The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-07-01
Enjoy GREAT Event
Blue Earth Valley Farm
Club Picnic Held
ENTERTAIN ANAUDIENCE
Addresses Were Delivered BY
Several Prominent Men On
Agricultural Subjects

Members of the Blue Earth Valley
Farmers club spent a very pleasant
day at the farm of Paul Barney, one
and half miles west of Good Thun-
der, where the annual picnic of the
club was held. The farm is occupied
by Richard Armstrong. who made
everything as pleasant as possible
for the three hundred people who
gathered there. The large porch Of
the residence had been decorated with
American flags and flowers and was
used as a speakers stand. Seats had
been arranged in front of the porch
beneath the shade of the trees and
every one kept comfortable despite
the intense heat of the day. The Good
Thunder band of fifteen pieces under
the leadership Of William w. Wright
donated its services in rendering good
music at intervals throughout the
day. The meeting was opened by
singing of America" by the entire
assemblage, while Miss Alice Zum-
walt presided at the piano. A VIC
trola was loaned for the day by Mr..
Robinson and selections were played
on that instrument also.
Address Of Welcome.
The address of welcome was de-
livered by w. X. Bryson, and was
to by C. M. Warren. Much
credit is due Mrs. Louise Zumwalt,
chairman of the program committee
for the success of the entertainment
of the day. Owing to the intense heat
of the day number of atheletic games
which mad been planned for were
from the program. The
base ball game between the Blue
Earth Valley team and the Watonwan
Valley team had just gotten well
under way when threatening clouds
gathered in the southwest and put an
end to the game.
President Lee Cox OF the Blue
Earth Valley Farmers club extended
an invitation to all surrounding
farmers to join the club. The officers
of the club consist Of Lee Cox, pres
1dent; Ray Bennett, vice president;
ISA<ScA oCS1 OIdiyI onu
Donald Cox, treasurer. A number Of
vocal numbers which were greatly
appreciated by the audience were
rendered by quartette consisting of
Burt and Merton Nickerson and
George and Horace Franklin. Other
pleasing numbers on the regular pro-
gram were: a piano solo by Miss
Alice Zumwalt, reading by Miss
Dorothy F1emming, song by Miss
Gertrude Nickereon, the music by
the Good Thunder band. and a reel
tation by Lawrence Flemming.
The speakers of the day were L.
E. Mcmillan of this city, county
agent, and Professor N. e. Chap
man. Mr.. Mcmillan said that he
was pleased that the farmers of that
club were carrying out the club
slogan: Get acquainted with your
neighbor, and you may like him"
This must have been the case owing
to the large numbers present and
the friendly feelings existing between
all. He called attention to this
spirit show this spring when the
farmers of that club turned out and
put in the crops of fellow farmer
who at the time was i'll and unable
to do so. This is the right spirit
of brotherly love. and can not help
but result in mutual benefits to all
concerned. Mr.. Mcmillan said that
he was glad to note the rapid growth
OF the CO operative movement. Es-
pecially in the CO. operation of cream
cries, live stock associations, and
the present grain marketing plan.
The work of the Minnesota Potato
Exchange was dwelt upon. The
speaker said that the farmers clubs
had done great deal to promote
these. especially the potato ex-
change, which had proven its worth
last fall. ..
Remarks BY Professor Chapman.
Professor Chapman, poultry ex-
pert of the State University farm,
spoke on the five points necessary to
successful poultry breeding. He said
that they are: feeding, housing, care,
hen, the speaker said pays the gro
Gerry bills, and good laying for that
reason means good living. Mr.. Chap
man urged the culling out Of the poor
producers, and giving better care to
the laying hens. Professor Chap
man said that when the egg produc-
ton falls below fifty per cent it is
time to Gull. That is. If one has a
flock of 100 hens and the egg pro-
duction is less than fifty. there are
some slackers in the flock, which
should be either eaten or marketed
He told of a number of poultry
raisers who had very good profits
in poultry raising by proper atten-
ton along those lines. In the mar
keting of eggs from the farm. Pro-
fessor Chapman believes that the
CO. operative creamery is the place
to dispose of them. With the short
haul from the farms to the cream
cries where cold storage is afforded,
the product is more apt to keep in
a wholesome condition that If hauled
long distances in the hot sun. One
creamery in this section of the state
he said had purchased $4,000
worth Of a11s and raturnad th q 4