BROOKVILLE — Around 1860 the Farmers’ Institutes were created and modeled on the teachers institute in order to carry agricultural knowledge to farmers.

Local farmers’ institutes soon emerged. Local farmers’ institutes were directed by state lecturers and attended by leading local farmers. The programs were commonly arranged for a two-day meeting in winter.

The Brookville Farmers’ Institute had the distinction, with one possible exception, of being the only institute in Montgomery County that entirely obtained the money necessary for running expenses from its own community.

The money was not secured by donations but came from the people of the community who could see their way clear to join the Farmers’ Institute Club of Brookville.

Paid up members for the year 1930 were Koch & Hay, Brookville Building & Loan Association and Brookville State Bank each giving $5.

Seventeen other businesses each gave $2. Shank & Stauffer gave $1.50, forty other businesses and citizens each gave $1 and four others gave fifty cents.

On January 27 and 28, 1930, the Brookville Farmers’ Institute held its sessions at the Brookville School House. There were many classes of agriculture exhibits that people could enter their produce in.

Yellow corn 10 ears; Oats, wheat, potatoes (early), potatoes (late), Tobacco Spanish, Tobacco Seedleaf, Legume Hay, eggs-white, eggs-brown, white Leghorn Pullets, Barred Rock Pullets, White Rock Pullets, Pair Rabbits.

Some of the first place winners were: Nelson Pansing for yellow corn, Henry Kimmel for yellow corn, yellow corn single ear went to Nelson Pansing, oats won by Ward Marshall, wheat won by Walter Rhoades, early and late potatoes won by Willie Hoover, Tobacco Spanish won by George Share, Tobacco Seedleaf won by Harold Wolf, Legume Hay won by William Fasnacht, white eggs by Richard Share, brown eggs by Alfred Oyler.

The classes for home economics were Canned Fruits, Canned Vegetables, Canned Meats, Jelly, Baked Goods, Cakes, Pies, Candy, Sewing, Aprons, Towels and Quilts.

Some of those winners were Mrs. Charles Kreitzer who won for canned peaches, Mrs. Edgar Fryman won for canned cherries, Mrs. D.C. Eby won for canned string beans, Mrs. Lester Garber won for canned corn, Mrs. W. E. Marshall won for canned beef, and Maxie Miller for devils-food cake.

The play “Please Stand By” was given on the last night of the institute on January 28. This was an entirely new type of entertainment for the institute that year.

All information and the photo for this Look at Brookville article were supplied by the Brookville Historical Society. Do you have a photo or historical information to share or add? Please contact the Brookville Historical Society at 937-833-0285 or email to [email protected].