FFA Chapters Put Up Signs To Boost Milk Industry in Ozark Region
By J. Dickson Black (1960)
By J. Dickson Black (1960)
All 12 chapters of the Ozark Federation of FFA have been busy putting up signs the last fews weeks. These signs are part of the program to advertise dairying in the Ozark region.
The program was started this past spring with the slogan "Ozark Land is Dairy Land". These signs were put up over a large area. And they did a lot to make people think about the dairy industry and what it can do for the area. The signs being put up now state "It Pays To Milk Cows".
The program was started this past spring with the slogan "Ozark Land is Dairy Land". These signs were put up over a large area. And they did a lot to make people think about the dairy industry and what it can do for the area. The signs being put up now state "It Pays To Milk Cows".
The sign, "It Pays to Milk Cows," which is being put up throughout the area is displayed here. Left to right are Doug Bertschy, president of Bentonville FFA chapter: John D. Wright, Bentonville banker and president of the Benton County Fair Assn.; and Donnie Herron, a member of the Bentonville FFA chapter.
Each of the 12 chapters has put out from 40 to 50 signs. These will cover all the Northwest Arkansas. Chapters of the FFA in Southwest Missouri, Northeast Oklahoma and Southeast Kansas are also putting up these signs. So the whole Ozark area will be covered.
"The merchants all seem glad to have the signs up in their windows," said Doug Bertschy, president of the Bentonville chapter of FFA. "Most of the ones I called on also asked several questions about the dairy industry, and they seemed glad to be able to help it any way they could. They were surprised to find out that last year there was over $14-1/2 million spent on the dairy industry in Northwest Arkansas alone".
This is just one part of a long range program to increase the amount of milk produced in the Ozark dairy land. There have been several hundred high grade milk cows shipped into the area this year to help build the grade and size of the dairy herds. Many farmers are keeping their better heifer calves to build their herds bigger and better.
"The new dairy program has been very helpful to the dairy farmer and very successful," said James Boyd, FFA advisor for Bentonville. "I have seen a big change in the dairy herds in the area this year. The herds are bigger and better grade of cows, and a lot of the dairy farmers have been putting up better dairy barns and coolers for their milk. All this will bring more money to the farmer and more and better milk production in the area."
"The merchants all seem glad to have the signs up in their windows," said Doug Bertschy, president of the Bentonville chapter of FFA. "Most of the ones I called on also asked several questions about the dairy industry, and they seemed glad to be able to help it any way they could. They were surprised to find out that last year there was over $14-1/2 million spent on the dairy industry in Northwest Arkansas alone".
This is just one part of a long range program to increase the amount of milk produced in the Ozark dairy land. There have been several hundred high grade milk cows shipped into the area this year to help build the grade and size of the dairy herds. Many farmers are keeping their better heifer calves to build their herds bigger and better.
"The new dairy program has been very helpful to the dairy farmer and very successful," said James Boyd, FFA advisor for Bentonville. "I have seen a big change in the dairy herds in the area this year. The herds are bigger and better grade of cows, and a lot of the dairy farmers have been putting up better dairy barns and coolers for their milk. All this will bring more money to the farmer and more and better milk production in the area."
This is the Dairy Month display in the front window of the Walton 5 & 10 (June 1960). The slogan "Ozark Land is Dairy Land" was used widely in the area to help support the local dairy industry. The slogan was used on the Chamber of Commerce and other businessmen's letterheads. Signs were distributed all over town and the area.
The signs in the store windows give the dairy farmer a little lift when he is in town shopping, and they have made the merchants and people in town a lot more interesting dairying in the area. Also they remind people here on a visit or traveling through that "Ozark Land is Dairy Land."