24 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



'\A'ith such able instructors on the prugram as Prof. 

 Davenport and Gurler, of Illinois, Hecker, of Minnesota, 

 Farrington, of Wisconsin, and other able speakers, the in- 

 formation that was received there from such able men — 

 men not only of State, but National reputation. Men who 

 have spent years in experimenting and made a life-long 

 study of dairying, should be appreciated by the average 

 dairyman who has not time to work out all the knotty 

 problems connected with successful dairying. We must have 

 leaders in the dairy business the same as in other branches 

 of industry. I am satisfied that there are many dairymen 

 who would obtain more real valuable information about 

 dairying at our meeting this year than they would learn on 

 their farms in a life-time. It is to be regretted that the aver- 

 age farmer does not read more dairy papers and appreciate 

 Farmers' Institutes and dairy conventions and tnke the time 

 to attend them, w^hen they are held within their reach. I do 

 not consider it absolutely necessary for a dairyman to be 

 what the world would call an educated man, but to be suc- 

 cessful in dairying, he should be educated in that line of busi- 

 ness. 



The low price of milk, butter, cheese, etc., at the present 

 time does not afford the average dairyman all the luxuries of 

 the season. At the same time I think T am safe in saying 

 that the dairy industry has suffered less during the depres- 

 sion in prices of the last few years than any other branch of 

 farming. 



The time has past when a dairymen can successfully fol- 

 low the steps of his father. We live in an age of progression 

 and dairymen, as well as business men, must keep pace with 

 the times if they wish to make money. 



It was not the intent of the Secretary to have any long 

 spun theories on the program, but plain practical ideas that 

 would interest and instruct the dairymen and creamery man. 

 This meeting was for them. 



The Northern part of Illinois is particularly adopted to 

 dairying and makes the price of butter for the United States. 

 We are driving the band wagon — our sister States may be 

 grasping for the lines and whip. It behooves us to lead the 

 procession in the art of butter making that we may maintain 



