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WAUPACA COUNTY NEWS February 2, 1922 A DAIRY JUBILEE BIG CELEBRATION IS ON AT MADISON THIS WEEK DAIRYING’S 50TH BIRTHDAY Governor Blaine Opens the Big Event Lauds Wisconsin Agricultural Scientists Who Paved Way for the State’s Progress Gov. J.J. Blaine on Monday formally opened the big celebration at Madison in observance of Wisconsin’s fiftieth birthday as a dairy state. Dairymen from all parts of Badgerdom and many from other states are there to take part in the jubilee commemorating the birth of the Wisconsin Dairymen’s Association at Watertown in 1872. The outstanding event of the week will be the dedication on Friday of a monument of former Gov. W.D. Hoard, Fort Atkinson, a pioneer leader of Wisconsin’s dairy development. “This is a proud year in Wisconsin’s history,” declared Gov. Blaine. “As a dairy state we are now fifty years old; for it was in February, 1872, that a group of sturdy pioneers confronted with a most dismal outlook, met and formed an organization, the Wisconsin Dairymen’s Association, a pioneer organization of its kind and which has been a model throughout the land and has served as an inspiration for many of the forward looking movements in Wisconsin’s agriculture. “The five decades that have passed sine this memorable date are crowded with momentous achievements. The first of the forces called into action by these forward looking citizens of the state was that of organization and that force has been of mighty influence during all the years which have intervened. Coincident with the initiative along this line have been the contributions of Wisconsin’s agricultural scientists. The work of our Henrys, our Babcocks, our Kings and our other agricultural scientists, past and present has had an influence of transcending importance, not only to Wisconsin, but upon America and the entire dairy world. “Similarly Wisconsin forged the way in dairy educational lines. It was here in our midst, that the first practical dairy school in the world was organized, and was the forerunner of similar institutions throughtout the land. Following in close succession was the farmers’ institute movement of American, first organized in this state and then spreading to other commonwealths, a force which has been especially effective in carrying to the actual tiller of the soil, the results of agricultural science and education. Again Wisconsin pioneered int eh line for agricultural education by the establishment of the first short course in agriculture, and all over this state are to be found capable progressive farmers who have been trained through these agencies. “With the growth of the dairy industry, there grew the need for safeguarding the products of the dairy farm, and this need gave rise to the development of another movement, that of regulation. In this line, Wisconsin has carried on crusade after crusade which has been to the betterment of producer and consumer alike. The record of achievement of these fifty years is one of which we are all proud. A contrast of 1872 and 1922 serves only to emphasize what has been achieved. In 1872 the average dairy farm was equipped with low producing animals, a very crude barn, churn, shallow pan, skimmer, and the income of all our dairy farms at that time did not more than approximate $1,000,000. Today our up-to-date dairy farms are equipped with commodious and convenient barns, with productive herds, with modern equipment for the handling of milk and milk products and our annual income from dairying more nearly approximates $3,000,000. “Although we may not be mindful of it, there is not a citizen in the state who does not owe a debt of gratitude to the leaders of these fifty years who have contributed to the prosperity and happiness of every one of us. It is well for us to pause at this time to pay tribute to the pioneers and to plan carefully and thoughtfully for the future. These days are not the brightest, but they need not discourage us. The days of 1872 were darker but the difficulties then were met with a clear-sighted vision. Shall we do less? … |