Wittgenstein Agricultural District Association
The Agricultural District Association Wittgenstein E.V . is the oldest agricultural district association in the former Prussian provinces of Rhineland and Westphalia . It was founded on November 12, 1832 in Berleburg and has 1200 members.
Starting position
The economic and social conditions in Wittgenstein were miserable at the beginning of the 19th century and worsened again in the 10 years of the Hessian administration (1806-1816) after the residents of the two principalities were already burdened with considerable taxes and levies were, further were imposed by the Grand Duchy of Hesse without providing relief to the Wittgenstein rulers. The rule of Hesse ended in 1816; the two Wittgenstein principalities were ceded to the Kingdom of Prussia , which campaigned for a sustainable improvement in conditions. The most important points of a fundamental change in the Wittgenstein district , which was newly founded in 1817, were seen as the elimination of the landlord's dependency with its enormous burdens and a decisive reform of the rural economy. The government in Arnsberg therefore declared serfdom to be abolished on February 13, 1817. Through further contracts between the Prussian state and the two Wittgenstein princes, a number of noble and tax-like duties of the rulers were repealed, which in turn waived part of the landlord's duties. This development process, constantly driven by Prussia and its local representatives, gradually led to an improvement in the economic situation and at the same time cleared the way for the now free farmers to join forces. Nevertheless, it was not until December 22nd, 1839, when the redemption of all real burdens could be announced and the Wittgenstein farmers could become owners of their previously lent goods. At the same time, the Wittgenstein district had already awakened and promoted a completely new self-image a few years earlier with the establishment of an agricultural association.
Foundation and goals of the association
The association was founded on the initiative of two people: the former district administrator and secret government councilor Wilhelm Friedrich Groos and the royal Wittgenstein court administrator Daniel Krämer. They gathered a circle of influential Wittgenstein men around them. E.g. the businessman Franz Althaus, court pharmacist Schütz and economist Öchelhäuser from Berleburg, the princely chamber councilor Abresch and the princely building manager Rintelen from Laasphe , the merchant Martin from Erndtebrück , pastor Vogel from Feudingen , Schulze Bänffer from Elsoff , farmer Strack from Holzhausen and domain tenant Hofmann from Saßmannshausen . After a total of 112 like-minded people had come together, the “Agricultural and Commercial Association in the Wittgenstein District” was founded on November 12th in Berleburg. The persons named above belonged to the first board of directors. The association's statutes were discussed and presented and approved at a second general assembly on August 3, 1833. The copy of the adopted statute was published on October 2, 1833 in Berleburg and then submitted to "higher place for approval".
The association's statutes were approved on January 27, 1834 by the High President of the Province of Westphalia, Baron von Vincke in Münster .
Ludwig von Vincke not only approved the statutes, but was so convinced that he joined the association as a "real member" and as a sponsor.
The main goals of the association are:
- Improvement of meadow cultivation (irrigation and drainage, raising of forage cultivation, especially grassland management)
- Promotion of arable farming (e.g. raising the fertilizer industry, improving the use of seeds)
- Promotion of wood cultivation (e.g. improvement of rural forest management, selection of high-performance types of wood)
- Promotion of cattle breeding, especially cattle breeding in Wittgenstein
- Activation and revitalization of those trades "which most correspond to the peculiar conditions of the Wittgenstein district".
- Suspension of prices and support contributions for improvements in agriculture and trade.
- Passing on new knowledge in agriculture and trade (today: adult education) through lectures and publications, later also through the establishment of agricultural test fields and tree nurseries, establishment of an agricultural winter school, etc.
The general meetings took place annually on “3. August morning 9 am ”, alternating between Berleburg and Laasphe. This fixed date was given up after a few years.
First development
The association quickly built up a network that went far beyond the Wittgenstein district and included a large number of influential people:
Prince Albrecht I zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg was honorary president from 1833 to 1851.
Prince Alexander zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hohenstein shared the second honorary presidency with him from 1838 to 1874.
Prince Wilhelm zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hohenstein , who served the king as Prussian minister in Berlin, was protector of the agricultural association from 1838 to 1874,
leading men from administration and science were appointed honorary members:
- Professor Kaufmann from Bonn
- Ökonomierat Pabst from Darmstadt, further members of the government in Arnsberg:
- Go Oberfinanzrat and District President Wolfart
- Government Vice President von Porbeck
- Government director of Krug
- Court Court Director Nettler
- Privy Councilor Freiherr von Weichs
- Government Medical Councilor Stoll
The postmaster general von Nagler granted the association postage free for the carriage of letters etc.
In a relatively short time, the association had become a company that seemed to have a decisive influence on the entirety of economic life in the Wittgenstein district. For many decades, it was the custom for the incumbent district administrator to head the association and give it significant support.
The first chairman of the association, District Administrator Groos, was in office from 1832 to 1851. Under his leadership, the first animal show festival was held on the Stünzel in 1833.
With this performance show, along with advice on breeding improvement, with prize money for the best specimens and a general, annual exchange among each other, the farmers were motivated and a significant improvement in breeding results was achieved in the long term.
In addition to the literal goals in the statutes, the association's sphere of activity was considerably more extensive:
He sat down u. a. for livestock insurance , pushed for the establishment of savings banks, promoted road and path construction and motivated the intensification of horse, pig and sheep breeding.
Club magazine
Even when it was founded, the association tried to publicize its goals so that they could reach farmers in the most remote parts of the district. Since the financial means were not sufficient for this, they sought contact with neighboring institutions that had similar problems. On November 23, 1834, the board of directors of the culture and trade association for the Siegen district and the agricultural and trade association for the Wittgenstein district made the decision to publish a joint magazine. The newspaper appeared from January 1835 using both club names and was printed by Wilhelm Vorländer in Siegen . Because of the annual costs of 30 thalers, the Wittgensteiner Verein could no longer bear this very quickly and so both clubs gave up printing this magazine as early as 1837. Then Wittgenstein helped itself for more than three decades with the distribution of handouts and smaller pamphlets. From January 13, 1869, a separate magazine appeared for the first time under the name “ Organ of the Agricultural and Commercial Association in the Wittgenstein District ”. The editing was taken over by the domain inspector Daniel Krämer, who had been elected chairman of the association in the spring of 1868. The newspaper is first printed by Matthey, then by Winckel in Berleburg, and later by Ernst Schmidt in Laasphe. The magazine was sent to the members of the association free of charge, but it was also read in Siegerland and Sauerland, and in 1878 had a circulation of 1,250 copies. The subsequent chairmen of the association also took on the role of editor and author of the " organ " until the district administrator of Gersdorff found himself overloaded with this additional work in 1894, which meant that the printing of this publication was initially discontinued. A revival of the magazine took place again in the years 1898–1905 under the editing of the Laaspher domain inspector Jonas. After his death in 1904, the publisher's question remained unsolved and the general meeting of October 5, 1905 resolved to discontinue the magazine for good. After that, the " Landwirtschaftliche Zeitung for Westphalia and Lippe " was obtained.
Monument to the founders
The association erected a monument in the Stünzel district in the area of the entrance to the town in 1878 to reflect the longstanding work of the two main founders of the association. The exposed location was chosen because the border between the two principalities of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and Sayn-Wittgenstein Hohenstein ran in the immediate vicinity. In addition, the place is on the road between Sassenhausen and Weidenhausen only a few hundred meters from the Stünzel fairground. The monument was inaugurated on Wednesday, June 19, 1878 on the occasion of the then animal show festival. The inauguration speech was given by the incumbent chairman of the association, District Administrator von Schrötter.
It is an approximately three meter high sandstone monument with the two head profiles of the founding fathers. The memorial bears the inscription:
“In memory of the founders and sponsors of the agricultural and trade association for the Wittgenstein district
Mr. Go. Government and district administrator Wilhelm Groos
Domain inspector Daniel Kraemer
Erected in 1878. "
The guests of honor at the inauguration also included the two brothers of the club's founder, who had already died, the Laaspher doctors Emil and Eduard Groos , who thanked them a little later with a large-format advertisement in the circular sheet. A few days after the inauguration, the newspaper complains that the monument has been damaged. Apparently strangers had sharpened their axes on the sandstone.
Reduction of tasks
With the founding of the agricultural school and economic advisory center in Erndtebrück by the Chamber of Agriculture Westphalia-Lippe in 1919, the district association transferred a large part of its previous tasks to this new institution.
The agricultural district association experienced a sharp decline in 1933/34. The association was dissolved by the Nazi state and incorporated into the " Reichsnährstand ". The animal shows did not take place during the Second World War . After the war, the Agricultural District Association began its work again, but was mainly limited to organizing animal shows. Over the years, however, the association was able to develop this into one of the most famous performance shows in domestic agriculture.
List of chairmen and managing directors, current honorary chairmen
Chairperson
| 1832-1851 | Friedrich Wilhelm Groos | District Administrator |
| 1851-1852 | Franz Althaus | Merchant |
| 1852-1854 | Bruno v. Schrötter | District Administrator |
| 1855-1861 | Julius v. Oven | District Administrator |
| 1861-1863 | Karl v. Thielen | Government assessor, later Royal Prussian. Minister of State and Minister of Public Works. |
| 1864-1867 | Julius v. Oven | District Administrator |
| 1867-1867 | Karl Staudinger | Domain tenant |
| 1868-1871 | Daniel Kraemer | Domain inspector |
| 1871-1890 | Wilhelm v. Schroetter | District Administrator |
| 1890 | Philipp Meder | District Veterinarian |
| 1891-1905 | Kurt v. Gersdorff | District Administrator |
| 1905-1911 | Karl Schroeder | District Administrator |
| 1911-1917 | Karl v. Hartmann-Krey | District Administrator |
| 1918-1929 | Dr. Erich Kretschmar | District Administrator |
| 1929-1932 | August Möhn | Economics inspector |
| 1932-1934 | Georg Spies | farmer |
| 1946-1952 | Christian Born | farmer |
| 1952-1958 | Wilhelm Neuser | farmer |
| 1958-1970 | Hugo Claudy | farmer |
| 1970-1998 | Günter Menn | farmer |
| 1998-2014 | Helmut Dreisbach | farmer |
| 2014– | Karsten Hof | farmer |
executive Director
| 1919-1927 | Georg Hopp | Agriculture Council |
| 1927-1933 | Otto Mueller | Agriculture Council |
| 1933-1934 | Dr. Heinz Gramann | Agriculture Council |
| 1946-1948 | Dr. Otto Germann | Chief Agriculture Council |
| 1948-1966 | Hans Seidenstücker | Chief Agriculture Council |
| 1966-1989 | Dr. Gottfried Henrich | Director of Agriculture |
| 1989-1995 | Hermann Lenneper | Managing Director of the Chamber of Agriculture |
| 1995-2006 | Dr. Berndt Högermeyer | Managing Director of the Chamber of Agriculture |
| 2007-2013 | Norbert Wickel | Lawyer |
| 2013-2015 | Ursula Grauel | |
| 2015– | Jörg Sureth |
Honorary chairmen: Günter Menn, Rohrbach, Helmut Dreisbach, Rinthe
Current status
The association has around 1200 members in 2018. One of the main fields of activity is the organization of the well-known animal show festival: The Stünzelfest, an event that is still very popular today with its mix of animal show and animal trade, exhibition of agricultural machines and vehicles, sale of goods of all kinds, food and fair offers and tens of thousands of people Visitors to the forest festival area on the outskirts of the small Berleburg district of Stünzel attracts visitors once a year.
literature
- Festschrift 100 Years of the Agricultural District Association Wittgenstein, authors: Otto Müller, Heinz Gramann, Parchmann, Paul Friedrich, self-published by the Agricultural District Association Wittgenstein eV, Erndtebrück 1932
- Gottfried Henrich: The development of agriculture since the founding of the "Landwirtschaftlichen Kreisverein Wittgenstein eV" in 1832 , In: Erndtebrück - a home book of the upper Edertal , Volume 2, self-published by the Erndtebrück hunting association, Erndtebrück 1977, pp. 195-28,
- Festschrift 150 years of the Wittgenstein Agricultural District Association, authors: Paul Friedrich, Dr. Gottfried Henrich, Werner Wied, self-published by the Landw. Kreisverein Wittgenstein eV, Erndtebrück 1982
- Festschrift 175 years of the Wittgenstein Agricultural District Association , editors: Helmut Dreisbach, Heinrich Sonneborn, Ursula Grauel, Dr. Berndt Högermeyer, Liesel Schoenwolff, Günter Menn, Norbert Wickel, self-published by the Landw. Kreisverein Wittgenstein eV, Erndtebrück 2007
Individual evidence
- ^ Agricultural District Association Wittgenstein eV Accessed on August 28, 2018 .
- ↑ Agriculture Councilor Otto Müller cites in his elaboration 100 Years of the Agricultural District Association Wittgenstein eV , Bad Laasphe, 1932, page 12, partially an inspection report of the government council from Ulmenstein on the extremely poor conditions in Wittgenstein.
- ↑ "93% of the net income from his work is sustained by the farmer in landlord taxes, 7% remains for him to cover his own household costs. Paul Friedrich in: The first 100 years of the agricultural district association . Erndtebrück 1982, p. 13
- ↑ "Law of December 22, 1839 concerning the legal relationships of the landowners and the replacement of real loads in the counties Wittgenstein-Berleburg and Wittgenstein-Wittgenstein", the so-called "Replacement Act".
- ↑ Dr. Gottfried Henrich: 150 Years of the Agricultural District Association 1832-1982 . Ed .: Dr. Henrich on behalf of the Agricultural District Association Wittgenstein eV self-published by the Agricultural District Association, Erndtebrück 1982.
- ↑ In a general assembly on March 5, 1879, the chairman, District Administrator von Schroetter, praised the exemplary forage areas in the Erndtebrück area. Gottfried Henrich: The development of agriculture since the founding of the "Agricultural District Association Wittgenstein in 1832" In: Erndtebrück - a home book of the upper Edertal, vol. 2, p. 203.
- ↑ 1864 foundation of the " savings and advance payment association in Berleburg ", on May 1, 1865 establishment of the " savings and advance payment association in Laasphe ." Was followed by the suggestion of the Agricultural circuit association further local Darlehnskassen associations after the Raiffeisen'schen pattern. 1869 loan Kassenvereinsnummer Berleburg 1870 Erndtebrück-Birkelbacher loan Kassenvereinsnummer , 1872 Arfelder credit union, Laaspher Kreditverein , 1873 loan Kassenvereinsnummer in Wingeshausen and Girkhausen and 1875 in Feudingen .
- ^ Report on the inauguration in the Wittgensteiner Kreisblatt dated June 29, 1878.
- ↑ Acknowledgment of the doctors Emil and Eduard Groos of June 24, 1878, printed in the Wittgensteiner Kreisblatt of June 29, 1878.
- ↑ Reference to the criminal liability of the act as well as offering a reward of 30 marks. In Wittgensteiner Kreisblatt dated June 29, 1878.