Agria 39. (Az Egri Múzeum Évkönyve - Annales Musei Agriensis, 2003)

Misóczki Lajos–Misóczki Lajosné: A Heves megyei Gazdasági Egyesület 1858–1949

Lajos Misóczki - Mária Misóczki The Heves County Agricultural Association 1858-1949 One of Heves (and Outer Szolnok) County's associations, founded almost one and fifty years ago, the Heves County Agricultural Association, was recognised by other similar bodies elsewhere in the country. The association, founded in 1858, helped to prompt and then foster domestic economic, social and political relationships. Rather than being a deliberately county initiative it followed examples which were already in existence elsewhere. It proved a wise decision on the part of the association leadership to set up in Gyöngyös, as, with one or two interruptions it provided a secure home for almost a century. From the moment of its inception the association represented the interests of dukes, counts, barons and great landowners; at the turn of the century it set up strike prevention commitees to fend off initiatives launched by the agricultural labour movement. The greater landowners within the association excelled, however, when it came to the introduction of new strains of plants, new production methods and modern agricultural machinery. During the course of its existence the association also came to represent the interests of medium landowners and the smallholders, the combined efforts of which led to initiatives in the field of research and education. This was shown particularly when the association helped to get smallholders back on their feet during the 1880s following the outbreak of phylloxera. Its charitable activities became known throughout the county. The association successfully combined theoretical and practical economic development in the fields of agriculture, animal husbandry, forestry, pastoral management, hunting and other forms of agriculture. It organised lectures, "subsistance" courses as well as general and specialist shows and fairs. From the beginning of the 20th century, its branching out into other activities in the public sphere and its involvement across the entire political spectrum marked it out from associations in other counties. Following the Second World War the efforts of its leaders to create a single county-wide association out of the medium landowners and the smallholders failed. Once the opportunity had been missed events moved on apace. With forced collectivisation the association lost its raison d'être. At its final committee meeting on 15th September 1949, the remaining 40-man "membership" temporarily suspended operations having received advice "from above". The association made its final public appearance at the Gyöngyös agricultural show held in the middle of August 1950 after which it disappeared for good. Nevertheless there is much one can learn from its existence. The endeavours of its progressive organisers, and the strength of both of its individual members and the body as a whole are as relevant today as they were then. The association records, albeit incomplete, are therefore a useful resource. There was a sense of history in the air in Gyöngyös on October 23rd 1990 when the Mátravidék Economic Association was founded. Although not strictly speaking an agricultural association, in adopting some of the best traditions of the agricultural association, it has, under the leadership of József Láng and its four branches, played its part in the upswing of economic fortunes in the region. 482