Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-08-26
ALittIe Calf Shall Lead Them.

IL you, Mr.. Reader, should have had
the rare privilege OF attending the organ
ization meeting and distribution of the
Marshall County Qndians) Guernsey
Calf Club you would have appreciated
the significance of my story, "a Little
Calf Shall Lead Them" The setting of
the story was q most unusual one, for
the farm folk from all the country sur
rounding Bremen, in Marshall County,
had gathered to witness q "Calf Festi-
val" 1t was made still more unusual
BY the fact that the calves in whose
honor the people had assembled were all
pure-bred and of royal breeding and had
just completed their journey from the
Island of Guernsey of the coast Of Eng.
land, having been imported especially
for the occasion. At first these calves
were the center of attraction for unto
each of them was to be given a new
owner and the rules of the game speci-
fed that this new owner was to be be-
tween u and IS years of age. They
were friendly critters, they liked to be
petted and they responded most gener-
ously to the rattle of the feed bucket,
usually forming, on such occasions, a
regular stampede for the feed barn. But
calves were soon forgotten when the
good women of the community spread q
bountiful picnic dinner and everyone
present proceeded to leave his "foot-
prints on the plates of clay"
Then Master Boy and Miss Girl ap-
peared on the scene and after they had
been in action for short time one could
easily see that here really was the "Big
Idea" and for the remainder of the day
they held the stage. During the meet
ing which followed they occupied a
special section of seats and G. r. George
and w. B. Kreuck Of Purdue University
who spoke on "The Feeding and Care OF
Calves" and "The Calf Club Organiza-
tiop," directed most of their discussion
to these youngsters.
Mr.. Robert McNagny, secretary OF the
Indiana Guernsey Breeders Association,
told of the work of the state organizs
ton and pointed out to the boys and
girls that there was strong demand fol-
Guernseys and that there would be
ready market for any surplus stock that
they might produce.
The forty boys and girls who were tc
get calves then formed their permanent
Organization. After this came the dis
tribution, each member drawing mum.
ber which entitled them to the calf with
the corresponding number. They signed
a note for one year for the purchase price
of the calf but reserved the right to pay
off all or any part of the note at any
time during the year Many of them
brought in their savings, which in some
instances Was almost enough to pay fol
the calf, while with others IL only made
a start. However, these were deposited
70 the credit of their account, thus per
forming in many instances the boys ant
girls first real experience In business
The members sought out their calves
and proceeded to find out from the pedi
grees how they were bred, how old the!
we're, how much they weighed, and, no
the least, to know their name and decid'
what it would be "for short"
Then when they were united to star
home the fun began. A twelye-montb
old calf on one end Of rope and q twelve
vsar-old boy on the other may make
stubborn combination, especially II the
are s,rangers. 1t was from such pei
formances that got the idea that g.
little calf shall lead them." Ths
thought sort of stuck In my mind Will
the calves and boys were making fo
home and after they were all gone
lcould not but think how true 1t woul
D be: how much those calves would mea
, TO the boys and girls during the ne1
{ few years, how, through their ambition
, to be first In the fall show or to win
the production contest next year, the.
: calves could lead their young owners
, know the very best dairy practices,
? appreciate the value OF good COWS, ar
pure-bred aires, and from this to lee
q them on into life OF usefulness on q
9 farms of Marshall County and Into q
J front rank of Guernsey breeders
Q olAmerica.-C. B. George, Indiana,
+ Hoard's Dairymsn.