INTRODUCTION. 



Geo. Caven, Secretary. 



Every expectation of making the thirty-seventh annual con- 

 vention of the Illinois State Dairymen's Association, in Elgin, 

 January 16, 17, 18 and 19, 191 1, a record meeting was more 

 than realized. 



An attendance of 500 to 800 at the opening meeting Mon- 

 day night, fully 1,000 — nearly all dairy farmers — at the Tuesday 

 afternoon session, and even a greater attendance at the sessions 

 Wednesday and Thursday, tell the story of this convention. 



It was the first time in the history of the Association that 

 dairy cattle formed a part of the exhibit. Some thirty head were 

 shown and included all prize cattle, the Holsteins, of course, pre- 

 dominating , as they lead among Northern Illinois herds. 



The Glee Club of the Elgin high school furnished music at 

 the evening sessions. Speakers for Monday evening, the open- 

 ing session, were Mrs. Scott Durand, of Lake Forest, and S. B. 

 Shilling, of Chicago. The latter's talk was general, he having 

 been called upon because of the failure of one of the announced 

 speakers to arrive. 



Mrs. Durand devoted much of her time to the tuberculin test 

 and the production of clean milk. 



The formal opening of the convention came Tuesday morn- 

 ing, when, with the audience space well filled, Rev. C. S. Thomas 

 asked a blessing and Mayor Fehrman spoke a few words of wel- 

 come. Charles Gilkerson, of Marengo, responded. President 

 L. N. Wiggins then read his annual address. 



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