Farmers Must Organize.
A text-only broadside in red and black type uses the three words 'Farmers Must Organize' as section headings, with paragraphs on farm profitability, county farm bureaus and the state association between them. It closes with a dated invitation to join, and cites the number of existing bureaus and members, which is the tell of bandwagon.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1917
- Period
- First World War
- Made by
- Illinois Agricultural Association and Marshall-Putnam Farm Bureau
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- NGO
- Regime
- Wilson Administration
- Leader
- Woodrow Wilson
- Audience
- Domestic public
- Purpose
- Mobilize or secure compliance
- Themes
- Labor, Economy and finance
- Event
- World War I
- Regime
- Wilson administration
- Leader
- Woodrow Wilson
- Source
- Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
- Source
- U.S. National Archives (NARA), RG 4 (U.S. Food Administration), World War I Posters (NAID 512439), retrieved October 3, 2026
- Rights
- NARA Unrestricted; hosted by owner decision
Illinois Agricultural Association and Marshall-Putnam Farm Bureau. National Archives and Records Administration, 4-P-65.
Text on the object
FARMERS Farming is a business. As a business, it must be profitable. The returns must be sufficient to pay interest on the investment; to pay taxes and insurance; to maintain buildings, fences, and soil fertility; to allow a decent living for the farmer and his family and to return a profit margin with which to pay off the indebtedness. Farms which will not do this are business failures. The fault may be with the farm, with the operator, or with conditions over which the farmer individually has no control. MUST THE COUNTY FARM BUREAU is a working organization of farmers within the county. Farmers form the organization, hire their county advisor, plan the entire work of the organization. The Bureau studies and works out the county problems of soil fertility, crop and livestock improvement, buying and marketing, and all other problems making for a better agriculture and a better farm life. There are now 71 farm bureaus in Illinois, having over 35,000 members, and more counties are organizing. ORGANIZE THE ILLINOIS AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION is an association of the members of these farm bureaus, supported and run by them. It co-operates with the county associations and works on the state and national problems. It has an office and secretary in Chicago. When the secretary speaks, he speaks the opinions and wants of real farm people all over Illinois. Through this organization, agriculture will be truly represented, will get a hearing and will get justice. Farming--the biggest business of all, must be properly represented; upon its success depends the success of all other business. Between September 30 and October 8 you should join the Illinois Agricultural Association and the Marshall-Putnam Farm Bureau. Get in Line!
