Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1916-06-07
HOLSTEIN BREEDERS HAVE
BIG SESSION At EDGEWATER
Speeches, Demonstrations, Lunch and
Social Chat Features Last Sat
urday Afternoon.

Social Chat Features Last Sat
urday Afternoon.
The meeting of the Kandiyohi Coun-
ty Holstein-Friesian Breeders Asso-
citation at Edgewater, David Sven
sons farm on north shore of Long
Lake, last Saturday afternoon was a
pleasant and profitable gathering for
all the participants. Twenty-one au-
tos brought people from far and near,
as far south as Svea and east from
Litchfield. There were about hum
dred and twenty-five in attendance.
Robert Thompson presided over the
meeting, which was held on the lawn.
The main speaker was Prof. A. ]. Nc
characteristics of the "black and
whites" in detail, and dwelt upon the
desirable traits that breeders should
aim at producing. The size of the
HOlstein makes it the most practical
''dual-purpose" cow, therefore the size
should be kept up. Quantity of milk
should not be sacrificed in order to
produce higher test. 1t is better to
get large flow Of milk testing 3.5
than smaller quantity testing 40.
The great necessity for testing cows
in order to know what they are do
ing was emphasized, and the speaker
insisted that the testing should be
kept up continuously. While the sew
en-day test was better than none, it
might be misleading, and therefore he
urged testing the year around. The
speaker was given close attention
and was applauded. Prof. Rodegeb
was next called on, and gave informa-
ton about the county organization and
what it was attempting to do. John
A. Nelson of Litchtield was called on
and reviewed some of his experiences.
The years he devoted at raising So
called dualpurpose cattle he con-
sidered wasted, and he made little
progress until he went back again to
the dairy breed. Much harm had
been done by institute workers who
had advocated dual-purpose cattle for
dairymen. He urged more general
showing of animals at the county fair.
He said there were herds enough in
the county to make grand showing,
if the breeders would only exhibit
them. Mr.. Robert Thompson made
some apt remarks, and finally called
on E. B. Heller, the jolly creamery
man from Spicer, who is walking
encyclopedia on dairy matters, and
has in the past owned some of the
record animals of the Holstein breed.
During the speaking session lemon
ade was served by the hostess to all
present and at the close everyone was
invited into the house to partake of
lunch. This seemed very opportune
time for a shower of rain, which how
ever, cleared away in time for the Wis
it to the dairy barn. Edgewater has
one of the finest dairy barns in the
county, equipped as it is with the
modern improvements. The interior
of the barn showed the touch of the
mother, Mrs. John Swenson, who be-
lieves that good dairy cow is the
noblest creature God has given man
She had decorated the barn with Ii
laos and strewn the cement floors with
evergreen twigs for the occasion
David Swenson has one Of the finest
Holstein herds in the county. The
COWS, full-blood and grades, number
thirty-two. There we're "black and
whites" from the small calves to the
large head of the herd, and each was
used as text by Mr.. Mcclure as he
went thru the barn with the visitors
Many questions were asked and the
traits of the breed were discussed
from every angle. Finally the COWS
were let into the barn, and the milk
ing machine which has been useC
successfully for two years, began its
evenings work. This was the first
time that many of those present haC
seen a milking machine in operation
The visitors departed to their homes
all pleased with the manner in which
they had spent the afternoon and the
hospitality they had enjoyed at the
hands of Mr.. and Mrs. David Sven
son.