THE PERCHERON REVIEW 
25 
Percheron Organization in Tazewell 
County, Illinois 
The Tazewell County Percheron Breeders As- 
sociation is the first county Percheron organization 
ever formed. When I began work here as County 
Adviser in June, 1913, the idea of organizing local 
Percheron interests was presented to some of the 
most influential breeders. They favored the plan, 
so a meeting was called early in July, with all the 
Percheron breeders in the county invited. Forty- 
seven were present. Addresses were made by 
Secretary Wayne Dinsmore of the Percheron Society 
of America and by the writer, presenting the pro- 
posed plan of organization and outlining the work 
that could be done. A constitution was drawn up 
and adopted, providing for the usual officers and 
routine procedure, fixing the annual dues at $1.00 
and throwing membership open to all who were 
breeding purebred Percheron horses. This pro- 
vision brought in some members at first from out- 
side the county. At a later meeting an amendment 
was passed restricting membership to those who 
belonged to the Tazewell County Farm Bureau. 
This restricts membership entirely to Tazewell 
County breeders, all of whom belong to the parent 
organization of 475 farmers, farmers who are work- 
ing together for better agriculture in the county. 
The first fall the new association encouraged colt 
shows and the very first one was a splendid success. 
Two or three shows were held in 1913 and in 1914. 
In 1915 there were five shows with a total of 107 
entries. In 1913 and again in 1914, a circular was 
issued listing the Percherons for sale and describing 
the local breeding conditions. Several thousand 
copies of these were sent out. These brought busi- 
ness right from the start and resulted in sales singly 
and in car lots. Through the exploitation of the 
county's Percheron resources by means of this 
literature, the private sales of Percherons through 
the organization in 1913 amounted to 30 head, in 
1914 to 30 head, and in 1915 to 45 head. 
In 1915 another venture was started. For the 
purpose of advertising the county still further, and 
furnishing a home market for surplus stock, the 
association held a consignment sale at Pekin on 
December 9th. Entries to this sale were confined 
to sound Percherons registered in the Percheron 
Society of America, and accepted by a committee of 
three officers of the association. The horses were 
inspected just prior to cataloging by an assistant 
state veterinarian and only sound ones accepted. 
Twenty breeders put horses in the sale and the 
number disposed of was 32 head. In addition to 
guaranteeing these horses to be sound the sale 
committee announced in the auction ring any minor 
blemishes such as splints, stocked ankles, car bruises 
or slight filling in the hocks due to shipping to the 
sale and standing in the stables. The interests of 
buyers were fully safeguarded. There was an 
Keota Honorable 114103 
immense crowd at the sale and many visitors merely 
attended to see how this pioneer venture would re- 
sult. The average price was $306.00, which is 
considered very satisfactory in view of the fact 
that this was the first sale of the kind ever held, and 
most of the entries yearling stallions. The top price 
of the sale was $740.00 for a two-year-old stallion. 
It was promptly decided to hold a sale in December, 
1916. Subsequent private sales have been so brisk 
that stock available at that time may be scarce. 
Following this auction sale inquiries came in for 
Percheron stallions and mares, and also for grade 
Percheron mares. One pair of grade mares was 
shipped to Florida in December and since January 
1st about forty grade mares have been shipped to 
other parts of Illinois and to other states, directly 
to farmers. These mares have gone to Kentucky, 
Massachusetts, New York and Alabama. In some 
cases farmers sent their money in advance with 
instructions to pick out mares to suit their descrip- 
tions and ship them on. In all cases they have re- 
ported that these purchases were highly satisfactory. 
One planter from Alabama came up in January and 
bought a pair of grade Percheron mares. A friend 
of his was so well pleased with them that he sent up 
a draft with instructions to buy him a purebred 
stallion. This stallion was bought from a local 
breeder and shipped to him by express a short time 
ago. 
Of course the conduct of this business has neces- 
sitated occasional meetings of the whole association, 
and of the special committees. At such times the 
attendance is good and there is earnest discussion of 
breeding and business problems. The meetings 
have done more good in this way than they would if 
held merely for educational purposes, because the 
business interest has prompted attendance and has 
