15G ILLINOIS DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



to make the Illinois cow a better cow, to make Illinois milk better 

 milk, to make Illinois butter better butter, and to make Illinois 

 cheese better cheese. 



For thirty-one years the association has been working along 

 those lines. The result has been that the Illinois cow is a lovely 

 animal. She is the Dairy Queen and her milk and butter is de- 

 clar the best. 



This association grew to be of such value that it was the sub- 

 ject of universal comment throughout the state. Out of its meet- 

 ings grew the Illinois Farmers' Institute, established July 1, 1895, 

 and they furnish another agency for the better education in our 

 state. We hold now one hundred and two, or one in every coun- 

 ty in the state every winter. 



Practical men — not simply men who talk — but men who 

 know, go to the Institutes and instruct the farmers in their busi- 

 ness, and do not waste any time talking about politics. They 

 talk about cows up there and milk and what is required to make 

 farming successful and better farmers. 



This organization has been behind the dairy and fool laws 

 of our state. One object of getting the State Food Commission 

 was to enforce the dairy and food laws of the state; another 

 object was to have an organization in the state whose business it 

 should be not only to enforce those laws but to ascertain as far 

 as in their judgment and experience would go, what law T s were 

 required. 



The real foundation of the whole dairy business lies in the 

 milk producer.The chief necessity then in improving the dairy 

 condition is to give the producer such knowledge of the right 

 methods of handling and caring for the milk that he will not only 

 see the necessity for such methods, but may also know how best 

 to accomplish this purpose. 



The condensing factories have been the greatest factor in 

 raising the standard of milk production upon the dairy farms of 

 Illinois. They make certain requirements in regard to the meth- 



