Thirty-fourth Annual Convention. ^^^ 



Mr. Rabild: — ^The first year they only had 390 cows and we 

 got a man from the old country, who had done this work there 

 and was thoroughly posted on it. He was willing to work for 

 small wages the first year until he learned the language, it was 

 good experience for him and of material benefit to us. The rest 

 of the associations have in the neighborhood of 300 cows. 



Mr. De Yarmond: — How are these associations started or 

 organized ? 



Mr. Rabild : — I have organized the associations in Michi- 

 gan. I get my pay from the state, I am a state dairy and food 

 inspector. I have taken an interest in this work and organize 

 for them when the farmers want it. As soon as they are organ- 

 ized, we call a meeting and I put the business in the hands of the 

 farmers, they own the business from that time on. Through 

 the courtesy of the dairy and food commissioner, we loan them 

 a Babcock tester for a year free, we also furnish them with books 

 and blanks and records which they need in their association. 



Mr. Jorgenson : — How many cows could a man take care 

 of in a year, because the more cows in an association the cheaper 

 it would be for each man? 



Mr. Rabild : — A man could test forty or fifty cows in a day. 

 We do not find many big herds of forty or fifty cows in Michi- 

 gan, but if the farms are located close together he can test two 

 herds in one day. A man could test forty or fifty cows a day. 



Member: — Most of the people around here keep not less 

 than twenty-five cows. Will you please tell us something about 

 the organization to carry on this business? 



Mr. Rabild: — ^They form this association, elect a president, 

 secretary and treasurer and they have meetings once in a while. I 

 take great pains to see they do have meetings because I know if 

 they get together once in a while and talk over their experience 

 and the quality of their cows, that they are going to get more in- 

 terested in it. They have a meeting once in a while and talk 

 those things over. At the end of the year they have an annual 

 meeting and elect offibers again, I notice there is quite a strife 

 to get in as director. One of these associations has nine direct- 

 ors. The president is supposed to be the manager and have 

 charge of the business end of the association, but the man that 

 goes around among the farmers, tests the cows and stays with 

 them and makes his home with them one day each month, is the 



