1 6 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMENS ASSOCIATION. 



There is always something for a d'airyman to learn in his business, 

 as well as in any other industry. There are great improvements in the 

 line of farm machinery developing from year to year, and why should 

 there not be in the handling of cows? 



We have on our program for this meeting some of the very best 

 talent in this country. Farmers, whether dairymen or not, can ill afford 

 to miss this meeting. There is not a farmer in this room that cannot 

 make some suggestions or ask some questions. 



We have come here to teach others and to be taught, and if we should 

 happen to run against knotty problems there are men here who can solve 

 them. I will venture to say that the average farmer can learn more prac- 

 tical knowledge by attending this convention, listening to the addresses 

 and taking part in the discussions with the professional men in the dif- 

 ferent lines of agriculture and dairying, that will be on the program of 

 this meeting, than he could work out on the farm in a lifetime. Gentle- 

 men, 'life is too short for one man to learn everything by his own exper- 

 ience or labor; we must profit by the experience of others. 



I believe the dairly business of Illinois will be advanced largely by the 

 aid of the Dairy and Food Commissioner, Hon. A. H. Jones, and his as- 

 sistant, the worthy J. H. Monrad, whom you all know and resipect. The 

 dairymen have the utmost confidence in the Commissioner and assistant 

 and heartily approve of the appointments. 



The Illinois State Farmers' Institute is doing good work in that line. 

 County institutes are being held in counties where they were never held 

 before, even in old dairy districts. I hope the good work will go on until 

 there is an institute held in every County in the State, and if that won't 

 bring the farmers out, i would like to see meetings held in the district 

 school houses, and I firmly believe that much good could be accomplished 

 by the latter method. 



The Dairy and Agricultural interests of the State are to be congrat- 

 ulated on the recognition given them by the last legislature in the ap- 

 propriation of $150,000.00 to be expended in building a State Agricuiiural 

 and Dairy Building. 



