PALMER, ALASKA
Dorothy M. Bell,Editor
Published every week at Palmer, Alaska for the Matanuska Valley Farmers’ Cooperating
Association for the purpose of giving news of the Associations Work, Problems and
Accomplishments as well as News of general interest to the Valley.
Recently the writer overheard a stranger discussing the best business locations in
the Territory and you might be surprised to know that his choice was the Matanuska
Valley. VJhy??' This nan' pointed out that as agriculture was the foundation upon
which the future progress of any country was founded, that the Matanuska Valley held
the greatest promise in the future for him.
History has taught us that sound agriculture is the foundation for future prosperity
in any country. Ignore your agricultural welfare and the result is depression in bus
iness as well as farming. Business concerns who are expending large sums of money
here at the present tine realise this future—but we are not so sure that some of our
farriers do. The farmer of today is playing a new role from what he did 50 years ago.
Farmers in the past had a lower income than other groups—and thus their children
were denied many of the privileges of the urban children. Not so today—this picture
has changed. School bus service in the rural areas has enabled the country child to
be equally well educated with the urban child. This opportunity has opened up still
wider fields for the once forgotten country cljtild and has given him thd: chance, if he
chooses to go on to College. Along with this increased education of the child has
come more information and research work in agriculture. Agriculture is becoming a
scientific and a specialized occupation and incldently a more respected one.
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FUTURE ?
Farmers in the Matanuska Valley have been the pioneers of Agriculture in this part of
the Territory. Many of them have spent the best years of their lives in experimental;
ing and laying the foundation for the future agricultural development of the Valley.
New farmers coming to the Valley will benefit from the past experience of these pio
neers in agriculture. They'will also bring new ideas and continue to build on the
foundation laJi in the past. Agriculturally the vallfey is bound to succeed-if the
farmers work together, but it takes plenty of teamwork.
As industry develops the markets are going to grow, and in spite of past'prejudices -
Alaskan products are going to become more and more popular on the market. Just how
popular "Matanuska Maid" products become—depends .upon the farmers of the Matanuska
Valley.
1. The first requirement is an A-l product. "Matanuska Maid" A-l products need take
no back seat anywhere.
2. Farmers must realize that in a day of organized industry and unions that agricul
ture to succeed must also be organized—and that organization has been started here
in your local cooperating.association. Individually farmers in the Matanuska Valley
can never succeed, Cooperatively, there is a big future for them.
The advantages of cooperative.marketing have been pointed out time and time again,but
repetition often helps refresh the memory.
1. Cooperatively-JJMatanuska Maid" products can be standardized.
2'. Cooperatively—shipping costs can be reduced.,
3. Cooperatively—better prices are obtainable.”
4^ Cooperatively—A larger market can be served.
5. Cooperatively—Marketing Contracts are more certain.
6; Cooperatively—the ultimate margin of profit to the producer is greater.
7. Cooperatively—the production can be geared to the consumer demand.
The biggest hindrance to the future of agriculture in the Valley lies within our
selves. The Matanuska Valley has always been alive with Anti-Cooperative propaganda.'
Before you listen to too much of it better analize the source and reason badk of it.
Versons spreading it are most certainly not doing it for the farmers* benefit. You
can be assured of tha+, Unfortunately an absence of a ’’felt need" 'for' a Cooperative
organization in the Valley has provided fertile soil for seeds of discontent and dis
cord. Little rumors started here and there gain fast headway and sometimes gain a
tremendous size. "If we will succeed, seme attempt to curb'false and damaging propa
ganda must be made. How can you help? Find out the truth. 36cond,for every fault
see how many good points you can fitfd. You might be surprised. Seek to build and not
to destroy.