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PAGE 10-PLAINDEALER-WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1973 Excitement runs high as the young racers urge their entries along in the Pinewood Derby. this country's progress, would most likely be overlooked. And there's probably a reason for that, too. Farmers have become so efficient at producing great quantities of wholesome food at low cost that, most of us take a full stomach for granted. But even though farmers are taken for granted, their business is still the nation's most basic industry. And food is man's most basic material need. Agriculture is this nation's biggest single industry, in fact employs more persons than transportation, public utilities, automobile manufacturing, and the steel industry com­ bined. The current investment per farm worker of $50,000 is nearly double the average for nonfarm industries. Even more significant is the rate of increase in output per farm worker since 1950 - almost double that of nonfarm workers. This is one of the basic reasons for the high and rising American standard of living. IT WAS DONE " Farmers have freed man­ power. At the time of the American Revolution, this was a nation of farmers. Even 50 years ago, over one-fourth of all Americans were farmers. If farmers were no more efficient now than in 1920, this country would need 20 million people in agriculture to meet her current needs. In 50 years, more than 15 million workers have been "freed" to produce other things. Farmers have freed income. Fifty years ago, the average American had to spend about 80 percent of his income on the basic requirements of life -- food, clothing and shelter. Today these essentials take less than 65 percent. So the average family can spend over 35 percent of its take home pay - instead of 20 percent - for travel, recreation, education, health, and the other luxuries that add to life's quality. A major part of this gain in extra spendable income has come from a decline in the relative cost of food. Americans last year had to spend only I6V2 percent of their income on food. That compares with over 20 percent just 10 years ago and over 50 percent and more in eastern Europe and many developing coun­ tries. Any way you look at it, Americans are buying food at bargain prices. Farmers have also freed time. The average work week was 51 hours in 1920, compared to 40 now , And paid vacations 50 years ago were few and far between. Many things have helped, but you can be sure that if food, fiber and shelter were still costing 80 percent of consumer spending, workers could not have reduced their work week. From The Farm WHO'S SUPPORTING WHO ? Whether we Americans realize it or not (and most of us don't), we owe a great deal of our luxurious living to the man producing our food. The farmer and the abundant supply of food he produces is the basis on which we have been able to build the world's highest standard of living. Stop and think of the progress this country has made in the past 25 years - or even the last 10 years. Fabulous! Twenty-five years ago we had very few dishwashers or clothes dryers in our homes. Jet airplanes, antibiotics, atomic energy, Salk vaccine, electronic computers and electric can openers were hardly heard of. Two-car families and air conditioned homes (let alone air con­ ditioned cars) were few and far between...and the list could go on. r WHO'S MADE IT POSSIBLE?,, Ask that question of the average man on the street and you're sure to get a multitude of answers. Our scientists, in­ ventors and industrialists are sure to be mentioned, as they rightly should. But the farmer, as an important force behind Farmers have freed space. When we were a nation of 107 million people, 350 million acres were needed to grow our food and fiber. In recent years we have harvested fewer than 300 million acres and our population has nearly doubled. If farmers hadn't improved their efficiency, we would now need to harvest 500 to 550 million acres - even if we stopped exporting. The acres spared by farm efficiency add greatly to soil and water protection, wildlife, and recreation. And more land is available for towns and open space, too. These benefits - income, time, space, and better use of manpower ~ have all been vital to improving the quality of life for every member of our society. TREMENDOUS FARM PROGRESS What has happened in the past few years overshadows the progress of many, many previous generations. In Christ's time, it's thought that one full-time worker was producing enough food and fiber for himself and less than one other person. By 1850, the food and fiber produced by one American farm worker was enough for 4 persons. Just 50 years later the figure had nearly doubled-it was up to 7. Between 1900 and 1940. farmers made tremendous progress and the output of food and fiber per farm worker had risen to enough for 11 other people. v By 1960, the production of one farm worker was enough to meet the food and fiber needs of himself, plus 26 other people. Last year, each farmer produced enough to feed 46 people. This year it could equal, •or possibly exceed 50! Farmers have made as much change in their productivity in the past 11 years as was made between Christ's time and 1960. Who benefits most? Generally, we in America feel that he who makes progress possible should be rewarded for it. But the farmer, the man who has really made our improved level of living possible, often does not share proportionately in the profits. The real beneficiary of our great agricultural progress is the American consumer. The average American who feeds himself on only 16Vfe percent of his after-tax income could not do it without the farmer's basic support-an abundant supply of food. AGRONOMY HANDBOOKS The 1973 Agronomy Hand­ books are here. Please pick up a copy at the Cooperative Extension office in Woodstock A bigamist is a chap who loves well, but not wisely. Den Winners Cub Scout Pack 162 held its annual Pinewood Derby recently, when each den's first place winner raced against each other. Grand champions were Joe Bauml, first; Scott Moyer, second and Scott Budaj, third. BETTE MIDLER THE DIVINE MISS M Joe Bauml, center is shown with his first place trophy. At left is Scott Moyer, second, and at right is Scott Budaj, third. Mensa Tests Intelligence Every year about 30,000 people in fifty countries accept the challenge of Mensa and apply to join. They want to find out if they are really intelligent. Mensa, the high IQ society, cannot measure honesty, morality, loyalty or drive, but it can measure intelligence. The idea of a panel composed of people of high intelligence was first suggested in 1945 in a broadcast talk over the BBC by the late Professor Sir Cyril Burt,, who held the Chair of Psycholology at London university and who later became Mensa's first president. The only qualification for membership is a score on an intelligence test higher than that of 98 per cent of the general population. Its primary pur­ pose ^is providing contact between intelligent people. It is an international society with 18,000 active members in fourteen countries. For every 1,000 people in the McHenry area, 20 should Speaker Blair Nanes Sldnner To Commission House Speaker W. Robert Blair (R-Park Forest) has announced the appointment of State Rep. Cal Skinner, Jr. (R- Crystal Lake) to the Illinois Economic and Fiscal com­ mission. "Skinner's background will fit in well with the com­ mission's areas of interest, one of which is to estimate the total revenue available for each year's state budget," Blair said. "As a freshman legislator he is fortunate to have worked as a budget examiner for the U.S. Bureau of the Budget prior to feeing elected McHenry Ccurfly Treasurer in 1366". Skinner will also serve on House Revenue, Counties and Townships and Motor Vehicle committees. "Skinner's continuing in­ terest in property tax reform is evidenced by his attendance of Dick Kissel's hearings into McHenry county's tax inequities last year," Blair said. "The resulting report "recommended far-reaching reform to bring the assessment system into compliance with state law." Skinner is the only freshman legislator on the commissidn. Two Students At On-Campus Day At Whitewater Leah Rode, 1716 N. North avenue, and Lynn Troula, 3316 N. Rocky Point road, McHenry, were among approximately 225 students who attended an On- Campus day at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Saturday, Feb. 3. qualify for Mensa. There is one member at this time from this community. Further information may be received by writing to the American Mensa Selection Agency, Box 86-A, Gravesend Station, Brooklyn, New York, 11223. The visitors, many ac­ companied by their parents, met with administrators and faculty; visited classroom buildings, residence and dining halls; consulted with advisers and students, and learned about admission requirements and procedures, academic programs, financial aid available to freshmen, and in general, about student life on campus. Two previous on-campus days had been held in November and December. Both Miss Rode and Miss Troula are seniors at McHenry West campus high school. The water in the Amazon River 2300 miles from its mouth is still 75 to 100 feet deep. a REAL SOUND DEAL'S? • DEEP PURPLE • Who Do We Think We Are! 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