RULES

OF THE

OHIO STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE ORGANIZATION AND

MANAGEMENT OF FARMERS' INSTITUTE SOCIETIES,

ADOPTED MAY 26, 1896.

SECTION 1. Parties who contemplate organizing Farmers' Institute Societies and Farmers' Institute Societies already organized desiring to hold meetings under the auspices of the State Board of Agriculture, in accordance with the act of the General Assembly of Ohio, passed April 26, 1890, and amended April 27, 1896, must first present a petition to the State Board of Agriculture for the same, signed by twenty or more residents of the county, without regard to sex, but all signers must be of legal age. In order that the Board may act intelligently on such petitions, the petitioners should furnish replies to questions propounded by the State Board of Agriculture concerning proposed place of meeting, capacity of hall or building to be occupied, railway facilities, etc. Blank petitions with the questions to be answered will be furnished on application, by the Secretary of the State Board of Agriculture, at Columbus.

SECTION 2. Said petitions should be filed with the Secretary of the State Board of Agriculture not later than the first day of September of any year. Earlier presentation will greatly facilitate the work of the Board in considering applications and assigning dates and speakers. Petitioners will be promptly notified of such action as the State Board of Agriculture may take.

SECTION 3. After the petition for the holding of an institute meeting shall have been granted, the petitioners will proceed to organize, if not already organized, by the election of a president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer and an executive committee of three (the president and secretary to be ex-officio members of this committee, making a committee of five), all to serve for the period of one year or until their successors are duly elected. After the first organization an election of officers shall be held during each annual institute meeting, only members of the society being entitled to vote. Of the officers, not more than two shall be elected who are residents of the same township. The society shall adopt a constitution and by-laws in harmony with the institute law of the State and these rules.

SECTION 4 As soon as an organization is completed it shall be reported to the Secretary of the State Board of Agriculture, with the name of the society, and the names and post office addresses of the officers and a copy of the constitution and by-laws.

SECTION 5. The secretary of each institute society shall keep in a substantial book or books a record of all meetings of the executive committee and society, and a roll of the members, with the post office address of each; first, the original petitioners for the organization, followed by residents of the county or locality, of legal age, who, by enrolling their names in the secretary's book, become members of the society.

SECTION 6. When a petition has been granted, and the society notified of the date assigned for its institute meeting and the lecturers to be furnished by the State Board of Agriculture, the executive committee shall proceed in due time to make arrangements for the institute meeting, by engaging hall, selecting the local talent desired, arranging for music and all other details necessary for the successful holding of a farmers' institute meeting, and preparing a program which shall occupy the time assigned for the meeting. In arranging the program, time shall be allowed for discussion of the topics presented and for miscellaneous questions. The speakers sent by the State Board of Agriculture are to occupy not more than half the time of the institute meeting, and local talent, discussions and music the remaining time. The program should be published for general distribution at least two weeks in advance of the institute meeting, and at the same time a copy mailed to the Secretary of the State Board of Agriculture and to each speaker who is to take part. Societies should thoroughly advertise and use diligence and enterprise to create an interest among the people and to secure the largest possible attendance. Every citizen of the county and locality ought to be informed as to the time, place and nature of the institute meeting. The executive committee shall have full authority to audit and settle all accounts made for and in behalf of the institute society.

SECTION 7. All institute societies organized under the institute law of the State shall be strictly non-partisan and non-sectarian in every phase of their work, and no institute shall be conducted in the interest of any party, sect or society, but for the equal good of all citizens and farming communities.

SECTION 8. The presiding officers of the various institute societies of the State, holding meetings under the auspices of the State Board .of Agriculture, should always and under all circumstances prohibit discussions of subjects other than those pertaining to agriculture, horticulture, stock breeding, etc.; anything of a sectarian or partisan character should not be discussed or commented upon either by speakers or members of institute societies; no criticisms of state, county or township officials should be tolerated under any circumstances.

SECTION 9. No fee shall be charged for admission to institute meetings held under the auspices of the State Board of Agriculture; they shall be public and free to all, the object being to impart agricultural knowledge and experience free to all persons sufficiently interested to attend. If any society desires to hold quarterly, monthly or weekly meetings during the year, the expense of the same may be met by admission fees, subscriptions, collections or sale of season tickets. Nothing in this section shall prevent voluntary contributions or subscriptions for securing speakers desired other than those sent by the State Board of Agriculture.

SECTION 10. Within ten days after the close of each institute meeting, the secretary shall make a report to the Secretary of the State Board of Agriculture, blanks for which will be furnished. On receipt of such report by the Secretary of the State Board of Agriculture he will issue the certificate, according to law, which will enable the society to draw the amount due from the county.

SECTION 11. A society or its executive committee may, on the call of the president, hold such business meetings as may be necessary to transact the business of the society and arrange for the annual institute meeting to be held under the auspices of the State Board of Agriculture; and the traveling expenses of the executive committee for such meetings may be paid as other items and charged with other expenses of the institute.

SECTION 12. When the secretary of a farmers' institute society shall send a written report to the Secretary of the State Board of Agriculture, as provided by Section 10 of these rules, he shall state the cost of the institute meeting (not including expense of speakers sent by the State Board of Agriculture), number in attendance during the institute meeting, speakers who filled appointments, speakers absent, whether speakers were acceptable or otherwise, and report any feature or matter of special interest.

SECTION 13. The State Board of Agriculture requires that lecturers employed by the Board shall devote their time and efforts to the discussion of such subjects as are clearly provided for by the institute law of the State, namely, "Farming, stock raising, fruit culture and all branches of business connected with the industry of agriculture."