The Berrien County Junior Farm Bureau Alumni Group recently met for an afternoon of reminiscing about the many activities that this rural young peoples’ association were involved in since the beginning in 1937. The group met at Papa Vino’s restaurant in St. Joseph.
Barb Radewald was responsible for registration, and Bob Norris welcomed the group. Kathleen Walter led the Pledge of Allegiance and Carol Sonnenberg provided the invocation.
Nancy Wuszke introduced the attendees and read notes submitted by a few who were unable to attend.
A framed jigsaw puzzle was donated by Bob Norris with Erna Felgner winning it. Carol Sonnenberg donated a quilt, which Lila Apple won. In honor of her 97th birthday, Helen Morlock donated $50 which George Merrill won.
This group at one time consisted of four — north, south, west and central — but joined together in working on many projects throughout the county, even assisting in the war effort years ago. Some of their activities involved Swiss steak dinners and square dances to raise funds. One of the primary projects and fundraising effort was for the construction of the Youth Memorial Building on the Berrien County Youth Fair grounds. This is a living tribute to the 75 men and women who were called to serve this country, plus a permanent home to honor the youth of Berrien County.
There were also many members who met their future spouse through their involvement in Junior Farm Bureau, earning it reputation as a dating and matrimonial group.
In 1960, the organization became the Berrien County Young Farmers, still an active part of the Berrien County Farm Bureau.
In 1995, the Fair Association purchased the building from the Berrien County Farm Bureau.
History
Junior Farm Bureau was defined as “a means by which rural young people train themselves to meet their adult responsibility in society. The Junior Farm Bureau is an attempt on the part of rural young people to dignify their place in the scheme of things.”
In 1937, eight agricultural-minded young adults organized the Berrien County Junior Farm Bureau, patterned after the Michigan Junior Farm Bureau which started in 1936. The goals were to provide educational opportunities, leadership training, self-improvement, wholesome recreation, and social activities for rural young people ages 16-29.
Each of Berrien’s four Junior Farm Bureau groups had its own officers and counselors and met bi-monthly; the county group met once each month. All had their own educational and recreational programs and sponsored worthwhile projects. Many times all groups worked together on these projects and activities.
Leadership training included Deputation Teams promoting public relations and helping organize Community Farm Bureau groups. Members participated in leadership training camps, attended national Farm Bureau conventions in San Francisco, Dallas, Miami Beach, New York City, Kansas City and Chicago; and state conventions in East Lansing. Square dancing was an important recreational activity.
The World War II, Korean and Vietnam Wars called more than 75 men and women of the Junior Farm Bureau into the Armed Forces. At a meeting in 1943 the idea originated that there was a need for a permanent, central meeting place — a tribute to the men and women who served in the armed forces: the Youth Memorial Building, located on the Berrien County Youth Fairgrounds in Berrien Springs.
The Berrien County Youth Fair Association leased the property to the Berrien County Farm Bureau for 99 years. The estimated cost of the building was $82,000. It was erected in 1953 and the mortgage burning took place at a $10 per plate dinner on April 4, 1961. Funds for this project were raised by Farm Bureau members through personal donations, fair stands, dinners, auctions, chicken barbecues, car and steer raffles, grain harvests raised on donated land, variety shows and lots of square dances!
The Youth Memorial Building provides a centrally located meeting place for all groups interested in the betterment of agricultural and community life. Both the Berrien County Farm Bureau and the Berrien County Youth Fair Association maintained offices inside. In 1995, more office space was needed for both groups so the county Farm Bureau sold the building to the fair association and built a new office nearby on Edgewood Drive.
Berrien County Junior Farm Bureau continued its programs, becoming the Berrien County Young People in 1957 and Berrien County Young Farmers in 1960.
Through the years, Junior Farm Bureau veterans have become county Farm Bureau leaders, organizing community and groups activities and developing strong agricultural programs at the county, state and national levels.