ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 6j; 



those in the dairy business from start to finish. They therefore early in? 

 the '70's organized the Illinois State Dairymen's Association and began, 

 at once a campagn of education. From the birth of this Association to 

 the present time there has been continuous growth and development 

 along dairy lines in Illinois. I had intended to give some facts regarding, 

 the early history of this Association, but could not find in Springfield 

 any copies of the early reports, and I would suggest that if any member,, 

 or any oflBcer of this Association has a set of the Illinois Dairy Association 

 reports to spare that they send them to the Illinois State Historical 

 Library at Springfield. They wo uld be taken care of by the State and 

 become a valuable part of the State's history. 



The most of you are familiar with the Illinois State Dairymen's As- 

 sociation. They have demonstrated the necessity, the utility, and possi- 

 bility of education along practical dairy lines. You know how, by the 

 annual exhibits of dairy product and the careful scoring of the same, the 

 butter and cheese has been improved. The dairymen inaugurated the idea 

 of educating by public discussion and a comparison of experiences, which 

 plan is now so general and beneficially used in the Institutes of the State- 

 along other agricultural lines. The influence of this Association has 

 raised the business standard of the dairyman himself and made him a 

 better citizen. It has called to its assistance the Professors of the Uni- 

 versities and brought them into closer touch with the industrial classes. 

 It has brought the discoveries of the chemist, biologist, bacteriologiit^ 

 and botanist to the farmer and dairymen and adapted them to his compre- 

 hension and use. It has encoura ged and tau'ght the cattle breeder to 

 breed for special purposes, and demonstrated the value of a balanced" 

 ration in economical feeding. It has been the pioneer to introduce the 

 silo and silage, thereby utilizing the entire corn plant to the best advan- 

 tages. 



It has also relieved the housewife of the arduous labor of caring for 

 the milk and made farm life more attractive and enjoyable. The Dairy- 

 men's Association has helped scientific investigation, and put into com- 

 mon use and daily conversation, terms which a few years ago were heard 



