SEGMENT: FARMING METHODS, DAIRY, & FARM ORGANIZATIONS

Karl Boekenhauer>NIU Collection>NIU Collection, Segment 4

SEGMENT: FARMING METHODS, DAIRY, & FARM ORGANIZATIONS,

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BACKGROUND
Karl born April 26, 1908 on farm in Waterman. Married Sept. 30, 1933 in home near Hinckley. Attended Waterman grade school. Attended NIU for 3 years.
FARMING METHODS
Start as a farmer in 1936 1.75 miles NW of Waterman. Karl notes that he ran a diversified farm with hogs, dairy cattle, oats, clover, corn, alfalfa.
FAMILY
Two children. Duane born 1934, Janice born 1939. Both born in Waterman Eastside hospital. Mother stayed in hospital 10 days after each child's birth.
FARMING METHODS
Production after WWII similar to pre-war. Mentions 3 & 4 year rotation. Notes 20 acres of hemp for manufacture of rope grown in WWII. Hemp mill in Chambly [sp?].
CHILDREN'S EDUCATION
Early on children went to rural "country" school, then to centralized town school. Transporting neighbors children to Waterman town school in personal station wagon (was paid to do so). No buses. District had responsibility to transport children so they paid people to transport them to school.
DAIRY
Describes typical dairy business summer day. Awoke at 4am, find cows in pasture, milk them, (first by hand then by machine). Milk put in 8 gallon cans picked up weekly. Bulk milk pickup (using milk tankers) came later. Pure Milk processing plant in Hinckley IL. Got started in dairy business with 8 jerseys & 1 bull which were purchased in central IL & transported to his farm for $25. Trucker wondered if $25 was too much to transport all 8 cows to DeKalb County
FARM ORGANIZATIONS
Member of the Pure Milk Association & the DeKalb County Farm Bureau. Wife a member of Home Bureau & president of DeKalb County Home Bureau for 7 years. Karl notes benefits of belonging to Pure Milk Association, including rules for milk production guaranteed good price. Association required 3.5% butter fat & premium price for milk with more butter fat. Benefits of Farm Bureau also noted. DeKalb County was home of 1st Farm Bureau in Il. Farmers worked together for farm legislation. Farm Bureau advisor helped solve problems with crop disease, etc.
AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES