River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1924-08-14
Farm journal Scribe
Visits St. CrOix Farms
Writer Was Former SchOolmate OF
Lloyd Sherman-Finds Splendid
Stock In Kinnickinnic Pastures

Don. P. Shannon, feature writer
for the st. Paul Farmer, describes a
visit to the Rundell and Sherman
farms in St. Croix county as follows:
Il recently visited few farms in
St. Croix County, Wisconsin. This
is one of the good dairy counties in
a good dairy state. One of the first
farms that l visited was that of
Lloyd Rundell, leading Guernsey
breeder. Mr.. Rundell was out in the
field moving hay. Before going out
to see him, | stopped to see his cat
tie barn. 1t is a long, one story
building with walls and roof of solid
concrete. Mr.. Rundell has made 1t
fireproof to protect his cattle. AS
found out later, he intends to build
loft over this concrete structure.
In brief but pleasant chat that
had with Mr.. Rundell, he pointed
out to me how he is growing soy
beans and rape in his cornfield. He
usually buys about two car loads of
western sheep and turns them into
his cornfelds in the fall. One year
his sheep brought So a hundred on
the South St. Paul market, and an
other year about $3.50 Mr.. Rundell
seeds the rape at the last cultivation
of the corn, the cultivator shovels
serving to cover to seed. One of his
hired men was on horseback seeding
rape with hand seeder when | was
there. Mr.. Rundell says that it is
possible to seed much wider strip
when seated on the horses back
than when standing on the ground.
While on the Rundell farm, met
John Emery, we'll known in Wiscon-
sin as a farmers institute speaker
He told me many interesting things
about western Wisconsin and pointed
out cement silo which he said was
the first one built in that locality
on farm which Mr.. Emery former
ly owned. From the Rundell farm,
we could see also the farm of Dave
Emery, brother of John, who is also
well known as a farmers institute
speaker.
While in this locality, / drove to
the Arden Shorthorn Farm, in the
southern part of the county. Lloyd
Sherman, former schoolmate of
mine, farms this place. When ar
rived, Mr. Sherman was loading hay
from the window. He was using a
1880 horsepower tractor to pull his
hay wagon and loader. He says
that this gives him good, steady
power and saves his horses on hot
days. While / was there, he put at
least ton and half on load and
did it quickly by this method. 1t
was alsike clover and timothy which
he was putting up, but he told me
that he has also gotten a good start
with alfalfa on the farm. 81 just
wish that had started alfalfa years
ago." he said.
We drove over to see his barns and
livestock. He has a fine layout of
buildings. He has shorthorn and
Holstein cattle and Judging from
young stock which l saw in the barn
he has remarkably uniform lot OF
cattle of both breeds.
Although there is heavy invest
ment in this farm, Mr.. Sherman, told
me that he now has it on a basis
where it pays its way, and it may
even return a profit this year.
Haying was in full swing on all
the farms l passed on the way back
to Roberts. There were good herds
Of Holsteins and Guernseys on pas
lures on many Of the farms. Among
these farms was that of o. r.
Schwalen, a prominent Guernsey
breeder. St. Croix county is truly a
dairy county in a great dairy state
Don. p. Shannon.