Report of Missouri Farmers* Week. 



415 



The election of officers resulted as follows, all officers being 

 re-elected: President, James A. Houchin, Jefferson City; Vice- 

 President, Paul Brown, St. Louis ; Treasurer, Wallace Estill, Estill ; 

 Secretary, Rufus Jackson, Mexico. 



Following the adjournment of the business meeting the mem- 

 bers enjoyed a banquet at the Virginia Grill, after which those 

 present attended the meeting in the auditorium and heard the 

 address delivered by Mat S. Cohen of Lexington, Kentucky. 



ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT. 



(James A. Houchin, Jefferson City.) 



The most that I have to say to you at this time is an apology 



for doing nothing during the past year. 

 All that has been done has been the work 

 of your secretary, Mr. Jackson. My time 

 has been so occupied that I have neglected 

 many things in which I am interested. 

 However, the past is gone, and we can only 

 look to the future, and to me the future 

 looks bright. I do not believe that there 

 has ever been a time when good saddle 

 horses were in as great demand as they are 

 today, and in my experience they never 

 were worth as much money as today. 



The saddle horse industry is one that 

 has made progress in spite of the neglect 

 of those interested in the business. The trotting horse has many 

 organizations interested in him and constantly promoting the speed 

 horse. The draft horse, the thoroughbred, the Hackney, and other 

 kinds and classes all have their organizations behind their special 

 kind, but it has been left to the saddle horse to fight his own 

 battles, and finally to win on his own merits. And today through- 

 out America he is the one class that always commands a market, 

 from the east to the west, from the north to the south, and a given 

 number of saddle horses will bring more dollars in any market 

 today than any other class. 



Those of us who are interested need to organize for our own 

 benefit. There are many things that we might do. We should 

 ask horse shows and county fairs to give us the attention we de- 



James Houchin. 



