FIFTY-THIRD ANNUAL CONVENTION 31 



Address of Stillman J. Stanard, Director of Agriculture of 



Illinois, and Vice-President of the Illinois State 



Dairymen's Association, Delivered at the 



1927 Convention in Harrisburg, 111. 



"Mr. President, and friends: I came here with no in- 

 tention of delivering an address, or of making a set speech, 

 before this body. I just want to talk to you. You can hardly 

 realize what it means to me to have this opportunity to meet 

 with you again, and to see for myself, the good work that 

 is going forward for the advancement of the dairy industry 

 in Illinois. 



"The interest manifest in this splendid convention is 

 evidence of the progress dairy farming in Illinois is record- 

 ing. From the oldest members present, who have witnessed 

 wonderful changes in the methods on the farms throughout 

 this state, to the youngsters who compete in judging dairy 

 cattle — all are striving for a better, more profitable agri- 

 culture, in this highly important branch. 



"It is difficult to over estimate the importance of the 

 dairy industry in Illinois. Last year, the cows that were 

 milked on the farms in this state, produced in revenue 

 $101,000,000.00 — an important item in the income of the 

 farmers of the state. 



"Progress in dairy farming in Illinois, brought about 

 by just such men as you, who are here today, has made 

 dairying our hundred million dollar industry. The improve- 

 ment of the herds, through selective breeding, and the at- 

 tention to the all-important details of proper feeding and 

 proper care, and the advanced methods of handling the 

 product of the cow, have helped to increase the extent and 

 the quality of Illinois dairy products. 



"Dairying is an important phaze of farming, because 

 it is a permanent, self-perpetuating form of farming. 

 When we look back over the history of this nation, as it is 

 linked with the farming activities of our ancestors, we find 

 that the original plan of the pioneers who tilled the soil was 



