TENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK-PART VIII :M1 



tions that aw coming in from our friends, we hope to make a showing 

 that will make it comparatively easy to secure $15,000 or $20,000 a 

 year from this winter. 



To the man who thought that with this appropriation secured, the 

 work was done, I wish to say that it is only begun. The question now 

 most important is, how can it be used to the very best possible advant- 

 tage. 



To those not familiar with the work during the session of the legis- 

 lature last winter, I will say that it was only by reason of hard work 

 in both the senate and house on the part of a few good friends, members 

 in both places, that our association was able to accomplish what they 

 did. 



Your officers and legislative committee must make their pledge good, 

 that every dollar of this money must be used and accounted for by them 

 for the general good and uplift of the dairymen over the entire state. 

 These funds must be used in the same careful way as we would make 

 expenditures in our own business, always keeping in mind that the care- 

 ful and judicious use of this, will lessen the work of securing another 

 appropriation. In arranging with H. G. Van Pelt as dairy expert, your 

 board felt that they were securing the very best man available. His 

 work up to this time, is the best of evidence that they used good judg- 

 ment. 



It is now up to the members to help him in the work we want done. 

 He is your servant, and we know he is anxious to serve you well. There 

 are so many lines of work to be taken up, that he will not lack for em- 

 ployment. The most important among which we might mention, are 

 cow testing associations, small conventions or short courses in dairying, 

 furnishing speakers for chautauquas, fairs, dairy picnics, creamery meet- 

 ings and dairy trains. The extention and Dairy Department at the 

 college have very generously offered us all possible assistance in this 

 work. The dairy spirit permeates the air in Iowa. To those of us 

 who have been looking forward for years for the dawn of these condi- 

 tions, it is with no little degree of pride that we point to the advance- 

 ment made in the last five years. The prejudices have worn away. 

 The man who by reason of bringing a dairy-bred bull into a neighborhood, 

 was looked upon as an undesirable citizen, is now considered by many, a 

 benefactor. It is right that he should be. 



. The first cattle I was ever interested in, in low-a, were a lot of two- 

 year-old heifers and young cows. I put them in a herd in May, to be 

 cared for at $1.00 each for the grazing season of about six months. They 

 were herded on what was then known as speculators land, one man with 

 a pony caring for about 500 head. This prairie or hei'd land, was worth 

 from $5.00 to $15.00 per acre. Today this same land is selling at $75.00 

 to $125.00. This is easily understood that while there was a little money 

 in keeping a cow for her calf alone in former years, there would be noth- 

 ing left for profit now. 



It is the history of all countries, that as land becomes valuable, the 

 dairy cow comes into her own. A cow producing only 150 pounds of 

 butter per year, should be kept long enough to be bred to a high class 



