The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1919-01-09
INNESOTA ranks as one
of the greatest farming
states in the Union. In
oopoo hronohoo II 10

HSSHHXIe6 OF the greatest farming
lSe0MNEH states in the Union. In
tAAB some branches it is a
banner state: for instance, the
quality of butter is unequalled;
small grain, corn, livestock, pota-
toes, and fruit, all are sure to pay
the ambitious farmer we'll.
When the early pioneers came to
till the soil of Minnesota for liv-
ing, great difficulty was expert
enced; lack of railroads, markets,
machinery, schools, churches, ETC.,
all were drawbacks which we are
unable to comprehend.
One of the earliest settlers in
Lyon county was Mr.. o. G. Gregg.
His nearest market or railroad
town was Willmar, some Is miles
distant. He hauled his building
material and other farm commodi-
ties from this place with team of
oxen. This is the kind of men
who had the grit to go through
with q thing when once they started
that made Minnesota famous. To
these pioneers the farmers of to-
day owe unlimited gratitude, for
they laid the foundation of sue
cessful farming in the great state
of Minnesota. Mr.. Gregg believed
in better farming, consequently, in
1894. his farm at Lynd, Lyon
county, was converted into an ex.
pertinent station by a cooperative
agreement between Mr.. Gregg and
the regents of the State University.
The land remained the property of
Mr.. Gregg but the work was car
ried on under the direction of the
university. As near as the writer
can place the time, this was the
beginning of a new era in the
farming industry, or the beginning
of cooperative work among farm
ers, though some farmers eleva-
tors had already been organized.
At this same place one of the first
consolidated schools was erected
and proved a success. The CO.
operative experiment work was
discontinued at this place some Is
years ago. though, like other good
efforts, it left its mark. The finest
of farming country is found in
Lyon county. Some of the leading
products raised are corn of choice
quality, small grains, potatoes,
fruit, and poultry; great deal of
thoroughbred as we'll as grade
livestock is raised; dairying also
pays we'll. A number of coopera-
tive organizations have proved a
success; among them we find II
creameries in 1914; a single live
stock shipping association done
$4,000 worth of business in the
same year; eleven farmers eleva-
tors handled approximately 2,00O,-
600 bushels of grain.
Throughout the state we find
farm organizations of every de-
scription: livestock shipping asso-
Citations, cooperative creameries
and cheese factories. potato and
fruit marketing, COW testing asso-
Citations, thoroughbred livestock
associations, farmers elevators,
cooperative buying clubs, small
get-together farm clubs, and others
too numerous to mention here.
1t is impossible to say how many
livestock shipping associations
there are in the state. According
to Bulletin No. 1856 of the agricul-
tural experiment station, State
University. approximately 143 ex-
isted in 1914 MANY of the smaller
organizations possibly failing to
report. The businessNof these as,
sociations ranged between So, $50
and 1921, 400 each. while the ma
jority done business amounting to
between the limits of $25,000 and
100000. These all employ a busi-
ness manager who puts in all or a
part of his time serving the men,