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BRIEF HISTORY OF MICHIGAN ANGUS
ASSOCIATION
The
Michigan Angus Association was organized in 1914 with
eight charter members. The late Sidney Smith, then with
U.L. Clark at Hunters Creek was elected president and
Alex Minty of Woodcote was elected secretary-treasurer.
Annual membership dues were one dollar.
Very
little record of association activities from that date
until 1940 were preserved. Sidney Smith was president
of the association for many years prior to 1949 when at
his request and insistence, he was replaced by C.H.
Reynolds. At that time a resolution was incorporated in
the bylaws of the association that two consecutive
one-year terms was the limit one person could serve as
president. Since that date our state association
presidents have been: 1950-51, Arthur Witham; 1952-53,
John Kendall; 1954 Dr. J.J. Hendren; 1955 John Olsen;
1956-57, Robert W. Williams; 1958, Robert Bargar; 1959,
Arthur Neilsen; 1960-61, Tom Crawford; 1962-63, W.L.
Brittain; 1964-65, James H. Donahue.
An
important function of our association has been the
sponsorship of a field day program and picnic with a
breeder volunteering as host. The first such event was
an “open house” held at Wildwood Farms in 1941 after an
association sale in East Lansing, but was not officially
sponsored by the association. The first field day, as
we know them today, was held at Raona Farms in 1947. No
one volunteered in 1948 but since 1949, this has been an
annual event. Hosts have been as follows: 1949, Hermel
Farms, Milford; 1950, MSU, East Lansing; 1951, Raona
Farms, Williamston; 1952, Grand River Stock Farms,
Webberville; 1953, Witham Farms, Romeo; 1954, Great Oaks
Stock Farm, Rochester; 1955, MSU, East Lansing; 1956,
Newtondale Farms, Okemos; 1957, Holiday Farms, Ada;
1958, Spring River Farm, Burr Oak; 1959, MSU, East
Lansing; 1960, Knobby Hills Farm, Clyde; 1961, Mahogany
Farms, Williamston; 1962, Kitty Kurtis Farms Commercial
Ranch, Harrison; 1963, Holiday Farms, Ada; 1964, Spring
River Stock Farm, Burr Oak; 1965, Boutell Ranch, West
Branch.
A few
association sponsored consignment sales were held prior
to 1925, but were discontinued with that year until
1940. Since their resumption, they have been an annual
event. In 1945 and 1946 both a spring and fall sale
were held. Some years the sale has been among the top
consignment sales. They started being held at MSU, East
Lansing, then the state fairgrounds in Detroit; then
back to East Lansing; then to a private sale barn at
Williamston, and now back to East Lansing. In 1958 we
held the first futurity show and sale. This has been a
very successful merchandising event for all breeders.
The 1965 futurity was held during the biggest snowstorm
of the century. It was the first time in history that
Michigan State University closed classes. |