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WWI
Food Production
McLean County, Illinois
(Transcribed by: Teri Moncelle Colglazier)

One of the most interesting and important war relief activities was that relating to food production and conservation. In September, 1917, it became evident that steps were necessary to stimulate and encourage an increased food production in Illinois during the war, especially upon those foods that were most needed and to assist farming and live stock interests in all ways possible. This campaign included conservation of food and avoidance of waste. Measures were adopted to effect a state wide food production and conservation organization. The various agricultural and live stock organizations were functioning satisfactorily but it was planned to lend constructive assistance and co-operate for the purposes of co-ordinating as much as possible and eliminate duplication of efforts. A food production and conservation committee was organized in McLean County and each other county of the state and there were seed corn committees; pork production; beef production, wool and mutton production, etc. Mr. Eugene D. Funk of Shirley was honored by appointment as a member of the General War Conference Food Committee and made chairman of the National Seed Corn Administration. Mr. Funk was summoned first to Washington in May, 1916, by Herbert Hoover, national food administrator, and was appointed a member of the committee of twelve to fix the price of wheat by President Wilson. At the suggestion of Mr. Hoover, he was also placed upon the Agricultural Advisory Committee of the Food Administration and the U. S. Department of Agriculture by President Wilson. The fact that Mr. Funk has served as president of the National Corn Association since it was first organized in 1908; is a member of the Agricultural Committee of the United States Chamber of Commerce; Treasurer of the State Live Stock Association of Illinois; and Chairman of the Illinois State Seed Corn Administration, gave him especial prominence and had a tendency to secure his appointment upon the important war boards. Mr. Funk put in eighteen strenuous months in Washington. Interests antagonistic to the farmers exerted tremendous pressure, but Mr. Funk stood firm and deserves a large measure of credit for the recognition given the American farmers' part in helping to win the war and also in preserving the rights of the men who till the soil. He witnessed scenes in the committee rooms in Washington that would have caused the blood of any American farmer to boil. Their interests were more than once in jeopardy and considered only as secondary by those who, through ignorance or otherwise, had little inclination to respect the rights of tho farmer. The disastrous frosts of 1917 left the striking lesson that farmers should create a sufficient reserve of seed corn at harvest time for the following springs planting. In September, 1918, a campaign was launched under the direction of Mr. Funk urging the farmers of Illinois to select the best seed corn early and arrange for proper storage facilities. Seed corn weeks were arranged by districts and 250,000 copies of posters were distributed. The campaign brought satisfactory results and reports indicated that more farmers than usual were performing this task. The message that farmers should use care in selecting their seed corn and in testing it before planting, was visualized at a seed corn show and demonstration held under the auspices of the State Council of Defense at the International Live Stock Exposition during the week beginning November 30, 1918, in Chicago. A comprehensive seed corn exhibit portraying this message, was installed and competent authorities were present to talk with the visitors. This demonstration was a gratifying success and it was the general opinion that good work was being registered. The seed corn needs of the state were well taken care of. Over 250,000 bushels of tested seed were sold to Illinois farmers and only six complaints were registered against it. The sale of seed corn of doubtful germination from seedsmen of questionable reputation, was stopped in many instances. The administration not only supplied seed to the state but also protected farmers from many unscrupulous seedsmen. Mr. Funk and other members of the Seed Corn Administration deserve the highest commendation for their participation in this work. It was a great sacrifice because they necessarily were forced to neglect their own interests to be of service in the larger work of supplying the state with seed. Their efforts will be of lasting benefit to Illinois agriculture as the gospel of seed testing was emphasized as it never was before. [McLean County, Illinois, in the World War, 1917-1918; by Edward E. Pierson & Jacob Louis Hasbrouck c 1921]

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