BSCBA - USA 1960-1969

"The Last Decade of the First 100 Years"

Roger's Note: The ‘60’s which saw changes in music, lifestyles, travel in outer space (to the moon), etc, also saw many changes in the Brown Swiss world. Production records were broken, new show locations added, Association personnel changes made, long-time herd dispersals held, and many new Association programs adopted.

Cows

• Lee’s Hill Kestral M 253256 - In 1960, Ralston-Purina company artist Mr. Hoy painted a portrait which included a representative of each of the six major dairy breeds. Kestral M, the 1959 National Show Grand Champion, represented the Brown Swiss breed.
• Norvic Farms’ ad in the July 1962 Bulletin pictured Norvic Loa Lady 175028 and her nine daughters, all living and in the Norvic herd - and this was before Embryo Transfer. This photo may be viewed at the national office following the opening reception on June 29 during the National Convention.
• Lee’s Hill Farm’s ad in the same July 1962 Bulletin pictured a collage of 10 of the 15 Waterloo Female Grand Champions Lee’s Hill has had over a period of 18 shows. You may also view this photo at the national office.
• Over a million pounds of milk produced by six Brown Swiss cows owned by Voegeli Farm, Monticello, Wisconsin, emphasizes the point that “The Registered Cow Does Produce More Milk”. (A feature story in the April 1963 Bulletin)
• The 1967 National Brown Swiss Show was held at the new North American Dairy Show, Columbus, Ohio, in October - the largest show ever held with 302 Brown Swiss head shown.
• Larry Doris 350995 completes her third consecutive record over 1400 lbs. fat in 365 days, 2X milking - the only cow of any breed to do so.
• Ivetta 296971 completes her 10th 1000 lbs. fat record and becomes the Lifetime Butterfat Champion of the breed and highest living butterfat producer over all breeds with 271,466 lbs. milk and 12,113 lbs. fat.

People

• Leonard Johnson of Edgerton, Wisconsin, who was Wisconsin’s Champion 4-H Club member for 1961, reports on his trip to the 4-H Dairy Conference in Chicago. And, yes, that’s the same Leonard Johnson who is part of the current national office staff.
• Ron Johnson becomes a Fieldman for the Association on May 1, 1961 and continues until his resignation in April 1966. Ron later serves as a classifier and Association Secretary.
• Vernon Hull is elected President of the Association in 1961, replacing Willard R. Evans.
• Marvin L. Kruse, Fieldman since 1951 and Brown Swiss Bulletin Editor since June 1961, replaces long-time Secretary Fred Idtse effective June 30, 1963. Fred served the Association for 25 years, 20 of these as Secretary.
• Fred Idtse was the Association’s first Fieldman under Ira Inman, beginning January 1938. Fred became Secretary in January 1942 replacing Ira Inman who served as Secretary since 1911 (31 years).
• David Garthwaite becomes Bulletin Editor in June 1965. David will become a Field Representative in July 1966, until he resigns June 1968.
• Mrs. Marguerite “Peg” Polaski retires as of June 1, 1966, after 24 years of continuous service as an office employee. Beginning March 14, 1942, Mrs. Polaski worked in Registrations until 1950 when she became Assistant Bulletin Editor until her retirement.
• Fred Gauntt, long-time Area Rep (21 years) retires in May 1966. He was hired on May 1, 1945, as Eastern Representative and Dick Stumbo was the Western Rep.
• Myron Fledderjohann becomes the Association’s Eastern Field Representative in July 1966.
• Nora Miller is appointed Bulletin Editor in May 1967, until she resigns January 1969.
• George W. Opperman is elected President of the Association at the 86th Annual Meeting and begins his term in 1967. George will later serve as Secretary from 1981 to 1987.
• Ed Drewitz joins the national staff as Fieldman for the Central States in October 1968 after dispersing the Twin Oak Farm on September 30.
• R.W. “Dick” Stumbo retires March 1, 1969, after serving as Field Rep for the Association for 26 years since being hired March 1, 1943.
• Alice Bowles, Administrative Assistant with the Association, retires April 1, 1969, after 33 years of dedicated service.

Programs

• The Multiple E Program initiated in 1962 (up to 4E) was expanded to additional multiples such as 5E, 6E, 7E, etc., in 1964. In May 1967, the multiples were limited to 5E maximum.
• Junior Membership program was initiated on January 1, 1965.
• Production records from the ROP, HIR, and DHIR programs are combined into one production Honor Roll on July 1, 1965.
• To coincide with the combined one-production Honor Roll, the Ira Inman ROP Trophy was retired and two DHIR trophies established in 1966. Those were the H. R. Searles Trophy based on fat and the J. P. Eves Trophy based on milk production. These trophies continue to be presented today.
• In 1966, a new circular entitled “Why Registered Brown Swiss?” was published. It explains the many values and merits of Brown Swiss and how to register and transfer cattle.
• February 1966 saw the first All American Program and nominees pictured in the Bulletin.
• The first Brown Swiss Sire Performance Summary is published. It contains type and production summaries on over 1700 bulls. It also includes the first list of Superior and Qualified Sires under the new Sire Recognition Program.
• On Wednesday, May 14, 1969, the first animal is enrolled in the Association’s Identity Enrollment Program. Secretary Kruse and Fieldmen Myron Fledderjohann and Ed Drewitz witness Wil-Win Rose enrolled as Identified Grade 369000001 at the Wil-Win Farm, Green Cove Springs, Florida.
• At the 1969 National Show, the new “Special Production Class” is initiated, sponsored by Meadow View Farm, Gowrie, Iowa. This special lead-out class placed according to production the five cows in the show with the highest 305d 2X ME butterfat production which also placed in the top 50% of their age class. The Meadow View Trophy went to Green Knoll Farm, Long Grove, Iowa, for Welcome In Charming Sybil 378423.

Sales

• Lee’s Hill Invitational Sale (October 24, 1960) - Held at Lee’s Hill Farm, New Vernon, New Jersey, the sale averages $2,366 on 37 lots and becomes the highest-averaging auction sale in the history of the Brown Swiss breed to date.
• HyCrest Farms Dispersal (March 29, 1961) - The sale was held at the main farm in Sterling, Massachusetts, with over 500 people in attendance. The sale averaged $544 on 144 head.
• Judd’s Bridge Farms Dispersal (May 22, 1961) - Seventy-Six head were sold at the farm near New Milford, Connecticut, and averaged $441. It was here Jane of Vernon spent her last nine years (11-24-36 to 5-11-45) and is buried near the barns with a headstone marking her grave to this very day.
• Walhalla Farms Dispersal (May 12, 1962) - Held at Walhalla Farm, Rexford, New York, the sale averaged $422 on 140 head. Harold C. Magnussen was manager of Walhalla for 35 years.
• Welcome In Dispersal (October 21-22, 1963) - This dispersal at the farm near Columbus, Ohio, breaks all previous high-selling records for the breed. The sale average on 146 lots of $2,613.70 exceeded the previous high dispersal, Judd’s Bridge in 1947 of $1,228.80, and the previous high consignment sale, Lee’s Hill Invitational of $2,366. Welcome in Charmer, selling at $75,000, became the highest selling bull of the breed as well as any dairy bull ever sold at a dispersal sale. The previous high was Lee’s Hill Kayak M, who sold for $27,000 in the Midwest Sale on March 11, 1957. Mable’s Tamarind Violet at $12,000 became the highest-selling cow of the breed, replacing Jane’s Chloe of J. B. that sold in the Judd’s Bridge Dispersal on October 14, 1947, for $11,500.

This busy decade closed the first century of Brown Swiss in America.