Phillips County Museum News for Wednesday, June 12, 2024

In 1924, a survey taken estimated there were between 4,000 and 5,000 cows being milked in Phillips County. Farmers were beginning to recognize the value of the cream check coming in each week that helped to pay for groceries.

The Great Northern Railway set up meetings along the Hi-Line to show Holstein bull calves that they had purchased from the Carnation Farm. The railroad felt that if farmers used better dairy bulls, the butterfat production in the cream could be more than doubled in 3 to 4 years which would result in much higher profits.

On October 3, 1924, the Great Northern Railway showed 19 registered Holstein bull calves in Malta. The calves traveled in a baggage car that was specially fitted for them. Visitors were able to tour the car and view the calves. Some of the calves were paraded in the street by the depot. Three railroad employees, a dairy specialist and two agricultural development agents held a dairymen’s meeting at the Court House. Discussions were held on why farmers should consider getting better bulls, the best feeds for livestock, care of milk and cream and the production and marketing of quality butter. At the close of the meeting, a drawing was held to give one of the calves to an attendee of the meeting. Peter Hoagland was the lucky winner. He was to care for the calf and use it in his own herd and charge up to $2.00 to let neighbors use it. He was also required to keep it for three years but at the end of two years, he could exchange it for a purebred of the same breed with the consent of the railroad.

Most of the cream was shipped to creameries by the Great Northern Railway so it was in the best interest of the railroad to have dairymen produce as much as possible. More shipments meant more income for the railroad!

Phillips County has many interesting stories. Stop by the Phillips County Museum to learn about our history. We are open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.