Page 155 - One Thousand Ways to Make $1000

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Advertising Makes Farm Pay

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T WAS not until the Arthur Wolf Farms, Tippecanoe County, Indiana,
erected “want ad” signs, that business really did pick up. These signs are the
billboard type and bear the name, post office and telephone address of the
farm at the top. Under this information are two columns with the headings,
“For Sale” and “Want to Buy.” These columns are so arranged that the farmer
can insert listings which are painted on removable sheets of metal. Whenever
the farm has something to offer or is in the market to buy, Mr. Riley, the
manager, inserts the proper metal strips under the correct headings. Under the
“For Sale” heading will be such items as mules, sheep, clover hay, bred gilts,
oats, alfalfa, shoats, feeding cattle, machinery, hay feeders, hay corn, etc.
Whenever Mr. Wolf needs any kind of hay, live stock, clover or alfalfa hay,
oats, hogs, etc., a sign specifying the need is put up under the heading, “Want
to Buy.”

As Mr. Wolf’s live stock operations are rather extensive, and there are many
cattle and hogs to feed, there are times when he needs hay or corn. Then he
will buy from anyone passing on the highway who sees his sign and has the
right product to sell him. When the farm is short of stock and long on feed,
the truckers become the buyers. The last crop of turkeys and hogs was all
sold by this sign. Whenever there is a surplus of any stock or produce, the
sign usually sells it in a few days. From time to time, feeder cattle or hay may
be auctioned in the field. The sign tells the passer-by several days ahead of
time about the auction. Two signs are in use all the time on this farm of 1,050
acres—one on each side of the place where the highway intersects the
property line.

Is there an idea here for a business of your own in selling and installing signs
like these for the wide-awake farmers in your locality?
chapter fIVe
THINGS TO INVENT AND PATENT