Native Soil : NIU Press : 9780875803487 : 0875803482 : 04 Nov 2005 : Located in a region blessed by geology with nutrient-rich, lush, black soil, DeKalb County, Illinois, is known for its agricultural prosperity. Here, in 1912, an enterprising group of successful farmers, businessmen, and bankers joined together to form an agricultural organization dedicated to improving crop production, the DeKalb County Soil Improvement Association. Aided by its capable farm advisor, William G. Eckhardt, this coalition evolved into the DeKalb County Farm Bureau?a new type of organization that soon proliferated throughout the United States, offering educational and farming services to rural communities. One of the oldest in the United States, the DeKalb County Farm Bureau is also one of the most innovative and influential. Originating as a private soil improvement association, it grew to offer a wide variety of assistance to farmers, rural families, and the community. By the 1960s, the DeKalb County