FIFTEENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART VI 423 



pliances, model silos, barns, etc., as well as representatives of the 

 leading breeds were shown to the audiences after the program at 

 the hall and the local cow show had been completed. 



A community cow show was held in conjunction with 58 of the 

 meetings conducted during the year. This feature in every instance 

 proved most practical and instructive. At each town the business 

 men provided prizes for the best cows exhibited. This created 

 considerable rivalry and brought out an average of 18 cows at each 

 show. 



In addition to the farmers' meetings an effort was made to reach 

 the younger generation. In order to do this most efficiently, lectures 

 on general dairying were delivered to the high school students. At 

 the completion of the lectures the boys and girls were given work 

 in judging dairy cattle. Prizes for this contest w^ere also offered 

 by the local merchants. According to the records 1685 boys and 

 girls were given instructions in judging dairy cattle. 



A milk record contest among the boys and girls between the 

 ages of 12 and 20 years was also conducted during the year. One 

 hundred and eighty-two contestants w^ere entered, and one hun- 

 dred fifty-seven completed the work. Each of the contestants kept 

 records on the milk and butterfat produced, the cost of feed, and 

 figured the profit or loss on three or more cows for three months. 

 The results of the contest indicate that 623 cows were under test. 

 Practically all of them were located on farms which would not 

 have carried on this work had it not been for the contest. As an 

 inducement to encourage the boys and girls to enter this contest, 

 three pure bred bull calves, representing the Holstein, Jersey and 

 Guernsey breeds were given for the first three prizes. Other prizes 

 in the form of dairy equipment, cash prizes and farm journals 

 were offered by companies interested in the promotion of dairying. 



A number of creameries were assisted in issuing to their patrons 

 bulletins containing dairy information. The department made 

 a study of the conditions of the various localities and furnished 

 the copy for these bulletins. 



The practice of issuing bulletins which began last year was con- 

 tinued throughout the present year. During the busy season for 

 the farmers when it was impossible to hold meetings, bulletins on 

 timely topics, pertaining to the improvement of the dairy condi- 

 tions on the average farm were prepared and sent for publication 

 to the newspapers in 364 communities. 



