Eldridge, Eber

Kelsey, R. Pearl

Rehder, Karl L.

Thomas, Ellen A.

English

Research Papers in Economics

Franklin  County,
Iowa's  Program  in Public  Affairs
By Eber Eldridge, R.  Pearl  Kelsey, Karl L.  Rehder, and Ellen A.  Thomas
Interest in extension public affairs programs  was started in Frank-
lin  County  by taking  key  leaders  to district  public  affairs  meetings
conducted  by  the  extension  specialist.
Local  people  requested  similar  meetings  in  the  county.  A study
group  of  thirty  couples  was  organized  to  participate  in  a  series  of
three  public affairs  dinner meetings  on selected  subjects.  This study
group  has  been  conducting  meetings  for  six  years,  using the  exten-
sion  specialist and  other recognized  authorities.  As a result,  interest
has been created among the people in the county. It has also developed
a respect  for public affairs  education conducted by extension  person-
nel,  and  has  given  county  extension  personnel  confidence  in  their
ability.
With  the  confusion  surrounding  the  local  cost-price  squeeze,
county extension  personnel  felt an obligation  to help people  under-
stand  the  farm  situation.  They  outlined  and  partially  prepared  a
flannel  board presentation  and proposed  it to the Extension  Council.
The  Council  enthusiastically  approved  the project  and voted  it  top
priority.  The  Council  also  suggested  that  a  special  presentation  be
given to key leaders,  brought in by the Council members.  As a result
of this  meeting,  the  presentation  was  booked  by approximately  ten
groups.
SOURCE  OF INFORMATION
The  outline  was  prepared  from  information  and  material  pre-
sented  by  the  Iowa  State  College  extension  specialist  at  district
conferences  and  county  public  policy  meetings.  College  and  U.  S.
Department of Agriculture  publications  served as sources  for supple-
mentary  material.
METHOD  OF  PRESENTATION
The  county  extension  personnel  prepared  their  own  script  and
visuals  for the one-hour  presentation.  The discussion  shifted  twenty-
four times between staff members with no member talking more  than
three minutes at a time.  One hundred  fifty visuals  were used on four
flannel  boards  to illustrate  points  as  they  were  made.
A  large  balance  bar  was  mounted  over  the  flannel  boards.  One
134end of this bar represented  all agricultural  production and the other
all  consumption  of agricultural  products. When  the  bar was  in  bal-
ance  a pointer  indicated  100  percent  parity  income  for  the  farmer.
This bar was adjusted to illustrate the effect on parity income of the
various  factors  as  they  were  discussed.
Franklin County extension staff using balance bar to  illustrate discussion of the
economic situation.
PEOPLE  REACHED
Approximately  100,000 people  were reached through TV appear-
ances and  30  meetings.  These groups  included  local  farm  organiza-
tion  groups,  church  groups,  service  groups,  commercial  clubs,
women's clubs,  G.  I.  training schools,  farmer-businessmen  banquets,
and  other groups.
A survey was conducted  by mailing  a questionnaire  to every  fifth
name on the county mailing list. Approximately  60 percent returned
the  cards  indicating  that  74  percent  had  seen  the  presentation  on
TV  or at a  local meeting.
Secretary of Agriculture Ezra Benson requested  that the presenta-
tion  be  given before  the President's  Agricultural  Advisory  Commis-
sion.  This request  was  made through  the Federal  Extension  Service
and approved by the Iowa Director of Extension and the local County
Extension Council. The presentation was given four times in  Wash-
ington,  D. C.,  including appearances  before  the President's  Advisory
Commission  and  the  Federal  Extension  Service  staff.
A  30-minute  condensed  version  of  the  presentation  was  filmed
by the Iowa  State  College film  production unit upon  the request  of
135the Federal  Extension Service.  A copy of the film was made available
to  each state  extension  office.
OUTLINE  OF  PRESENTATION:  "FACING  THE  FARM  FACTS"
A.  Introduction
Mass  media have led people to believe that labor and industry
have  become  prosperous  and  that  the  farmer  is  destitute.  The
purpose of this presentation  is to increase  understanding  through
interpretation  of facts.
B.  What Are the  Facts?
In examining the general economic situation,  we find that the
gross  national product  has increased  28 billions of dollars in one
year.  National  income  is  up  45  percent,  while  farm  income  is
down  31  percent  since  1951.  The  basic  difficulty  is  an economic
unbalance  (workings  of the economic balance bar explained  with
pork  example).  The  unbalance  was caused  by:
1.  War emphasis  on production  (weight  production end of  bal-
ance  bar).
2.  Decrease  in food  spending  relative  to nonfood  spending,  and
more  rapid  increase  in  food  production  than  in population
(raise  consumption  end of balance  bar).
3.  Decrease  in export  markets after  war  (raise consumption  end
of balance bar).
4.  Diverting  of  cotton  and  wheat  acres  to  feed  grains  (weight
production end of balance  bar).
5.  All  livestock  cycles  at  a high point in  1955.
6.  Rising farm  and  family expenses.
7.  Wide  variation  in  incomes  of  farms  approximately  the  same
size.
C.  What  Is Being  Done  to Help?
1.  Fewer  farmers  mean  more  income  per.farmer  (illustration:
one  out  of  five  Iowa  4-H  boys  actually  farm;  huge  increase
in  productivity  per farmer).
2.  Government  programs  have  helped  the price.
3.  Advertising  and  aid  programs  have  increased  consumption
(weight consumption  end of balance  bar).
1364.  Total  food  consumption  has  increased  (weight  consumption
end of balance  bar).
5.  Exports  are  increasing  (weight  consumption  end  of balance
bar).
D.  Suggested  Solutions
Based on the assumption  that  transfer  of nonfarm  income  to
the  farm  is  justified:
1.  The  Soil  Fertility  Bank  will  reduce  total  production  (raise
production  end of balance  bar).
2.  Purchase  and  storage,  production  payments  tend  to help  the
price but also tend to increase production  (weight production
end of  balance  bar).
3.  Increased advertising and aid programs can  increase consump-
tion  (weight consumption  end of bar).
4.  Efforts can  be  made  to speed  up social  and  economic  adjust-
ments  (movement  off the  farm)'.
5.  Tariff and trade barriers can be reduced  (weight consumption
end of balance  bar).
E.  Future  Problems
1.  What  is the  immediate  outlook?
2.  Will  a farm  recession  cause  a general  depression?
3.  Will free trade solve  the problem?
4.  Can we  eat our way  out of our supply?
137

FRANKLIN COUNTY, IOWA'S PROGRAM IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS

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