Agricultural History Series

 Missouri State University

 1904 St. Louis Worlds Fair

Guernsey Show

The Guernsey cattle show at the St. Louis World’s Fair was said to be “superior to anything of the kind that had preceded it in the country.”  It was evident that uniformity was being strived for in the breed.  They were looking for a “common standard of excellence and a dairy breed of the highest efficiency.” 

A few superior Guernsey bulls and their breeders.

The uniformity showed that the men bringing the cattle had purpose and aim in bringing their breed to a greater state of usefulness.  An example of this was in the two-year-old class, where it was said that “they were the best lot of young Guernsey bulls ever together in an American show-yard.”  

The yearling Guernsey bulls shown at the fair.

The judge of the Guernsey show was Prof. T. L. Haecker from the Minnesota Experiment Station, St. Anthony.  After two days of judging, an exhibitor lodged a protest against Professor Haecker because some of his decisions didn’t agree with the opinions of a few experienced breeders and he didn’t completely go by the official scale of points. A consulting judge, P.H. McCormick, an experienced Guernsey Breeder, was chosen to assist, beginning with the aged cows.

 The Guernsey cows shown at the fair.

First Prize winners were: 

Golden Morning 5th

References: Breeders Gazette. September 28, 1904; World’s Fair Bulletin.  November, 1904.

Photos from Irwin Collection and Breeders Gazette.

This page was designed by Chad Lilienkamp  and is maintained by Lyndon Irwin

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