LOCAL AGRICULTURAL OR HORTICULTURAL SOCIETIES

Act 80 of 1855

AN ACT to authorize the formation of local agricultural and horticultural societies; and to impose certain duties on the department of commerce.


History: 1855, Act 80, Imd. Eff. Feb. 12, 1855 ;-- Am. 1965, Act 69, Imd. Eff. June 22, 1965 ;-- Am. 1982, Act 96, Imd. Eff. Apr. 19, 1982




The People of the State of Michigan enact:


453.231 Agricultural or horticultural society; formation; making, signing, and acknowledging articles of association; filing copy of articles with department of commerce; content of articles.

Sec. 1.

     Any 10 or more persons, inhabitants of this state, who shall desire to form an agricultural or horticultural society in any county, township, city or village, or in any 2 or more of them, being contiguous, in this state, may make, sign and acknowledge articles of association, before any officer authorized to take acknowlegments of deeds in this state, and file the same in the corporation and securities bureau of the department of commerce. The articles shall state the name by which such society shall be known in law, the particular business and objects of such society, the number of trustees, directors or managers, who shall manage the same; and the names of such directors, trustees or managers thereof for the first year of its existence.


History: 1855, Act 80, Imd. Eff. Feb. 12, 1855 ;-- CL 1857, 1692 ;-- CL 1871, 2168 ;-- Am. 1879, Act 43, Imd. Eff. Apr. 19, 1879 ;-- How. 2303 ;-- CL 1897, 5953 ;-- CL 1915, 7831 ;-- CL 1929, 10218 ;-- CL 1948, 453.231 ;-- Am. 1965, Act 69, Imd. Eff. June 22, 1965 ;-- Am. 1982, Act 96, Imd. Eff. Apr. 19, 1982





453.232 Local agricultural societies; body corporate, powers; real estate, purchase and holding, limitation.

Sec. 2.

     Upon filing such articles of association, the persons who have signed the same, and their associates and successors shall become a body corporate by the name stated in such articles. No 2 societies shall assume the same name. By that corporate name the signers of the articles and their successors may have succession and shall be persons in law capable of suing and being sued, and they and their successors may have and use a common seal, which they may alter and change at pleasure, and they and their successors, by their corporate name, shall be capable of purchasing and holding, taking and receiving, by gift, devise or otherwise, exempt from taxation, real estate for the purpose of their incorporation; and they may make all necessary bylaws for the management of such societies not inconsistent with the laws of this state or of the United States. A current copy of the bylaws shall be filed with the director of agriculture.


History: 1855, Act 80, Imd. Eff. Feb. 12, 1855 ;-- CL 1857, 1693 ;-- Am. 1867, Act 88, Imd. Eff. Mar. 23, 1867 ;-- CL 1871, 2169 ;-- Am. 1881, Act 228, Imd. Eff. June 7, 1881 ;-- How. 2304 ;-- Am. 1885, Act 44, Eff. Sept. 19, 1885 ;-- Am. 1889, Act 251, Imd. Eff. July 3, 1889 ;-- CL 1897, 5954 ;-- CL 1915, 7832 ;-- CL 1929, 10219 ;-- CL 1948, 453.232 ;-- Am. 1949, Act 251, Eff. Sept. 23, 1949 ;-- Am. 1965, Act 69, Imd. Eff. June 22, 1965





453.233 Stockholders.

Sec. 3.

     Any person who has attained the age of 18 years and shall pay into the treasury of the society, at a time and in an amount and manner as the bylaws direct, a sum of money not to exceed $25.00, and subscribe to the articles of association shall be a stockholder or member therein and entitled to all the privileges and immunities thereof.


History: 1855, Act 80, Imd. Eff. Feb. 12, 1855 ;-- CL 1857, 1694 ;-- CL 1871, 2170 ;-- How. 2305 ;-- CL 1897, 5955 ;-- CL 1915, 7833 ;-- CL 1929, 10220 ;-- CL 1948, 453.233 ;-- Am. 1965, Act 69, Imd. Eff. June 22, 1965 ;-- Am. 1972, Act 27, Imd. Eff. Feb. 19, 1972





453.234 Local agricultural societies; board of directors; officers; powers.

Sec. 4.

     A board of directors consisting of at least 5 members may be elected by the stockholders of the society at their annual meeting. Vacancies occurring on the board between annual meetings may be filled by the board. The bylaws or articles of association may provide that anyone of the board may hold office for 1, 2 or 3 years. The board of directors shall elect a president, a secretary and a treasurer, and any other officers, either from their own number or from the other stockholders as the articles of association or the bylaws may provide. Each of the officers and directors shall be entitled to 1 vote on questions coming before the board. A majority of the officers and directors shall constitute a quorum to transact business. Such officers and directors shall constitute a board of management of the affairs of the society. They shall manage the property and business of the society to best promote the interests of educational, agricultural, horticultural and mechanical arts; they may hold fairs and exhibitions and distribute premiums for the best and most meritorious animals or articles exhibited in the several departments, as shall be provided by their bylaws and regulations. A member of any regularly organized agricultural society must be enrolled and recorded at least 30 days prior to the annual meeting, to be able to vote at such meeting.


History: 1855, Act 80, Imd. Eff. Feb. 12, 1855 ;-- CL 1857, 1695 ;-- Am. 1867, Act 88, Imd. Eff. Mar. 23, 1867 ;-- CL 1871, 2171 ;-- How. 2306 ;-- CL 1897, 5956 ;-- CL 1915, 7834 ;-- Am. 1923, Act 298, Eff. Aug. 30, 1923 ;-- CL 1929, 10221 ;-- CL 1948, 453.234 ;-- Am. 1956, Act 133, Eff. Aug. 11, 1956 ;-- Am. 1965, Act 69, Imd. Eff. June 22, 1965





453.235 Repealed. 1965, Act 69, Imd. Eff. June 22, 1965.


Compiler's Notes: The repealed section limited number of agricultural societies in particular area but authorized contiguous counties, towns, or parts of towns to join to form district societies.





453.236 Local agricultural societies; sale of real estate, procedure.

Sec. 6.

     A society may sell, from time to time, the whole or any part of its real estate, when authorized by the society, at an annual meeting thereof, or at a special meeting thereof, called for that purpose, by a vote of a majority of the members of such society present at such meeting, and notice of the intention to vote on the question of the sale having been published in some newspaper published in the county, if there be 1 published, and if not, then in some newspaper published in an adjoining county, once a week for 3 succeeding weeks next preceding such annual or special meeting.


History: 1855, Act 80, Imd. Eff. Feb. 12, 1855 ;-- CL 1857, 1697 ;-- CL 1871, 2173 ;-- How. 2308 ;-- CL 1897, 5958 ;-- Am. 1909, Act 253, Eff. Sept. 1, 1909 ;-- CL 1915, 7836 ;-- CL 1929, 10223 ;-- CL 1948, 453.236 ;-- Am. 1965, Act 69, Imd. Eff. June 22, 1965





453.237 Repealed. 1965, Act 69, Imd. Eff. June 22, 1965.


Compiler's Notes: The repealed section provided for liability of stockholders in agricultural societies.





453.238 Statement to director of agriculture.

Sec. 8.

     The president, secretary or authorized agents of a society within 120 days after the close of their event, or June 30, whichever occurs first, shall make out and transmit to the director of agriculture at his office, a statement of the transactions of the society for the preceding year, and giving a full detail of the receipts and expenditures thereof, with a list of the premiums awarded, and to whom, and for what purpose.


History: 1855, Act 80, Imd. Eff. Feb. 12, 1855 ;-- CL 1857, 1699 ;-- CL 1871, 2175 ;-- How. 2310 ;-- CL 1897, 5960 ;-- CL 1915, 7838 ;-- CL 1929, 10225 ;-- CL 1948, 453.238 ;-- Am. 1965, Act 69, Imd. Eff. June 22, 1965 ;-- Am. 1972, Act 204, Imd. Eff. June 30, 1972





453.239 Repealed. 1965, Act 69, Imd. Eff. June 22, 1965.


Compiler's Notes: The repealed section made Act 80 of 1955 subject to sections 450.504-450.525.





453.240 Local agricultural societies; articles of association, amendment procedure, filing.

Sec. 10.

     It shall be lawful for any society organized under this act, upon a vote of 2/3 of the members present at any annual meeting, to alter or amend its articles of association or bylaws in any manner not inconsistent with the provisions of this act. Notice of the intended alteration or amendment shall be given at least 30 days prior to the annual meeting of the society; and it shall be the duty of the secretary of any such society, in giving notice of any annual meeting, to specify the alterations or amendments to be brought before it. The alterations or amendments so made, shall be duly certified by the president and secretary of the society, and filed in the office of the director of agriculture, whereupon the alterations or amendments shall have the same force and effect as original articles of association.


History: Add. 1879, Act 43, Imd. Eff. Apr. 19, 1879 ;-- How. 2312 ;-- CL 1897, 5962 ;-- CL 1915, 7840 ;-- CL 1929, 10227 ;-- CL 1948, 453.240 ;-- Am. 1965, Act 69, Imd. Eff. June 22, 1965



Rendered 8/15/2025 6:27 AM
Michigan Compiled Laws Complete Through PA 5 of 2025
Courtesy of legislature.mi.gov