Back to Missouriana

The Missouri Calf Club

The Rural School Messenger

March-April 1917

"The Calf Club" is, (in short), as follows: Forty or more boys and girls, whose parents (or guardians) consent to their each owning a heifer calf, are organized into a club with elected officers. The club selects some one to buy the calves after the members with their parents have by vote selected the breed and age of calves. Purchased and delivered, each calf is numbered and each child draws a number by lot, under direction of a committee of club members. "Calf Distribution Day" can be made a big event.

The total cost of the group of calves shall be averaged. A pure bred bull of the same breed is bought at same time, and his cost pro rated out on the forty or more calves, added to the average cost of each calf. All calves shall be mated to the sire owned by the club.

Arrangements are made by the club with one or more banks, and at the bank of one's choice each child signs a note for one year for the average total cost of his or her calf, with parent (or guardian) as security. Banks, commercial clubs, farm clubs and farm bureaus are in some cases financing this plan. In certain cases, a bank or club offers to take care of the interest. However, the regular interest rate is a small matter for such a small sum for one year.

The club by-laws provide that at the end of one year on "Calf Club Sale Day " (another big day) all calves are to be auctioned off. All money above amount of note goes to the child who fed the calf. The bull is to be auctioned also, and one fortieth (or one share) shall be paid to each club member. Club holds meetings at least once every eight weeks to discuss feeds and other agricultural questions.

Prizes of $15, $10 and $5 for calf in best sale condition is offered by banks, commercial or other club, or individuals. Calves are judged by a committee of three persons not related to members and selected by club.

Six months old Jersey calves will, probably cost from $20 to $25, Holsteins from $35 to $40, for high grade calves. Cost of sire, Jersey $50 up, Holstein $75 up, at serviceable age.

The fact that one hundred young cows properly cared for will increase in ten years to approximately 2,000 cows, returning a revenue of not less than $200,000 annually, is something for towns and communities to think about.

The "Missouri Calf Club" plan at once starts boys and girls into practical farm business, and leads the way to better live stock methods and a more profitable agriculture.

Secretary Jewell Mayes of the Missouri State Board of Agriculture reports that the "Calf Club" plan is already in operation and is attracting much favorable attention in different portions of this state, and he advises all persons interested to address "State Dairy Commissioner E. G. Bennett, Columbia, Missouri, for circulars and club by-laws.