KANSAS SHORTHORN ORGANIZATIONS 



The first Kansas State Shorthorn Breeders 

 Association was organized in about 1884. W. S. 

 White of Sabetha was one of the first presidents 

 if not the first and E. M. Shelton, then Professor 

 of Agriculture in the Kansas State Agricultural 

 College, was secretary. Col. W. A. Harris was 

 the leading promoter of the organization which 

 for a few years had a large membership. The 

 hard times and low prices of the late eighties 

 overcame the enthusiasm of the members and the 

 association held its last meeting at Topeka in 

 December 1887. A notable event of this last 

 meeting was the advocacy by Col. Harris of some 

 form of registration which would indicate the 

 quality of the animal recorded if it were 

 of extraordinary merit. The suggestion he 

 made was to adopt a standard for size, 

 general conformation and regard for true 

 Shorthorn type with apparent practical util- 

 ity and to indicate with a star placed before 

 the name in the American herd book such ani- 

 mals as had successfully passed this inspection. 

 A very lively discussion followed and in this 

 meeting originated the remark that Col. Harris 

 was leader of the progressive element among 

 Shorthorn breeders. Although a strong sentiment 



