The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1922-11-17
ESSAY ON BOYS JUDGING WORK

CIV tNhetH phVtpN PAtGt Va 49,
dollars for the best story of their work
and The Egis supplemented 1t with q
like amount. Richard Wills, Fendall
Cushing and Hubert Snodgrass have
accordingly submitted papers on the
subject and disinterested committee
has placed the papers in the order
named. As each boys paper pre-
sents the subject In different light
and each has special merits Of its own
1t seems only fair that each should
receive some reward; It has therefore
been decided to split the prize on q
basis Of 80, 80 and 20 per cent.
The essay Of Richard Wills Is pub
lished below and those of FeIsdall
Cushing and Hubert Snodgrass will
be given in subsequent issues. II Is
hoped that our readers--b0th father
and son--will read them carefully to
the end that they may obtain both
pleasure and profit from them.
What Judging Work Has Done For Me
In the fall of 1890 had completed
my first summer of club work, and
through It my interests had been a.
reused in agriculture, particularly in
purebred livestock. Az l had been
fairly successful with my pig, when
Mr.. Derrick organized the calf club
decided to Join. | had never cared as
much for cattle as had for other live
stock, However, after working with
my calf that winter, began to see
that there was more In a cow than
most people believe. By this | mean
that a COW IL more than milk-giving
machine. | found that cows respond
quickly TO kind treatment, are intelll-
gent, and have refinement about
them which IL almost human. This Il
certainly true Of purebred cattle.
With the success Of the first Mary
land Judging team freah In my mind,
and with my newly acquired Interest
In cattle, decided to try for the Har-
ford County judging team.
The training OF the 1921 team began
In June, shortly after the closing Of
school, at the home of Mr.. j. Charles
Rutledge where the field day Of the
Jersey breeders was being held. It
was here that found out how little
| knew about dairy cow. Mr.. Louis
Merryman, Maryland's foremost Guern-
sey breeder and DIR. Meade, of the
University Of Maryland, were present
and gave us the fundamentals Of dairy
cattle judging. soon found out that
good dairy COW must possess more
than large udder.
As our training progressed, my
knowledge became broader, and ] be-
gan to take an interest In the milk and
butter-fat records made by dairy
cows. An interesting feature In this
was that invariably learned from the
photographs Of heavy producers that
they conform closely to the desired
type az set by cattle Judges. That is,
one never sees sloping-rumped, slab
sided COW that Is a good producer.
Cows must have plenty Of middle,
level topline, and q capacious udder 10
be heavy producers. IL can be seen
from this that ! was learning what
characteristics good dairy COW must
have, and this knowledge IL absolutely
necessary before one can select cows
that will bring him profit. 81
We were taken on several trips TO
Pennsylvania, where we visited such
noted farms as Penshurst, Delchester,
and Barcley. At these farms | saw
worlds record cows, and had the OPP
portunity of seeing some of the best
managed dairy farms In the East.
Here learned great deal az to how
dairy farms should be run, how to
avoid disease among cattle by the
use Of maternity barns and other ap-
pliances for promoting the health OF
the cows. | also had the chance to
hear expert cattle men talk on cattle
md their care. All Of this In great
aid to future dairy farmers.
was fortunate enough to make
the Hartford team that year, and We
went to Timonium with hopes Of win
ming. This happened to be Cecil's year,
however, and Hartford had to be con
tent with second place. The failure
to win first place was d great disap-
pointment TO w all, but we determined
to do better next year. | myself fel,
that az result Of my summers work
was hundred per cent better off
than when ! began. ] had learned q
great deal about dairy cattle, which
would be OF great value In later life.
In the spring OF 1929 I decided to
try again for the Judging team. This
training routine was much the same
az that of the preceding summer. This
ear the finer points came more easily
and all Of us profted by the preceding
years mistakes. At Timonium Har-
ford won first place and the silver cup.
by this victory we were entitled TO the
trip 10 the National Dairy Show, held
at st. Paul, Minnesota, which was Of.
fered by the cattle breeders Of Mary
land.
We were greatly elated over this
result, and started on our western trip
In fine spirits. In the contest at the
National Show, Maryland won first
place. 1t was q great victory, md on
felt especially happy az this was the
first time Maryland had won higher
than fourth place In o National contest.
The real value Of this winning was not
the mere taking Of iirst place, but the
effect that was felt back home. Such
a victory creates an interest In the
boys In Maryland. The result Is that
they try out for school and county
teams, and thus broaden their know
ledge Of dairying and dairy cattle. This
Is what America needs--better cattle
men.
At the National Dairy Show | saw
herds Of nationwide note, which far
surpassed any cattle which I had pre-
viously seen. had the chance to zee
expert Judges, showmen and other
cattlemen at their work. The machl-
merry exhibit was of great educational
value. In IL were all types Of imple-
ments used In connection with cattle
and dairy products. There were also
government exhibits, showing the val
ue Of purebred cattle, the food value
OF dairy products, an well az many
other features Of great value, which
are too numerous 10 mention here.
From this article II can be seen that
judging work has meant q great deal
more to me than the mere winning Of
prizes. Thanks to the training Of Mr..
Derrick, Mr.. Merryman, and many
other men who helped train our judgt
ing team, l have o much greater know
ledge Of dairying than I could have
got In any other way. and this know
ledge win stay with me, 10 that, should
/ have dairy herd Of my own,
should know how 10 avoid mistakes