The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-02-08
A MINNESOTA IDEA
TEST INSPIRED BY STATES
MONTHLY CONTESTS
THE CAMPAIGN OF EDUCATION
How Dairy Department Is StimM-
Iating the Bnttermakers-Min-
nesOtans Eager for the
*
National Exhibit.

Minnesota has taken the lead in SO
many departments of Industrial effort
that it no longer occasions any comment
when other states pay tribute to her
energy. Several days ago h e G o g
contained am account of sthetattefnpt Of
! the National Creamery Buttermakers
association to hold a six months national
butter scoring contest, 5nRo viding 500 en-
tries could be secured, and declared that
Minnesota might be expected to do its
share toward making the contest an as
sured success. Already evidences of this
are fast coming IN. Buttermakers in all
parts of the state are wrir.xg0lr1 and de-
claring their intention Of participating
in that contest If it is held, and if the
other states do anywhere near IS well
as Minnesota there will be many times
500 entries, and it will be truly a national
affair. s..4 49, as..es ,.@oss
This contest should be of unusual IN
terest to Minnesotans because the idea
was taken from Minnesota, as. have been
many of the best dairy ideas of the past
two or three years. -H
Last May Commissioner Mcconnell and
Assistant Commissioner Dingman orig
mated the monthly butter scoring c-1-
tests as a permanent feature of the work
of the state dairy and food department.
At the beginning of each month circular
letter is sent out to every 1dalryrnan IN
Minnesota notifying him of the monthly
contest, ana the conditions governing II,
and asking him to send in his butter to
be scored by the department. The butter
is scored by experts in the department,
and the three highest exhibitors are
awarded prizes of SIS, So and 81, and also
beautifully engraved diplomas. At the
end of the year all buttermakers who
have participated in six of the twelve
contests, and have an average above
SO will receive special diplomas from the
department.
After the putter is scored it is sold by
the department in a lump sum to bidders,
and the buttermakers@ receive all the
money with the exception of a small
amount paid for freight.
Get Good Prices.
The amount paid for this butter during
the past few months has been one cent
below the New York market price; so the
farmers have made good profitable sales
in addition to having their butter scored
by the department. The exhibitors re-
ceive letters from the department point
ing out wherein they have failed and the
remedies for the failures. In many cases
inspectors of the department visit the
creamery men and show them wherein
they may improve their butter. In this
way the dairy industry of the state is
greatly benefited and stimulus is given
to re industry. From the beginning
these contests have been successful be-
yond all anticipation. The number of ex-
hfbitors has increased from month to
month, and every month new creameries
come in to the competition for the pur-
pose of improving their butter.
Minnesota was the first state in the
Union to institute such feature, and
| the proposed national butter contest is
! an idea taken from Minnesota. The
! years experience has given the Minnesota
| buttermakers no little education and
! beneficial information, and Minnesota will
! therefore be in a good position TO compete
| in the national contest when it is held
The Minnesota dairymen are enthusi-
| astic over the proposed contest and eager
| to go in, determined to win new honors
| for the Bread and Butter State" From
| now on they will be preparing for it, and
the state department will render all as
| sistance possible. Should Minnesota come
off with the prize at this contest, in com
petition with the other states Of the
Union, the prestige would be WORTH
| millions to the state.