442 IOWA DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE. 



principles may be so incorporated in our lives and business that all who 

 deal with us may feel that they have dealt with a man who is a man 

 in deed and in truth, and he who ignores these principles takes failure 

 as a partner, although his stock may be of the very best. 



I do not hesitate in saying that I know of no business in which con- 

 fidence in man plays a more important part than it does in the business 

 in which we are engaged. It is in reality our capital stock more truly 

 than the number and quality of the hogs we may own, and he who would 

 establish a permanent business must build on this foundation. May we in 

 all our dealings remember the teaching of the golden rule and may we so 

 conduct our business relations that we will bring honor to ourselves 

 and be a credit to this organization and to the business in which we are 

 engaged. 



I am glad that our annual meeting is held at this place, a place in 

 which every farmer and stockman of our state should have a deep interest, 

 and i hope that everyone of us will use this visit to the best possible ad- 

 vantage and that we can go back with ideas gathered from hearing and 

 observation while here that will make us more proficient in our work. 

 Enthusiasm, like contageous diseases, is catching, but, like all those dis- 

 eases, it does not affect all alike. Some have only a light touch — it is 

 soon over and is forgotten — while others are affected more deeply 

 and the results can always be seen. 



This institution has inspired not only individuals, but states, to 

 higher aims and greater efforts and we swine breeders will be dull indeed 

 if we can come here, look over this institution, understand the character 

 and extent of the work being done, see the quality of the stock, know 

 the standing of the men at the head of it and not go home feeling proud 

 of the institution and filled with a greater enthusiasm for our own work. 



It is not always wise to publicly proclaim that we have the best there 

 is, and especially is this true of stockmen, but there are times 

 and conditions when we are justified in so doing. When we have 

 something that is universally recognized as being the best there 

 is it does not bring contempt upon us to make a statement 

 of that fact and it will be regarded as enthusiasm and not egotism that 

 prompts us to do it. In this relation we want to speak, not of our stock 

 as individuals, but of our own state of Iowa. Our swinemen as a rule 

 are a quiet set of men, but this does not lessen the love we have for our 

 state, nor our pride because of the position it holds among our sister 

 states. 



The enumeration of all the things in which our state stands at the 

 head would make a long list and, while we would not forget any of them, 

 there are a few in which we farmers and stockmen take special pride. 

 Iowa is the leading corn state, it leads in the value of its cattle and stands 

 second only to the state of Texas in the number of its cattle. At the last 

 report it had almost 10,000,000 head of hogs, leading any of the other 

 states by about 4,000,000 head, and, while we would not say it, we swine- 

 men can think it, that some of the very best animals known to the breed 

 can be found in this number. 



