Published once a v/eek at Palmer, Alaska, for the Katanuska Valley
Famers' Cooperating Association for the purpose of giving news of the
Associations v/ork, problems and accomplishments.
SUBSCRIPTION TJ.VZ £-1.75 per year vl.00 for six months 100 a copy
COOPERATION CAN ACCOMPLISH MIRACLES
Sr lute the countr >s newest cooperative, born of a country-wide enthusiasm, the support
of thousands of farmers and to n-foiks, and contributions ranging toward. -500,000- of mat
erials, labor, mrchiner--- and cash, which now gives residents of I iontgomcry-County,-1 dry
land something they've needed badly—an agricultural and recreational center for year
round use.
Built in a 12-hour, 1949 version of an old-fashioned barn-raising by over a thousand
volunteer workers on a sunny Saturday in June the ^ontgoner" Count’ Cooper.uive gricul
turc.1 Center, Inc.., fulfills the many-; ear dream of farm leaders of this rich -and pro
ductive area next door to the notion's capital.
The "Tig Day", as it was termed and as it turned ov.t to be, resulted in the transform
ation of a Gh~ cre tract at Gaithersburg, lid., into a center to serve all of the people
of the county, not only for agriculture, but for other groups desiring to use its show
buildings, oicnic and recreational facilities, lighted athletic fields, lake and other
facilities. "To other county in the country has anything like it," sa* s the County
-gent, one of the moving spirits behind the unique project. , .
Fanners-and their hired help, bricklayers, carpenters
farmers, f-H Clubbers, Boy and Girl Scouts and member
all pitched in with sans and hammers, trowels, spades
break, on the "Big Day".
then "on strike", laborers, young
; of other country organizations
and bull-dozers, st' rting at day
hrhen evening came they had: Constructed nine buildings to house livestock exhibits.
Constructed the Center's office building. Laid out and partially completed a 10-acre
picnic area. Built fireplaces and tables for the picnic area. Installed drainage and
toilet facilities 'vdth a system of septic tanks and 15-f ot dry wells. Laid hundreds
of feet of aiac. Constructed a lake to impound 1,000',000 gallons of water. Drilled
three wells, and Graded a full-size athletic field.
All of the labor and all but a small portion of the ma.terials acre donated by enthusias
tic "cooperators" who turned out in an amazing demonstration of community co-operation
which again "roved that an unselfish idea, backed by inspired leadership, non-profit
(but with profit to all) 'dns every time.
Twenty-si;: committees -were set up for the "33ig Day", of farmers and business- men and
leaders in the community. The whole plan of doing the job in a "day" was conceived by
the County Agent and other leaders who got the idea frcr.i the one-day soil conservation
project last summer when a widow's farm was transformed from a run-down condition to a
first class prodvicer.
Ifeeting with groups of two end three each night for weeks the leaders told and retold
the sttry. First ceric the road people. A hard road was needed to got Materials and
machinery into the tract. Hoi.* much would. they give in the way of gravel, chi’es and oil?
“ould f ey loan some true’s and provide some labor? "Heck", saicl the road builders in
effect, "you don‘t want piecemeal donations li’:o that, feill take over the whole road
building job and do it ourselves."
Frior to the construction da3~, ' the various jobs of building were assigned to individual
contractors, Lack sponsor arranged to lay foundations in advance so that their shilled
crews, with the help of volunteer farmers and others could start with hammer and saw ear
on the "Fig Day," -Lumber for each building was piled in front of that to which it was
assigned, sa.ie 100,000 feet of lumber coming from donated trees which had been cut and
sawed by volunteer groups of 4-11 Club bo^-s assisted by elder farm neighbors wor’dng in '
se sons of slack farm chores over the past 3-ear.
The farm ladies turned out in their inimitable way, organized their efforts to provide
food for the thousand workers and scr.ie 6,000 visitors who came to see what was going or..
The profit from their efforts went into the Center fund.
The project has been incorporated as a cooperative, the purpose being "to cnga.ge in ed
ucational and demonstrational activities regarding exhibitions, conservation and re
creation, and conduct lawful business as a source of income for the upkeep and epe ratio
of the Center."
-adapted .from an article a-p, ring in"Co-ooarc
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