History of Carolina Cotton Growers Cooperative Formed in 1922

The Carolina Cotton Growers Cooperative, “farmer owned, farmer controlled,” was formed in 1922. It published the Cotton Grower beginning in June 1922 and published the first edition of Carolina Cooperator in January 1935. To see a history of the organization, go to http://www.carolinascotton.com/Company/History-Of-CCGC/Chronological-History.aspx

Editor of Progressive Farmer and General Manager of Carolina Co-Operator Talk, 1935

“Fireside Chats” by M.G. Mann, General Manager, Carolina Co-Operator, November, 1935

For the past 36 years, ever since he was 19 years old, Dr. Clarence Poe has been talking and writing to and for the farmers. A farmer himself as well as an outstanding farm editor—he worked with his own hands on a farm in Chatham County till he began work on the Progressive Farmer, and still operates his “Longview” dairy, poultry, and general crops farm just outside of Raleigh—he is always active in any movement that has for its purpose a better day for agriculture. His many achievements are too numerous to list here—“Who’s Who in America” takes up three and one-half inches in telling of his accomplishments.

The Writer: Dr. Poe, we are celebrating our 14^th anniversary of the Cotton Association by publishing an anniversary number of our Carolina Co-operator. I believe you were the first man in the State to sign a membership agreement, and also the first man to deliver a bale of cotton to the association.

Dr. Poe: Yes, Mr. Mann, I am proud of this distinction. Of course, at times all of us have been disappointed in the progress of the movement, but I feel that we have been building, year after year, on a firm foundation.

The Writer: We are dedicating our 14^th anniversary number to education, for, as Dr. Frank Graham has expressed it so many times, we believe “education and cooperation must go hand in hand.”

Dr. Poe: That’s the doctrine I have always tried to preach, Mr. Mann. My visit to Denmark years ago convinced me that education and community group work, going right back to the individual farmer, are the two most important factors in the cooperative movement. Rural cooperation can’t be handed down to the farmer. It must be a growth from the ground up. By the way, Mr. Mann, what are you doing about small community groups in this State?

The Writer: Dr. Poe, in cooperation with the Vocational Teachers, we are now holding more community meetings than we have in several years. We will hold at least 75 community meetings this fall, and beginning in the spring, we will hold meetings to stress the importance of planting better cotton.

Dr. Poe: I am glad you are taking a broad view of your duty to your members—glad you are not just thinking about cotton but also urging them to grow what we call “The Three F Crops”--food, feed, and fertilizer, so that cotton can be their “clear surplus,” as Henry Grady said.

The Writer: Right! That is an important part of our program, and you know, Dr. Poe, I think you are due a great deal of credit for the success of what is generally called the “live-at-home” program in North Carolina, and the increasing interest in live stock.

Dr. Poe: Well, of course, there can be no real farm prosperity as long as our farmers send their dollars to the West for corn and hays, nor so long as we depend on crops alone to make our farms prosperous. As I have often pointed out, there are two great arms for producing farm wealth: plant production or crops and animal production or livestock, poultry, dairying. Heretofore in the South we have largely had “one-armed farming” or plant production only. We must change to “two-armed farming” or plant production plus animal production.

The Writer: I was certainly impressed, Dr. Poe, by your recent address before the State College Grange, and especially by your diagnosis of why the Grange has succeeded; where many other farm organizations have failed. You attribute this success of the Grange to the fact that it gives the women a definite part in its program and in this I heartily agree with you. If you were to ask me the greatest mistake that the Cotton Association has made during the past 14 years of its existence, I would say it was that of leaving the women out of the program. We have held hundreds upon hundreds of meetings with the men invited, but the women have been left out. But the one thing that is giving me more encouragement today is that more and more of our farm women are attending our meetings and showing a keen interest in them. And your address before the Grange certainly made a deep impression upon me, and has encouraged me to work even harder in the future than in the past, in making the farm women an integral part of our program.

Dr. Poe: Well, that’s my firm conviction. I decided years ago that if I were ever again active in a sign-up- for a farm cooperative, I would favor having contracts signed by both the man and his wife.

The Writer: We not only wish to reach the women but in fact, we have been going a little further than that, to include the boys and girls in the co-operative program through our annual essay contest.

Dr. Poe: That’s fine, Mr. Mann. Of course that fits right along with the program of the Federal Board for Vocational Education and the National Youth Administration, in which I am so much interested.

The Writer: And in my opinion these are among the most important committees that the President has appointed. They begin at the source and are building for tomorrow. It is true, isn’t it, Dr. Poe, that there are only three members on this Federal Board from the whole United States, and that you are one of the three representing agriculture.

Dr. Poe: Yes, that’s correct. Tom Browne and his associates have done such a fine work in this State that it is an especial pleasure to be able to work more closely with them.

The Writer: Before leaving I want to mention a new phase of our North Carolina Cotton Work.  The Re-purchase Pool, which was created by the Board last May, is going to enable the Cotton Association to render the service to the farmers now that you have always wanted it to render. Now, every farmer who uses the Re-purchase Pool will be in position to know just as much about his cotton as the man who buys it.

Dr. Poe: That sounds interesting, Mr. Mann. Tell me more about it.

The Writer: Any cotton producer, whether he produces one bale or many bales, may place his cotton in any of the 60-odd warehouses that hold contracts with the association, samples will be sent to Raleigh where the cotton will be graded by Government Licensed Classers, and an Advice of Grade and Staple mailed to the member. Whenever the member wants to sell his cotton, even though it is a day after he received his Advice, he can ask the Association to advise him on the best price it can get for his cotton, and he can then take his Advice and go to his local cotton buyer and offer his cotton for sale. If, for any reason, the local buyer can offer more, the member can get his cotton back and it will cost him only $1 a bale and storage at 25 cents per month for this service. Since we intend to get the Advice out promptly, any farmer can now deliver his cotton and sell it in an intelligent way.

Dr. Poe: Fine! Suppose some of my cotton was reported of extra staple length and the local mill could not use it, and you could sell it for more than I could get, would you sell this extra staple cotton and return the other to me?

The Writer: Yes, Dr. Poe. If, when you receive your Advice of Grades, you find that you have certain cotton you can sell locally to advantage, we will gladly return it to you and will sell only that which you feel we can sell to best advantage.

Boys Are Thinking, Working, and Earning, 1940

From “Carolina Farm Notes” by F.H. Jeter, Nov. 1940 issue of the Southern Planter

John Mills, a 4-H Club member of Peachland, Route 1, Anson County, needed oats to feed his baby beef but money was lacking and there were no oats left on the farm.

He noticed, however, that a nearby sawmill operator fed his mules oats and that he needed someone to look after the mules on week-ends. So John made a bargain.

He agreed to feed and water the mules each week-end if the sawmill operator would supply enough oats for the calf. When the sawmill finished its operations on that particular spot, the owner was so impressed with the good job John had done that he gave the boy enough oats to finish the calf into a first-class, finished condition.

NINE DOLLARS EXTRA

There are 220 farm boys who are making an average of about $9 a month which they are using to pay for good cows that each one owns. These boys are members of the new Dairy Production Club organized in the State since the establishment of milk receiving stations.

John A. Arey, dairy specialist, says 135 members are in the club centered about the Carnation plant at Statesville. The others are centered about the Kraft plant at West Jefferson and the Pet plant at Waynesville. These receiving stations aided the boys to secure financial aid to buy good cows, and the boys are using one of the two checks received each month to retire the loans. The milk plants have loaned cans and strainers and keep the books. The boys look after the calves.

The Preacher's Coming, 1940

From “Carolina Farm Notes” by F.H. Jeter, Nov. 1940 issue of the Southern Planter

Coy Johnson had good reason for wanting one of the mattresses being made in Surry County as a part of the surplus cotton program. The church association was to meet in the Low Gap community, and it was Mr. Johnson’s time to entertain the preacher.

Therefore, he marked this mattress request with an emphatic “urgent” because he said he wanted a good bed for the visiting cleric.

Hundreds of other farm families all over North Carolina are finding that these cotton mattresses make good beds, and if they cannot get one out of Government cotton, they learn to make them from purchased or home-grown lint.

M.A. Cauble of Gold Hill community in Rowan County expressed it well when he said, “I am going to build a table at home and make a mattress for every member of the family just as soon as I gin my cotton.”

Thankful Home Demonstration Club Members, 1940

From “Miss Current’s Column” in the November, 1940, issue of The Southern Planter. Ruth Current was North Carolina’s State Home Agent.

It is only a few days until Thanksgiving, a day known and looked forward to by most Americans as a feast day. Do you not agree with me, however, that we should see a bigger appreciation, a deeper significance and more heartfelt thankfulness for God’ goodness? This year, of all years, we have much for which to be thankful.

Thanksgiving is a time for taking inventory, a time for asking ourselves a list of questions such as these. Am I taking advantage of all the resources that I have? Am I a good neighbor? Do I cooperate with the school, the church, the (home demonstration) club? Do I do my part? Do I gossip and say unkind things? Do I value and use my time to the best advantage? Do I have faith and believe in people? What has happened this year that I can rejoice over?

I would like to see “thankful” parties held in every community in North Carolina the month of November. In the Southeastern District under the direction of Mrs. Estelle T Smith, district home agent, Harvest Festivals are being planned with a recreation program in which every person can have a part.

COMMUNITY ACTIVITES              

More and more rural women are finding afternoon teas a gracious and simple way of entertaining. Now that we are well into fall, our 100 and more home demonstration community club houses are being used. I shall be able always to recall that lovely Christmas tea given at the Halifax Community House three years ago on their Achievement Day, with its lovely candles, its holly and cedar used in artistic decoration.

“All clubs in the County substituted an afternoon tea for one of their club meetings this year,” reported Grace Holcomb, Rockingham County home agent. “I consider these a direct result of the demonstration, ‘Entertaining in the Home,’ which was given early in the year.”

“The Midway-Monroeton Club invited all of the women in the community to their tea and held it in place of a regular club meeting. Punch was served from a large wooden bowl, using a small gourd dipper. Homemade cookies were passed on large wooden platters.”

HEN PARTY IN NASH COUNTY

A big fat hen was the admission ticket to the joint club party recently held in Red Oak Club House in Nash County. The hens (tickets) were collected the door by Mrs. Dana Braswell and Miss Temple Vaughan McIntyre and will be sold, the proceeds to be added to the club treasury. Many interesting games were played, having been directed by Misses Ellen McIntyre and Iberia Roach, assistant home agent. A chicken contest was conducted and the prize went to Miss Mary Hackney for her chicken intelligence. Punch and cake were served by Mrs. Claude Deans and Mrs. George May.

How The Lord's Acre Movement Founded in Asheville Has Helped, 1940

From the Farm Journal and Farmer’s Wife, Nov. 1940 issue

Harvest had a new meaning for hundreds of county churches this fall. In Bear Wallow, N.C., it meant a new roof. At East Jewett, N.Y., it brought firewood for the winter’s services. Harvest meant paint for worn pews in Missouri and a new carpet for a Sunday School room in Northern Iowa. New cash went into the benevolent funds and added to the slender pay of the country preachers.

Cause of it all is The Lord’s Acre Movement, founded 11 years ago by the religious department of the Farmers Federation of Asheville, N.C. Quietly, its homely, practical idea has spread across the nation.

The Rev. Dumont Clarke has been the spark plug of The Lord’s Acre plan from the beginning. He traces its origin to the verse in Genesis that reads “The first of the first-fruits of thy land thou shalt bring into the house of the Lord thy God.”

Principal fault of the old church tithe, many a country preacher has found, is that farmers transformed the gift into cash, then found that they could not spare the cash. Rev. Clarke’s idea eliminates the cash. Chicks, eggs, fruit trees, land, seed and labor instead of money, are donated directly to the church. The church sells the produce at market prices, pockets the proceeds.

Corn is the most general Lord’s Acre crop although nearly every other agricultural commodity is represented in the returns. Children like to raise chickens for the church. Women donate all the eggs their flocks lay on Sunday. Older boys and girls raise calves or pigs as their annual contribution to the church. Buddy Pace, 8, made $23 for his church at Dana, N.C., this year by cultivating a raspberry patch.

Pastors have found that The Lord’s Acre brings folks back into the church. “We ministers have been riding a white horse,” one New York pastor told a district conference this summer. “But when I take my coat off and hoe corn with my parishioners, the men have a whole lot more respect for me. By twos and threes this year, they have started coming to church again.”

The Movement is in name only. It has no field workers, no promotional campaign or drive beyond Rev. Clarke’s small office staff at Asheville. Yet last month, as Lord’s Acre came to its 11^th harvest, churches in more than 20 states were reaping benefits.

“Last year two or three churches in New York used the plan,” Rev. Clarke said. “This year there were 20 New York churches with Lord’s Acre projects. In Missouri, the number has increased from one to 25 churches.”

Home Demonstration Club News from Watauga, Clay, Perquimans, and Currituck Counties, 1952

From the January, 1953, issue of the NC Federation of Home Demonstration Clubs’ Newsletter.

WATAUGA COUNTY

Home Demonstration Club Women from all parts of the county met Friday, November 14, 1952, at the First Baptist Church for their Achievement Day Program. This is always one of the highlights of their Home Demonstration work because on this day all of the clubs review their achievement for the year.

The meeting began at 10 a.m. with Mrs. Bill Little, Home Economists for Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation, giving a very interesting one hour and half foods demonstration. A covered dish luncheon was served at 12.

The remainder of the program began at 1:15 p.m. with Mrs. A. E. Vannoy, County Council president, presiding over the meeting. The theme of the program was built around Thanksgiving. The group sang together the hymn "Faith of Our Fathers" followed by the Home Demonstration Club collect.

Rev. Joseph T. Shackford of the Boone Methodist Church gave a very inspirational Devotional followed by the hymn "Come, Ye Thankful People."

Mrs. John Miller of Deep Gap, acting secretary, gave the roll call by clubs and asked each club to give a report on their clubs activities. Each club that reported gave excellent reports on their accomplishments this past year.

Mrs. A. E. Vannoy who is County Council and District President, and Mrs. E. L. Ray, State Treasurer for State Federation of Home Demonstration Clubs, both attended the National Home Demonstration Council meeting, which was held in Raleigh, N. C. in October. This was the first time this meeting had ever been held in North Carolina. Horne Demonstration club women from 38 states were present. Mrs. Vannoy and Mrs. Ray gave a very good report on this meeting they attended in Raleigh.

All counties in the state sent gifts typical of their county to the National meeting for the visiting club women. Mrs. Vannoy was very happy to report to us that the gift from Watauga, which was a hand woven bedspread, was presented to one of the most outstanding guest at the meeting, the National president Mrs. Jennie Williams of Oklahoma. All of the club women of Watauga County were very proud of this honor. The group sang one of their club songs "Hail Club Women, Crowned Thru Service" followed by the awarding of the gavel to the Brushy Fork Horne Demonstration Club for having the most outstanding achievement for the year. This was a good record for Brushy Fork Club because they are one of the youngest clubs in the county and received the highest honor for their club achievements.

The meeting adjourned after the club members’ creed and a song, "Sing Your Way Home."

Other guests present for the meeting were Mr. Alred representative for Blue Ridge Electric Corporation, also a student teacher from Appalachian State Teachers College, Miss Mary Sue Norman who is planning to begin extension work the first of the year.

Club women from various clubs in the county were also awarded book certificates for their reading program. There were two women who received Advanced book Certificates and sixteen who received Book Review Certificates.

--Mrs. A. E. Vannoy, County Council President

CLAY COUNTY

An announcement From Mr. John H. Marris, Extension Horticultural Specialist on November 21, 1952, states that the Quall's Creek Home Demonstration Club in Clay County is second place winner in the roadside or "Model Mile" contest for this year. The Quall's Creek community, as well as the Home Demonstration Club members in that area, have worked faithfully on this project for the last year, working out their road signs, mail box names, etc., in a uniform lettering plan. Each family in the community has taken a great deal of interest in this project and are very proud of the results they have obtained.

In connection with the Reading Clubs started among the Horne Dem. Club members two years ago with the Regional Librarian, Miss Phyllis Snyder, a very outstanding club has been organized by Mrs. Peggy Zimmerman in the Quall's Creek Community. Mrs. Zimmerman started her Reading Club along the same lines as the other women, but she held her meetings on Sunday afternoons. Mrs. Zimmerman started the club with five members--all small children who lived close to her home. The total has now reached fifteen, and includes every child in her neighborhood who lives within walking distance. Whereas the other clubs only have meetings during the summer months, Peggy continues hers throughout the year, since having them on Sunday afternoons does not interfere with the school work of the children.

Mrs. Zimmerman is to be highly commended on the fine work she is doing with the Reading Club in her community.

--Mrs. Geraldine Ford, County Council Secretary

PERQUIMANS COUNTY

Mrs. P. P. Gregory, Past President of N. C. Home Demonstration Clubs, was guest speaker for the Fall Achievement Day Program held at Winfall Grammar School in Perquimans on Wednesday, November 5. She showed slides taken on her trip to Europe, since the war, and made a very interesting talk.

Mrs. John Hurdle, County Council President, presided over the meeting which opened with the group singing, "United Nations Hymn." The County Chorus, dressed in new capes, rendered special music. Belvidere Club gave the County Report of Achievements, in the form of a skit. Mrs. M. T. Griffin of Hopewell club presented the speaker.

Perfect attendance and Reading Certificates were given to those eligible to receive them. The meeting adjourned with the collect.

Following the meeting, Ballahack, Bethel, Beach Springs, Burgess, Snow Hill-White Hat, Helen Gaither, and Hopewell Clubs were hostess to a tea in the school lunchroom.

--Mrs. John Hurdle, County Council President

CURRITUCK COUNTY

The Currituck County Club women are still very enthusiastic about their Fig Booth at the State Fair and are most pleased by the favorable comments which they have heard about it.

We all feel that our long-taken-for-granted figs have really begun to come into their own since our Committee did such a fine job with the Booth.

Currituck Clubs held their Achievement Day at Coinjock on November 7th with the Poplar Branch Club as hostess. It was a very pleasant day with our Fall Flower show quite a success and the turkey luncheon most enjoyable.

Everything was in keeping with the flower theme. The afternoon speaker was a well-known Garden Club member from near-by Norfolk, Virginia, Mrs. Maynard West. She gave the women of the County many interesting tips on Dried Arrangements and how to prepare the materials for them.

Community buildings are very foremost in many Club members minds these days. With three already in use and one nearing completion, while at least two more are in the planning stage, it's no wonder!

--Daphne W. Yon, County Council President

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This issue of the NC Federation of Home Demonstration Clubs’ News Letter is online at http://repository.lib.ncsu.edu/collections/bitstream/1840.6/13/1/0001_NorthCarolinaFederationofHomeDemonstrati.pdf