Museum the New Llano Colony

Farms / Ranches
Dairy, Livestock, Work Stock

"Vernon Parish Democrat," August 9, 1919

"Vernon Parish police jury has, by a unanimous vote, decided to withdraw the co-operation of Vernon parish in cattle dipping by refusing to pay further claims for such purpose, stating the reason that the members are of the belief that public money is being wasted, and that furthermore, systematic and conscientious dipping has not been followed to eradicate the ticks."

"Vernon Parish Democrat," August 12, 1920

"The Holstein herd of dairy cattle is being gradually built up and will soon be the finest herd in the parish."

"Vernon Parish Democrat," September 16, 1920

"The two silos now on the ranch will hold about 45 tons and 20 tons respectively, while the colony has bot [sic] a large 125 ton silo which will be erected here in a few days.

Hauling the ensilage to these silos and cutting the ensilage and preparing it requires the help of several men, and the whole ranch has been commandeered by the farm department. Even the larger boys and girls are doing their bit to harvest the crops...

Cane and sorghum are being hauled to the cane mill and a load of crushed cane is hauled back to the silos for ensilage: for, unlike the old-time sorghum, the Texas Blue Ribbon cane which we are raising makes fine ensilage as well as syrup."

"Vernon Parish Democrat," October 28, 1920

"The Police Jury of Vernon Parish has signified that they will erect a dipping vat for this section of the Parish on the Colony property near the old chicken ranch.

This will be used by the farmers in that neighborhood as well as by the colony.

The dipping law will be enforced next year, according to the Governor of the State, and this vat will aid the farmer living in this locality."

"Vernon Parish Democrat," February 24, 1921

"The Llano Colony will obey the law and dip their cattle regularly; for her dairymen realize the danger and uselessness of feeding ticks as well as cattle."

"Vernon Parish Democrat," April 28, 1921

"U.S. Demonstration Farm at Colony is Aid to All Vernon -- A United States Demonstration Farm is a farm that is laid out and planned in the same way a United States Experiment Station is laid out, only in a more extensive way.

A demonstration farm must be of considerable value to all the Parish because of the fact that valuable and certain experiments are made with the scientific knowledge of the agricultural department of the country behind it.

The lands have to be cleaned and cleared of all stumps, rubbish, etc, ditched, and drained perfectly, cultivated and fertilized to the absolute needs of any crop or crops you are growing or contemplate growing within the year. Irrigation and spraying must be arranged for so as to be ready when needed, and the land must be duly fenced against all stock. All this is very easily done, if your lands are clean and cleared of all stumps and rubbish, etc., and the crops financed in detail to every need.

We have the name, and we are making good progress. The Colony hopes to attain all this in the near future, and we are working to that end. So far, quite an acreage of our lands has been cleared up and is in very good shape, and more is in line.

We have added to the Colony for the Colony's use, nineteen head of Friesian-Hostein heifers and one registered male of the same stock, but not related to the heifers; also twenty acres of fruit trees planted with the possibility of twenty acres more of fruit trees for our orchard this fall.

We have been making some good crops year after year and the Colony has made very good, indeed, when the conditions are considered, with the time at its command. What we have done in many ways will become more valuable as time goes by. Five years from the time our heifers begin to produce, there will be over 100 head in our heard, to say nothing of the dairy products in milk, butter, and cheese, with a demand for every ounce of butter fat by the Louisiana State University Creamery. And in the meantime, our orchard will give us an abundance of fruit.

The Highland soil of this section of Louisiana will run from 50 to 60% more loam than is found in any other state of the South, excepting of course the Mississippi Delta and the Laredo onion fields of Texas. The State of Louisiana is bound to become the GARDEN SPOT OF THE SOUTH.

As to life in the Colony, Colony conditions, and Colony progress, I am so well pleased that I could not be driven out with a club! -- W.A. Dougherty, U.S. Demonstration Farm"

"The dairy department, with its herd of 19 Holsteins, obtained on contract from the U.S. Government, and which will soon develop into a source of splendid revenue. Hog and poultry raising are being given careful attention, and will soon develop into profitable sources of income.

The mild, long season is especially adaptable to the raising of live stock. The native grasses which grow rank among the timber and along the creeks, provides excellent feed for the greater part of the year. The Colony has the nucleus of as fine a Holstein dairy herd as has ever been seen in the South. Hogs, sheep, goats do well here."

"Vernon Parish Democrat," May 12, 1921

"Haynes is digging the pit at the dairy for the dipping vat. We are putting in our own vat for our own cattle as we believe it is to our own good to dip all our cattle."

"Vernon Parish Democrat," July 14, 1921

"The dairy is a busy place these days. You must remember the goats, hogs, and cattle are all tended at this same place, and to touch off the job, the bees are also left for the livestock crew."

"Vernon Parish Democrat," April 27, 1922

"The Colony's live stock includes pedigreed Holstein heifers and bulls, Duroc hogs, and some chickens."

"Llano Colonist," May 6, 1922

"Our milk goat herd is on the way from California; they expect to arrive by May 1st. Comrade Yates and Warren Fread are coming with them."

"A great band of kids reached the Colony yesterday! Yes, and their mothers and their daddies and Warren Fread and Comrade Yates and Bruno, the dog... Milk goats of the very best quality and an enthusiastic man, Comrade Yates, to handle them."

"Llano Colonist," July 15, 1922

"The dairy ranch is getting along very well, for Baldwin brought in a load of delicious melons for the hotel boarders today. Comrade Harry Bell was at the hog ranch early this morning with dangerous weapons and the savory smell of roast pork will probably wake the late sleepers at the hotel Sunday. The cows are keeping us well supplied with milk, about 30 cows being milked. The 50 or more calves speak for themselves as to the care they receive. Comrade Rowe has his hogs in good shape and several ready for the butcher. Comrade and Mrs. Yates are out [near the dairy] with the goats, which are going thru the acclimating process nicely..."

"Llano Colonist," August 5, 1922

"This colony now has... [a] chicken farm, dairy with about 20 milking cows and a herd of thorobred [sic] Holstein heifers, goat ranch, [and a] hog ranch with several hundred Duroc Jersey hogs."

"Llano Colonist," August 19, 1922

"Darth, Lee and Cryer are all cutting corn for the silo; Kemp, Van, De Boer, Crawford, and Waters are hauling corn with mule teams, while Warren Fread is hauling with a Fordson and they expect to complete the job by noon tomorrow."

"Llano Colonist," November 19, 1927

"For the first time in several weeks I saw the milk goats that Comrade Johnson of Ill. sent us. They are almost full grown and as gentle as ever. No doubt, it won't be long before we will be getting a milk supply from this miniature goat herd...

Van Nuland is now pasturing the milch-cows west of the kid kolony where our farm crew planted feed for them. In fact, Van and Davidson have started a new system of raising feed and feeding it to the dairy herd. That is to grow it and pasture it off as a process to help build up the soil and also keep our cattle in green pasture all the year around. We have some excellent young stock growing up and in another year or two Llano's dairy should be large enough to supply us with all the milk, cream and butter that we want."

"Llano Colonist," January 21, 1928

"(From the Rice Ranch) When the larger part of our herd of hogs had been taken away from this ranch, several months ago, only nine fat sows were left. But now our little herd has increased to a total of fifty-one and as the accommodations for such a crowd is inadequate, we are erecting a new commodious hog palace, east of the new tool shed, the foundation brick piers having been built by Harry and Jim."

"This year we will have to build a big, new horse and mule barn. The old one has about served its time. I think they are expecting to make this new barn 40 x 120 ft. It will be erected near the old barn near the garden and will be built for convenience and efficient service.

A new dairy barn 38 x 116 ft will be built this year in order to take care of our growing herds and give a better chance for a dairy man to build up his herd properly. We want to make this a model dairy barn with silos, milk room and everything up to date."

"Llano Colonist," June 23, 1928

"Mr. and Mrs. Maltby have been doing all their own work for some time at their poultry unit as well as feeding a large group of farmers each day at noon. They have increased this flock of chickens greatly this year."

"Llano Colonist," June 29, 1929

"Our herd of cattle was increased, the other day by the advent of a smart big Holstein bull-calf and also by three beautiful young goats, one of them a promising ram. I am told that these baby goats are of the renowned Toggenbury breed. Their hair is as white as snow and they have sweet little pinky lips and noses, their hoofs being grey. -- Cuno"

"Llano Colonist," August 31, 1929

"Three different people have been out to look at the chicken corn (Egyptian wheat, shallu). It will average six feet tall now and most of it headed out but not ripe enough to pick yet. We have to thank Dad Phillips for his encouraging and enthusiastic words in the spring or I am afraid it would never have been planted. It certainly looked like a poor stand and very sickly when it first came up but now Dad says it is a little too thick in some places. I guess it would average about twelve inches apart and the rows about three feet apart. We are planning on cutting the heads off for the chickens and running the balance into the silo.

Sweet potato harvest has started, at least we dig enough so that we have a load of vines for the milk cows each evening. The pasture grass is getting tough and wirey and the cows do not relish it so much. Van says the cows are picking up on their milk since the vines have been coming in. And the colonists all seem to relish the sweet potatoes at the table again. B.C. Roe"

"Llano Colonist," December 12, 1931

"Billy DeBoer is out bright and early each morning hauling feed from the grist mill for the horses and mules at the barn; he also gathers up the slop from the hotel to feed his pigs. Cayton has charge of the milk goats and furnishes quite a [quantity of milk for the children at the kid] kolony. Anton Van Nuland, assisted by... Elmer Jensen attends to the cows at the dairy and delivers the milk at the hotel and Mrs. Shutt's, from where the colonists get their daily supply of milk."

"Llano Colonist," February 13, 1932

"Real progress can be reported on the dairy barn... The measurements are 36 by 116 1/2 feet and 32 feet high. The roof will resemble a dirigible hangar, thus making lots of space for hay, peanuts, etc. Today the interior was being filled with supports for the loft.

The dairy barn is located on a hill top about a mile from the hotel. The site is regarded as ideal. The view that the cows will have is decidedly pleasing. Many miles of second growth and pasture land can be seen.

Returning from the dairy barn, we stopped at the goat ranch, where Dr. Cayton, veterinarian, and among the early arrivals in the colony, soon after our advent here from California, was busy skinning a goat that had unfortunately taken a violent chill from the recent rains. The pelts of all such are saved. Elmer, Doc's brother was just across the fence, doing a similar job. Both felt a sense of personal loss, as the two animals were among the best of the not inconsiderable herd.

There were several dozen little goats, tame as kittens and just as cute, running around and doing perfectly human things. The mother goats looked on approvingly and kept on chewing, as though someone had presented each with a package of chewing gum...

Dr. Cayton said that the Kid Kolony could soon expect some milk daily from the goats as the supply would increase day by day from now on."

"Llano Colonist," December 24, 1932

"A rabbit council of war was held on the porch of the office building today, and all the rabbit experts were present. The Chinchilla rabbits have recently been moved from the neighborhood of the oil well out to the Hoag Ranch where they passed under the tender care of Kennedy, chicken expert. He with Baldy and Bert Moore (who had a rabbitry of his own in California... and also observed the big rabbitry of 7,000 inmates at Llano del Rio colony) and Gaylord (who had all of 200 Chins in a private rabbitry in Oregon yeahs and yeahs ago) engaged in solemn council.

There was a day when rabbit breeding stock was a marketable commodity; and rabbit meat brought 30 cents a pound, dressed. But them days are gone forever. The cows and mules have first call on the peanut hay, corn and other good fodder. The alfalfa experiment in Llano has not worked out so well. To buy feed for rabbits was voted not a paying business. And so, the axe was voted to be the best method of solving the problem of feeding rabbits...

A few of the best does and bucks are to be reserved for further experiment. But it was suggested that, as the days of fancy fur prices are no more, it might be as well to work into the big white breeds as being better meat producers while being on the whole more practical as fur bearers."