection management area of the State Archives. One-half foot of publications such as newsletters, magazines, and newspapers was transferred to the Library.
One and one-half feet of negatives, slides, and colored and black and white photos were transferred to the Photo Archives. The photos depict group activities, presidents (women and men) of the North Dakota and American Farm Bureau, buildings, parades, camp activities, beet harvest, Bob Hope, Governor Arthur A. link, and a tour of Falkirk Mine.
One foot of audio recordings was removed; the recordings are accessible as audio collections. Transferred were 62 reel-to-reel tapes and 1 cassette tape. Subjects on the audio tapes include "Food for Thought," Farmline, recognition program, Senator Lausche address, Richard Nixon agriculture speech, hunting, and Safemark tire program.
Two items, a leather pocket coin purse impressed with the Farm Bureau emblem and a McHenry County Farm Bureau cap, were transferred to the Museum Division. Transferred to the ephemera collection were two delegate ribbons, one Associated Women ribbon, and three safety reminder stickers. Several postal covers were placed with the philatelic collection.
Related Material:
Manuscript: Ole M. Hector (1870-1953) Papers, 1920-1938, 57 items, MSS 20185.
Audio-Visual: Farm Bureau footage (50's AGRI #1, #2), WDAY-TV Newsfilm Collection. Tape 4. Contains clips of a Farm Bureau spokesman, president G. H. Mickelson, and members.
HISTORICAL SKETCH
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.
Sources:
Stafne, G. J., History of the North Dakota Farm Bureau, 1942-1965. Fargo, ND: North Dakota Farm Bureau, 1965(?).
North Dakota Farm Bureau Records, 1942-1984, 9 ft., Mss .
SCOPE AND CONTENT
The North Dakota Farm Bureau Records date from 1942-1984 and measure 9 ft. The collection documents the origin and growth of the Farm Bureau as it worked to develop and adopt policies that would benefit the farmers of North Dakota. Included in the Farm Bureau Records are: minutes, 1942-1984, 2 ½ ft.; subject files, 1942-1984, 6 ft.; and scrapbooks, 1939-1975, ½ ft.
Minutes for the Farm Bureau measure 2 ½ ft. and date from 1942 to 1984. Included are minutes of the Farm Bureau annual meetings, administrative board, and board of directors; Nodak Farm Service Company; Nodak Mutual Insurance Company directors; Agricultural Market Association Board; and Wheat Growers Association. Committee minutes consist of education, field crops, livestock, organization planning, young people’s, marketing and trade, and women's. In addition, the minutes of these organizations may include agenda, agreements, articles of dissolution, articles of incorporation, a legislative bill, budgets, bylaws, correspondence, programs, recommendations, reports, resolutions, a subscription list, and tax returns. The minutes are
arranged alphabetically by organization.
Subject files date from 1942 to 1984 and measure 6 ft. The subject files contain clippings, brochures, booklets, programs, correspondence, reports, budgets, bylaws, audits, and surveys. Also included are files on an appraisal of the Register Building, Bismarck, citizenship seminars, conventions, histories, long range planning, speak-up meetings, youth camps, and ten folders of the temporary organization committee of the Farm Bureau. Arrangement of the subject files is alphabetical by keyword.
Scrapbooks date from 1939 to 1975 and measure ½ ft. There are two general and four women's scrapbooks which consist of newspaper clippings, printed material, and photos that document the events and activities of the Farm Bureau. Subjects of interest in the scrapbooks are organization of new Bureaus, meetings, banquets, conventions, new Farm Bureau presidents, American Heritage Day, speakers, women's activities, citizenship seminars, and recognition awards programs. The scrapbooks are arranged alphabetically.
ACRONYMS
FB Farm Bureau
FHA Farmers Home Administration
HB House Bill
BOX / FOLDER INVENTORY
Minutes
Box 1:
2 Agriculture Research Subcommittee 1970
3 American Agricultural Mutual Ins. Co. 1967-1968
4 Farm Bureau Administrative Board 1946-1951
5 Farm Bureau Administrative Board 1952-1961
6 Farm Bureau Annual Meeting 1942-1951
7 Farm Bureau Annual Meeting 1952-1955
8 Farm Bureau Annual Meeting 1956-1957
9 Farm Bureau Annual Meeting 1958-1959
10 Farm Bureau Annual Meeting 1960
11 Farm Bureau Annual Meeting 1961-1962
12 Farm Bureau Annual Meeting 1963-1964
13 Farm Bureau Annual Meeting 1968-1969
14 Farm Bureau Annual Meeting 1970-1973
15 Farm Bureau Annual Meeting 1974-1977
16 Farm Bureau, Directors, Board of 1951-1952
17 Farm Bureau, Directors, Board of 1953-1955
18 Farm Bureau, Directors, Board of 1956
19 Farm Bureau, Directors, Board of 1957-1960
Box 2:
1 Farm Bureau, Directors, Board of 1961-1962
2 Farm Bureau, Directors, Board of 1966
3 Farm Bureau, Directors, Board of 1967-1969
4 Farm Bureau, Directors, Board of 1968-1970
5 Farm Bureau, Directors, Board of 1970-1972
6 Farm Bureau, Directors, Board of 1973-1974
7 Farm Bureau, Directors, Board of 1975-1976
8 Farm Bureau, Directors, Board of 1977-1978
9 Farm Bureau, Directors, Board of 1979-1980
10 Farm Bureau, Directors, Board of 1981-1984
11 Farm Bureau Education Committee 1959-1965
12 Farm Bureau Field Crops Committee 1959-1974
13 Farm Bureau Livestock Committee 1959-1972
14 Farm Bureau Marketing & Trade Committee 1964-1974
15 Farm Bureau Organization Committee 1956-1969
16 Farm Bureau Organization Committee 1970-1981
17 Farm Bureau Planning Committee 1981-1984
18 Farm Bureau Policy Development Committee 1969-1971
19 Farm Bureau Trade Dev. and Service Corp. 1962-1966
20 Farm Bureau Trade Dev. and Service Corp. 1966-1973
Box 3:
1 Farm Bureau Women's Committee 1949-1961
2 Farm Bureau Women's Committee 1956-1966
3 Farm Bureau Women's Committee 1962-1970
4 Farm Bureau Women's Committee 1966-1975
5 Farm Bureau Women's Committee 1970-1978
6 Farm Bureau Women's Committee 1975-1980
7 Farm Bureau Young People's Committee 1957-1982
8 Nodak Farm Bureau Relations Committee 1972
9 Nodak Farm Service Company 1949-1979
10 Nodak Mutual Agreement Committee 1966-1967
11 Nodak Mutual Insurance Company Directors 1957-1966
12 Nodak Planning and Action Committee 1967-1968
13 Wheat Growers Association 1951-1964
Subject Files
14 Agricultural Business Corp. Financial 1974
15 Agricultural Marketing Assn. Inc. 1970-1978
16 Agricultural Survey 1970
17 Alcohol Fuels, FHA Loans 1980
18 Amendment, Balanced Budget 1982
19 American Agricultural Mutual Ins. Co. 1955
20 American Farm Bureau Bylaws 1955
21 Appraisal, Register Building 1965
22 Appropriations, Agricultural 1981
23 Audit 1948-1954
24 Audit 1955-1959
25 Audit 1960-1963
26 Audit 1961-1966
Box 4:
1 Azure, Art 1959
2 Brochures, Farm Bill 1985
3 Brochures, Miscellaneous 1985
4 Case of the Curious Farmer
5 Caucus, Women's District 1966
6 Citizenship Seminar 1963-1969
7 Citizenship Seminar 1971-1975
8 Citizenship Seminar 1976
9 Citizenship Seminar 1977-1979
10 Citizenship Seminar 1981
11 Clean Air Act 1981
12 Commodity Activities Concept
13 Convention 1951
14 Convention 1952
15 Convention 1953
16 Convention 1954
17 Convention 1955
18 Convention 1956
19 Convention 1957
20 Convention 1958
21 Convention 1959
22 Convention 1960
23 Convention, American Farm Bureau 1950-1956
24 Convention, American Farm Bureau 1957-1962
25 Convention, Clippings 1958
26 Correspondence, Francis Simmer 1973-1974
27 Correspondence, Francis Simmer 1974-1975
28 Correspondence, Francis Simmer 1976-1977
29 Dakota Bank shares 1982
Box 5:
1 Delano, Robert, Pres., American Farm Bureau 1981
2 de St. Paer, Claude, American Farm Bureau 1974
3 Directors, Board of 1970
4 Education 1979-1980
5 Examination Report 1971
6 Family Farm Insurance Co. 1982-1983
7 Farm Incorporation, HB 782 1968
8 Farm Management, Financial Statement 1961-1962
9 Financial Statements 1955-1956
10 Financial Statements 1957-1959
11 Financial Statements 1956-1960
12 Financial Statements 1960-1962
13 Financial Statements 1961-1964
14 Financial Statements 1963-1964
15 Financial Statements 1965-1968
16 Financial Statements 1978-1986
17 Garrison Diversion Lawsuit 1980-1981
18 Garrison Diversion Lawsuit 1980-1981
19 Grant, Allan, Pres. California FB 1968-1976
20 History 1941-1966
21 Insurance Advisory Council 1971
22 Insurance Services 1965
23 Internal Revenue Commissioner 1980
24 Internal Revenue Tax Returns 1943-1963
25 Internal Revenue Tax Returns 1962-1966
26 Iowa Farm Mutual Insurance Co. 1943-1948
27 Keogh, Brooks 1962-1964
Box 6:
1 Link, Governor Arthur L. 1975
2 Marketing Committee 1968-1973
3 Membership 1962-1970
4 Membership 1977-1982
5 Membership Questionnaire, Non-Renewal 1955
6 Mikkelson, G. H., President 1954-1957
7 Mikkelson, G. H., President 1958-1962
8 Miscellaneous 1968-1982
9 Montana Farm Bureau Bylaws 1970
10 Nodak Agency Inc., Dental Care Program
11 Nodak Agency Inc., Financial Statements 1979-1981
12 Nodak Agency Inc., Health Care Plan 1979
13 Nodak Farm Service Company Audit 1950-1954
14 Nodak Mutual Casualty Co., Operational Analysis 1951-1956
15 Nodak Mutual Insurance Co. Annual Statement 1966-1968
16 Nodak Mutual Insurance Co. Annual Statement 1969-1971
17 Nodak Mutual Insurance Co. Annual Statement 1972-1979
18 Nodak Mutual Insurance Co. Annual Statement 1981
19 Nodak Mutual Insurance Co. Audit 1963-1965
20 Nodak Mutual Insurance Co. Bylaws 1946-1971
21 Nodak Mutual Insurance Co. Examiner’s Report 1952-1955
22 Nodak Mutual Insurance Co. Examiner’s Report 1961
23 Nodak Mutual Insurance Co. Examiner’s Report 1965-1968
24 Nodak Mutual Insurance Co. Examiner’s Report 1971
25 Nodak Mutual Insurance Co. Examiner’s Report 1980
Box 7:
1 Nodak Mutual Insurance Co. Financial Statement 1979-1986
2 Nodak Mutual Insurance Co. History, 25 Years 1946-1971
3 Nodak Mutual Insurance Co. Investment Meeting 1966-1969
4 Nodak Mutual Insurance Co. Investment Meeting 1970-1971
5 Nodak Mutual Insurance Co. Investment Meeting 1979-1981
6 Nodak Mutual Insurance Co. Organization 1946-1955
7 Organized Voice of Farmers
8 Planning, Long Range 1983
9 Planning, Long Range 1983
10 Planning, Long Range 1983
11 Planning Team 1977-1982
12 Planning Team 1977-1982
13 Planning Team 1977-1982
14 Planning Team 1977-1982
15 Planning Team 1977-1982
16 Planning Team 1977-1982
17 Planning Team 1977-1982
18 Planning Team 1982
19 Planning Team 1982
20 Planning Team 1982
21 Planning Team 1982
22 Planning Team 1982
Box 8:
1 Policies 1965-1972
2 Policies 1976-1979
3 Policies 1980-1986
4 Policies, American Farm Bureau 1973-1979
5 Policy Development Fact Sheets 1974
6 Policy Development Program 1977-1979
7 Political Action Program 1980
8 Political Education Program 1980
9 Publicity Chairman
10 Quarter Century Club 1970-1980
11 Red River Valley Potato Industry History 1970
12 Resolutions 1961-1964
13 Simmer, Francis, President 1972-1976
14 Speak Up Meetings 1982-1984
15 Speak Up Meetings, District 1-2 1984
16 Speak Up Meetings, District 3-4 1984
17 Speak Up Meetings, District 5-6 1984
18 Speak Up Meetings, District 7-8 1984
19 Speak Up Meetings, District 9 1984
20 "Spirit of Rural North Dakota" 1972-1973
21 Survey
22 Temporary Organization Committee 1942-1943
23 Temporary Organization Committee Accounts Pd 1942
24 Temporary Organization Committee Blackburn 1942
25 Temporary Organization Committee, Brochures 1940-1941
Box 9:
1 Temporary Organization Committee, Correspondence 1941-1942
2 Temporary Organization Committee, Finance 1942-1943
3 Temporary Organization Committee, Membership 1942
4 Temporary Organization Committee, Minutes 1941
5 Temporary Organization Committee, Stafne, G. J. 1942
6 Temporary Organization Committee, Vaniman 1942
7 Trade Dev. and Service Corp., Audit 1962-1965
8 Trade Dev. and Service Corp., Financial 1965-1967
9 Trade Dev. Corp., Financial Statements 1962-1963
10 Trade Dev. Corp., Financial Statements 1964-1965
11 Women's Committee Plan Book 1961-1964
12 Young Farmers and Ranchers Meeting 1980
13 Young Farmers and Ranchers Program 1973
14 Youth 1952-1963
15 Youth 1964
16 Youth 1965-1967
Scrapbooks
17 Scrapbook 1939-1954
18 Scrapbook, Clippings 1942-1948
19 Scrapbook, Women’s 1972
20 Scrapbook, Women’s 1973
21 Scrapbook, Women’s 1974
22 Scrapbook, Women’s 1975
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