Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1922-06-01
FIELD DAY At
ERICkSONFARN

staged May "A at Waupaca, fitting
recognition commemorating the TWEEN
ty-fifth anniversary of breeding Hol-
stems by the foremost HoIstein breed
er in America. John Erickson, a
plain practical farmer with limited
means, a quarter of century ago
started breeding Holsteins in mod
est way and thru industry, patience
and good judgment has developed the
premier herd in America.
No competent Judge of black and
whites can pass thru the Erickson
barns without saying that his herd
combines the points comprising Hol-
stein perfection, namely, size, uni
fornlity, good individuality, good I'd
der and high production, to a higher
degree than any full sized herd he
has ever examined. This herd has not
become famous thru artificial means
or thru the expenditure of enormous
sums for publicity, but rather thru
actual merit and thru everyone who
has the good fortune to visit Mr..
Erickson and inspect his herd.
Breeders who do not know Mr..
Erickson often seem to think his sue
cess just happened because he was
fortunate in selecting Sir Pietertje
Ormsby Mercedes 37th for one of his
herd sires Without detracting in any
way from this great sire it is only fair
to say that Mr.. Erickson had a high
producing herd long before this sire
was thought of which is shown by the
fact that he won the Wisconsin Dairy
Cow Competition in 1910. There is
no denying the fact that Mr. Erickson
has been very fortunate in the selec-
tion of herd sires but the primary
force back OF the development of this
great herd is the vigilance Of Mr..
Erickson who has devoted the best
part of his life to this noble work.
The great lesson in the history of
Mr.. Erickson's achievements is the
inspiration and encouragemel t it gives
the ambitions breeders with modest
means. 1t shows that success in the
breeding of fine live stock is not pri-
marily dependant upon capital but |
rather upon. courage, good Judgment |
and untming vigilance.
The following is a list of some of
the achievements of Mr.. Erickson's |
herd:
l. The Erickson herd comprises one
hundred and twenty-five head of line
Lred Holstein predominating in Orms-
by blood and furnishes thrill for any
Enthusiast OF black and whites.
2. Size and individuality has been |
eveloped to a point where the herd |
5 generally recognized as the premier
iard in America.
3. The herd now holds all the Wis
consin State Records in the yearly
division on heifers and the record of
Wisconsin Pride I'd, three-year-old
exceeds the present aged COW record
f1r the state.
T. Two of these, Wisconsin Pride
I'll and Daisy Aaggie Ormsby Sd, are
l.,tional as we'll as state champions.
5. Twenty-seven daughters of 37th
tted by Mr.. Erickson average 19415.9
IS, milk and 85123 lbs, butter on
unofficial yearly work; mostly in
i.eifer form.
6. Seventeen leading twoyear-olds
4 the herd on yearly test average
1903 lbs, butter and 1904 lbs,
ilk Five are above 20,800 ID. milk;
me average 2O,201 lbs, milk; eight
verage 908.4 lbs, butter, and fifteen
s.verage 801.3 lbs, butter.
z. The new worlds champion jun
i5r two-year-old heifer recently de-
,loped by Mr.. Murphy is by a good
n of 37th and from a noted cow Of
..r. Erickson's great Della family.
8. Illinois and Wisconsin Univer-
.ty herds are now being headed by
bills from Mr.. Erickson's herd.
9. Many noted herds throughout
lie country are headed by Erickson
/. Ills, including such we'll known herds
a. the Gustave Pabst Hollyhock
arms.
10. Mr. Erickson now has forty
daughters of Sir Pietertje Ormsby
lsercedes 37th which are being crossed
with Marathon Bess Burke, a son of
ne we'll known Bess Burke Ormsby,
ID. butter in seven days and 1854
is. butter in year.
II. Mr.. Erickson's herd sires have
len selected the past eight years with
e idea of line breeding and concen-
ating on the blood of Sir Pietertje
rmsby Mercedes and Spring Brook
Less Burke.
II. Marathon Bess Burke, senior
.rd sire, traces three times to Sir
letertje Ormsby Mercedes, and is out
. Eess Burke Ormsby, that phenom-
aal daughter of Spring Brook Bess
Burke.
13. Ambassador Fobes, junior herd
.re, is by Sir Pietertje Irmsby Mer-
eedes 9th and out of Mr.. Eriekson's
ted foundation COW, Wisconsin