Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1917-01-19
WHAT DAIRY INDUSTRY HAS
DONE FOR STAR VALLEY

In these columns about the opportun-
ity Bear Lake valley presents for
the development OF the dairy indus
try. In line with this idea the re-
suits Of dairying m Star valley, Is of
interest. The story is interestingly
told by T. s. Parsons In recent is
sue of the Country Gentleman, as
follows:
A separator sales agent In Wyom-
ing ranked as Second high man"
Of his company fri increase of sales
during the past year. This is signf-
ficant. He is not selling cream sep
arators to cattlemen or sheep own
ers. although there are still many OF
them In the state He is selling to
farmers who are milking cows; and
his success 10 proof that a change is
taking place.
Along with improved methods OF
farming are coming better grades of
dairy stock. 1t is becoming more and
more evident that dairying 10 a prof
fitable bhsiness to the farmer, no
matter where he is located, and
banks are lending money to farmers
who wish to purchase dairy stock.
During the past year the extern
sion department 6f the Wyoming as
ricultural college has assisted in
bringing into the state about 500
head of dairy stnhlr which hava Oonf.
into the various farming sections Of
the state. Most of these are grade
Holstefn heifers that will becon e
producers within the next year.
They were selected from the best
herds In the dairy sections of Wis
consin by the state dairy demonstra-
tor, who has made four stock pur-
chasing trips to the east this year.
With the shipments have come sew
eral registered bulls, as many farm
ers are beginning to realize the i'm
portance of good sires in their herds
Wyoming produces beef cattle on the
ranges that compete successfully
with the corn-fed cattle of the cen
trail states, and there is no reason
why her dairy products should not
do as we'll.
One Of the best examples OF west
ern dairying and its results is found
in the Star valley OF Western Wyom-
ing--a section about thirty-five
miles long and three to five miles
wide, surrounded by comparatively
high mountains and drained by the
Salt river. The entire valley has a
population of about 1900. gathered
mostly in half d dozen small towns
scattered up and down the valley
Dairying is now the principal money
producer. even though the nearest
shipping point is fifty miles away
"nd over a mountain range.
V'oan wears ago when the first
n ~ was started, the valley was
= an ordinary farming section.
Lands and buildings had rundown
appearance, all trading was done on
credit, and there was the usual cry
of hard times. Since then more than
! 200 head of grade and pure-bred
FToistein cows have been added to
the herds of the valley. three cream
cries have been built, and all bust
ness OF the valley Is done on a cash
basis. The January i, 1916. state
ment Of the bank at Alton showed
individual checking deposits of
S110,664; certificates, of deposit
nayable on demand $7O55; and GER
tificates Of deposit on time $2O.7S5.
This has come about principally
through dairying. Alton is the prin-
cipal town of the valley. having a
population of about 700. A bank
has recently been established at
Freedom, town OF about 200.
4 The two largest factories in the
Star valley produce more than a mil
lion and quarter pounds of cheese
a year, in addition to large amount
OF butter. One of the creameries is
fifty and the other seventy-five
miles from the railroad shipping
point. During May. 1915, $4,000
pounds of cheese was shipped from
the two creameries, valued at more
than s22. 900. The butter output of
each OF the creameries Is about 5O,-
600 pounds year.
During nine months the creamery
at Alton took in 3,46S,743 pounds
Of milk, from which $50. s1S pounds
OF cheese was made; and 2O9,154
pounds of cream. from which &c.
435 pounds Of butter was made. The
Freedom creamery took In S,454,i66
pounds Of milk, which was made in
to 366, 66s pounds of cheese; and