A GOOD WAY TO MARKET WOOL 



Method Recommended by N. Gladys Dimock, Assistant 

 Secretary of Otsego Sheep Breeders' Association 



On March 2, 1915, a group of nineteen men met at Hartwick, 

 New York, and organized the Otsego County Sheep Breeders' 

 Association as an auxiliary of the Otsego County Farm Bureau. 



Previous to the organization of this association the members 

 had been selling their wool for just what the buyer who went 

 from farm to farm would pay for it. 



One of the first things taken up by the new association was the 

 co-operative selling of their wool. Each man agreed to stand by 

 a committee of three which was appointed to take care of the 

 arrangements. 



Sale Was Advertised 



We advertised the sale which was to be held at this office and 

 had samples of wool from our three largest flocks, two of which 

 were pure-bred and one grade. We sold medium wool. Arrange- 

 ments made before bidding began were that the price should be 

 one-third less for cotted or fine wool. Sealed bids were not accept- 

 ed, which was wise. 



$1,000 Saved by Selling at Auction 



The highest price offered just before the sale was 31 cents. The 

 wool sold at auction for 36 cents, an approximate saving of 

 over a thousand dollars. The wool was loaded at two towns, tb^ 

 farmer receiving his pay at the car. 



The Second Year 



The sale was conducted along the same lines the second year. 

 The sale was widely advertised through a Boston commercial 

 paper, and by sending out letters to some hundred buyers and 

 manufacturers. This year we had a professional auctioneer who 

 sold the wool for 39J/2 cents, which was four cents over the 

 market price. 



Practically the whole wool clip of Otsego County was disposed 

 of this year through this Sheep Breeders' Association. A letter 

 was sent to the members asking them to consign their wool to 

 the sale, the amounts ranged from 35 to 2,500 pounds. The 

 smallest grower received as much per pound as the man with 

 the large flock. Last year very little wool was discounted as fine 

 or cotted. Two men from the Association were at the car to help 

 weigh the wool at both shipping points. 



72 



