FIFTEENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART VII 465 



It is wonderful how much we all learn at these meetings, and how well 

 we all get to know one another, and wonderful to find that there is not 

 one man but who has something worth learning "up his sleeve" when 

 you get at it right. 



"We farmers here in the northwest corner of Black Hawk county, to- 

 gether with the adjoining corners of Grundy, Butler and Bremer counties, 

 have begun organizing. We have the Pioneer Testing Association (Black 

 Hawk county), the Benson Testing Association (Black Hawk county, 

 and a few in Butler county), Fredsville (Grundy, and a few in Butler 

 county), Janesville (about half from Black Hawk and half from Bremer), 

 and all of these testing associations are included in the Holstein-Friesian 

 Breeders' Association, whose object is to promote the breeding of good 

 dairy cattle and to help one another, both in buying and selling. 



We have set out to make this section the greatest dairy country in 

 Iowa, and we are going to do it too. 



Now in conclusion, let me advise you to start the good work in Kos- 

 suth county. Show us that you can do as good work as we can. I am 

 sure you are as good men. Give us a "dare" and we will accept it and 

 run a friendly race against you to see who can do the most for the good 

 of the farmers, socially and economically. But I warn you in advance 

 that if you are going to equal or beat us you must pull together. 



NEW DAIRY CAMPAIGNS INAUGURATED. 



BY E. S. ESTEL, STATE DAIRY EXPERT. 



It is a peculiar fact that those who are in greatest need of assistance to 

 improve the conditions on their farms are generally the most reluctant to 

 accept advice. This unfortunate circumstance does not only apply to dairy- 

 ing, but to every department of the farm. The men who work hardest to 

 establish farmers' institutes, conduct short courses, and promote the or- 

 ganization of co-operative societies in their local communities, are in the 

 majority of instances those who receive least benefit. 



The educational department of the Iowa State Dairy Association dur- 

 ing the year 1914 has made an effort to overcome the difficulty of reach- 

 ing the non-believer in progressive dairying. This has been done by in- 

 troducing some attractive and exceedingly practical features into each 

 program. The results indicate that this method has been a great help to 

 arouse interest among those who would not otherwise have given dairy- 

 ing a trial. 



The special work was conducted as nearly as possible in those sections 

 where dairying is least developed and where its introduction will be of 

 greatest benefit in improving the agricultural conditions. The southern 

 half of Iowa is in need of more dairying because of the condition of the 

 soil and the relatively low income obtained with the present methods of 

 farming used on high priced land. The mild climate, the abundance of 

 grass, and the adaptability of the soil for the growing of milk producing 

 feeds make the natural conditions ideal for the economical production of 

 milk. There are but few creameries in this portion and therefore, the 

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