80 years ago this week. The Geauga Co. Holstein-Friesian sale at the Burton fairgrounds averaged approximately $200 on 62 animals. The top price paid was $450.
In the first consignment sale conducted by the Trumbull County Holstein-Friesian Association, 72 animals averaged about $170. Caseholm Pontiac Freda, a 4-year-old consigned by A.V. Case of Lockwood, topped the sale at $385. The sale was held at the farm of M.M. Coursen, who had built a large, modernly equipped barn this year.
50 years ago this week. On Sept. 8 the New Garden Methodist Church was top bidder on the three-room schoolhouse and land adjacent to the church. Rather than have an individual outside the congregation purchase the property that was but 7 feet from the church’s entrance, the trustees bought the land at auction for $2,900. Now the congregation is preparing for public entertainment by which they hope to decrease their indebtedness. A begging committee has been soliciting the community for fall produce, used furniture, tools, farm machinery, and other goods to be sold at auction. Jessee Snyder will have charge of the needlework booth – Mr. and Mrs. George Walton may be seen at their lunch stand – Dale and Paul Gutherie are arranging for a barrel of cider to be sold – John Ward has secured cheese and honey – the young people are in charge of skill games.
25 years ago this week. Earl McMunn, chairman of the Ohio Republican Agricultural Council, has written to presidential candidate Jimmy Carter regarding his recent statement on food and agriculture. Carter’s statement said: “Grain speculators and monopolistic processors have profited, while farmers are going bankrupt trying to produce food that consumers are going broke trying to buy.”
In his letter, McMunn told Carter: “As an informed agriculturist, you must know that net farm income during the period 1973-1976 will average about $25 billion. And that this is an all-time record, twice the average for the previous decade. You must also know that the average consumer is now spending only 18 percent of his income for food and that this is near the all-time low.”
