Archival Resources in Wisconsin: Descriptive Finding Aids

Container	Title
	8/9/76
Tape/Side 3/1 Time 00:00	INTRODUCTION
Tape/Side 3/1 Time 00:30	SPRECHER'S EARLY YEARS Scope and Content Note: Born April, 1911, on small, rented farm one mile north of Witwen. Father bought farm near Lodi in 1913; moved back to Witwen in 1918. Farmhouse constructed of logs, covered with siding. Period of difficulty; prices high, no conveniences.
Tape/Side 3/1 Time 02:30	EDUCATION Scope and Content Note: Graduated from country school 1924. Went to high school at parents insistence, but attended haphazardly because of farm work.
Tape/Side 3/1 Time 03:10	LOW MILK PRICES, Scope and Content Note: During post-war recession, milk sold for as little as one dollar per hundred. Cows of generally poor quality, milked by hand.
Tape/Side 3/1 Time 03:30	RECESSION STIMULATES FARMERS TO LIME SOIL AND GROW ALFALFA Scope and Content Note: Farmers at first resistant to liming soil and growing alfalfa, but recession helped to change their minds.
Tape/Side 3/1 Time 04:30	DESIRE FOR INVOLVEMENT IN COOPERATIVES AND FAILURE TO BE ADMITTED TO DAIRY SCHOOL Scope and Content Note: After high school graduation, Sprecher wanted to be involved in dairy cooperatives. Work experience in dairy plant required for dairy school admission but plants preferred to hire married men.
Tape/Side 3/1 Time 05:45	SPRECHER FAMILIES IN SAUK CITY AREA Scope and Content Note: Sprechers in area descended from two separate European branches. Unclear of family's origins; believes his grandparents born in U.S., but knows little of ancestry.
Tape/Side 3/1 Time 08:05	SPRECHER RENTS FARM Scope and Content Note: Sprecher's wife's grandmother held mortgage on farm; gave him first chance to rent after another family on the farm, for whom Sprecher was hired man, couldn't continue.
Tape/Side 3/1 Time 10:20	SPRECHER BEGINS TO FARM Scope and Content Note: Began farming in 1935 with $300. Newly married, Sprecher used wife's savings from teaching salary. 200 acres; 100 marsh. Able to use machinery from nearby farms of both parents and in-laws.
Tape/Side 3/1 Time 13:05	ARRIVAL OF FIRST CHILD AND NEW FURNACE Scope and Content Note: Furnace broke down during winter of 1935-1936; closed off several rooms to live in. Pride in arrival of first son matched by effort to save $185 for new furnace.
Tape/Side 3/1 Time 13:55	PURCHASES FARM IN Scope and Content Note: Wife's grandmother gave him first option to buy. Bank reluctant to finance $6,500; Sprecher used wife's savings as collateral, but needed six signers on note. Lived very frugally to pay off note; after paid off, bank begged him to borrow more. Banks now more willing to make agricultural loans.
Tape/Side 3/1 Time 17:00	BEGINS TO BUILD DAIRY HERD Scope and Content Note: Began with ten to twelve cows, Holsteins donated by families. Bought several more cows, most expensive $35; two heifers for $20. Able to pay first year's rent because of good clover crop.
Tape/Side 3/1 Time 18:05	CHOLERA STRIKES HOGS Scope and Content Note: Early years very optimistic, lived off farm. Had “dreams and visions” of paying off $11,200 debt on farm. Second and third years, hog prices went up, expanded to sixty head, but lost them to cholera. Purchased new feeder pigs of which half died. Much help from family and neighbors enabled yearly income to rise.
Tape/Side 3/1 Time 20:45	CHANGE TO WHOLE MILK MARKETING Scope and Content Note: Traditionally community farmers separated own milk, sold cream, fed skim to calves and hogs. Demand for condensed milk led some young farmers to want to market whole milk. Fundamentalists in Sprecher's church opposed whole milk pickup and processing on Sundays. Much hard feeling, but after six months about eighty per cent of farmers selling whole milk and controversy died. Eliminated high fat losses from separating on farm.
Tape/Side 3/1 Time 23:35	COMMENTS ON GOOD MEALS AND HARD WORK Scope and Content Note: After change to whole milk marketing, found it difficult to adjust to loss of breakfast cream, ice cream, and cream puffs. Worked very hard physically, but ate very well in those days.
Tape/Side 3/1 Time 25:00	NEW MILKING EQUIPMENT AND OTHER CHANGES Scope and Content Note: Wife helped hand-milk twenty-four cows. Bought first milking machine in 1938; first a Surge, then a Universal, later a Bou-Matic. Unlike most, always had electricity. Used wood- burning furnace during 1930s; neighbors aghast when Sprecher also began to burn a little coal, but has always tried to keep up with changes.
Tape/Side 3/1 Time 29:30	COMPARISON OF RURAL AND URBAN LIVING STANDARDS Scope and Content Note: Rural standards used to be lower, but Sprecher believes now that both rural and urban have same conveniences and farmers have greater freedom. Never regretted farming; happy it provided close relationship with children.
Tape/Side 3/1 Time 31:25	HOUSEHOLD CONVENIENCES IN Scope and Content Note: Had central heating; household water hand-pumped. Limited water supply in barn.
Tape/Side 3/1 Time 32:15	ANECDOTE ABOUT DOGS AND KITCHEN STOVE Scope and Content Note: Remembers dogs used to stick their heads in wood- burning ovens to get warm in the morning.
Tape/Side 3/1 Time 32:55	USES KITCHEN RANGE FOR HEAT Scope and Content Note: Remembers one day couldn't get house above freezing; closed all the rooms, moved house plants into kitchen, and used kitchen range for heat.
Tape/Side 3/1 Time 33:10	END TAPE 3, SIDE 1
Tape/Side 3/2 Time 00:00	INTRODUCTION
Tape/Side 3/2 Time 00:30	CROPS, INCLUDING SWEET PEAS AS CASH CROP Scope and Content Note: Raised corn, oats, hay for livestock; peas as a cash crop. Had to load peas by hand, haul in wagon five miles to a viner, haul vines home and unload. After pea harvest, used acreage for silo corn if weather good. Earlier custom of judging weight and quality of peas by eye gave way to weighing in bin. Very social atmosphere at fly-infested pea viners; site of many practical jokes.
Tape/Side 3/2 Time 06:55	INCREASING DAIRY HERD LEADS TO END OF PEA GROWING Scope and Content Note: Stopped growing peas during World War II; family not big enough to provide labor, difficult to get help, had expanded dairy operation.
Tape/Side 3/2 Time 07:35	TRACTORS Scope and Content Note: Shared second-hand steel-wheeled tractor with parents when bought farm. Used tractor for plowing, horses for other work. In early 1940s purchased John Deere rubber-tired tractor for cultivating corn. One of few rubber-tired tractors in area at that time, many wished to hire it.
Tape/Side 3/2 Time 09:25	PRESENT AND PAST FARM INCOME Scope and Content Note: Sprecher's farm in 1976 out on land contract. Receives $1,300- $1,400 for only one-fourth of the milk check. In 1930s farmed same 200 acres; yearly income was $1,500 for farm which in 1970s grosses $70,000-$80,000.
Tape/Side 3/2 Time 10:55	ANECDOTE ABOUT TOY TRAIN FOR SON Scope and Content Note: When son ten years old, bought him toy train for $3.89. Hid extravagance from parents; didn't want them to know they were so “liberal-spending.”
Tape/Side 3/2 Time 11:40	AID FROM COUNTY AGENT Scope and Content Note: County agent advised Sprecher on field lay-out, tested soil to determine amount of fertilizer needed. At first much skepticism in neighborhood about commercial fertilizers.
Tape/Side 3/2 Time 13:05	INFLUENCE OF NEIGHBOR CARL ENGE ON SPRECHER ADOPTING NEW METHODS Scope and Content Note: Some farmers too ambitious, overextended themselves to make improvements, and couldn't manage. Carl Enge, leader of change, always expanded within his ability; led community in adopting hybrid seed, dairy improvements, and irrigation practices.
Tape/Side 3/2 Time 16:55	COMMENTS ON FARMERS WHO EXPAND WITH EXCLUSIVE RELIANCE ON HIRED LABOR Scope and Content Note: Critical of farmers who ask hired labor to perform tasks farmer doesn't want to. Such farmers rarely succeed.
Tape/Side 3/2 Time 17:25	SOURCE OF IDEAS FOR FARM IMPROVEMENTS Scope and Content Note: Finds ideas in farm journals and through involvement in cooperatives.
Tape/Side 3/2 Time 18:10	DECIDES NOT TO EXPAND FARM Scope and Content Note: Son's decision not to return to farm persuaded Sprecher not to buy additional land. Regrettable decision for purely financial reasons. Over the years farmed little more than original 200 acres; occasionally rented extra land.
Tape/Side 3/2 Time 19:30	RETIRES FROM ACTIVE FARMING Scope and Content Note: Began reducing active involvement in farm in 1963 when moved off property; subsequent heart attack and stroke in 1971 lessened involvement further. Stresses necessity of living within financial and physical capabilities.
Tape/Side 3/2 Time 21:15	CHANGE TO GRADE A MILK Scope and Content Note: Sprecher, a director of Honey Creek Valley Dairy Cooperative which used Grade B milk, did not change to Grade A until 1954. Area farmers initially hostile to Chicago inspectors who must accompany change to Grade A.
Tape/Side 3/2 Time 23:10	COMMENTS ON ADOPTING CHANGE Scope and Content Note: Difficulty to draw line between a farmer being too slow on one hand, or overly ambitious on the other.
Tape/Side 3/2 Time 25:20	FARM BUREAU MEMBER Scope and Content Note: Has belonged to Farm Bureau since became a farmer, but never very active. Felt he should retain neutral position between Farm Bureau and Farmers Union because of his involvement in cooperatives. Tries to stay current on positions of all general farmers organizations.
Tape/Side 3/2 Time 26:25	COMMENTS ON NATIONAL FARMERS ORGANIZATION (NFO) Scope and Content Note: Has never liked NFO philosophy, resort to “threatening way of doing things” and violence, rather than building on past organization experiences. Recalls seeing trucker shot at by NFO. NFO strong in Sauk County; considerable animosity between Sprecher and NFO led to hard feelings between pro-and anti- NFO farm families in community.
Tape/Side 3/2 Time 30:05	COMMENTS ON MILO SWANTON Scope and Content Note: Always retained even-tempered approach.
Tape/Side 3/2 Time 30:35	OPPOSITION TO NFO WITHHOLDING ACTION; RECALLS SIMILAR SITUATION IN THE Scope and Content Note: NFO first wanted to end government involvement in pricing and force prices higher by withholding. Sprecher, already involved in current milk marketing policies, opposed. Same withholding attempt in early 1930s; Sprecher told to dump cream, but refused and instead was deputized to guard creamery; got seventy-five cents extra in wages. Recalls impressive speaker at Prairie du Sac mass meeting whose plea helped end milk strike in the early 1930s.
Tape/Side 3/2 Time 33:35	END TAPE 3, SIDE 2
Tape/Side 4/1 Time 00:00	INTRODUCTION
Tape/Side 4/1 Time 00:30	GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT IN AGRICULTURE Scope and Content Note: Supports LOL position that government involvement in agriculture should basically be restricted to international trade. Opposes government support of prices in exchange for production controls. Opposes NFO position of farmers contract- bargaining with processors and packers.
Tape/Side 4/1 Time 02:20	FUNCTION OF COOPERATIVES Scope and Content Note: Feels cooperatives should be based on marketing and merchandising; should try to control more of basic resources for fertilizer and energy. LOL in 1976 member of cooperative consortium in Egypt seeking new sources of crude oil. Older farmers resist expanding function of cooperatives; younger farmers tend to support.
Tape/Side 4/1 Time 05:30	OPPOSITION TO NFO RELIANCE ON BARGAINING BASED ON COST OF PRODUCTION Scope and Content Note: Believes NFO reliance on bargaining on basis of cost of pro- duction impractical; cost of production variables differ for each farmer. NFO resort to violence during withholding actions has presented poor farmer image to consumers. Farmers must alter production techniques to suit changing consumer taste; must accept consumer preference for margarine and modify their farm operations accordingly; must educate consumers about the basic facts of farming.
Tape/Side 4/1 Time 12:00	LITTLE FAMILY CONNECTION BETWEEN NEIGHBORHOOD SUPPORTERS OF 1930'S WISCONSIN COOPERATIVE MILK POOL AND NFO Scope and Content Note: Perhaps some connection in thinking patterns of members of Milk Pool and NFO: unwillingness to change, little involve- ment in cooperatives, personal disgruntlements, rather than continuity of philosophy in particular neighborhood families.
Tape/Side 4/1 Time 15:25	NFO EFFECTIVE ORGANIZING METHOD Scope and Content Note: “Terrific system of getting people involved,” good system of communication with members.
Tape/Side 4/1 Time 16:10	NFO MEMBERSHIP Scope and Content Note: Believes NFO composed largely of disgruntled farmers, perhaps seeking some recognition. Respects great sacrifices made by members for NFO, but disapproves of NFO attitude which condemns “everything in the past.”
Tape/Side 4/1 Time 18:35	ANECDOTE ABOUT OREN LEE STALEY, NATIONAL PRESIDENT NFO Scope and Content Note: Sprecher liked Staley personally when met him in Washington, D.C., although no substantive issues discussed.
Tape/Side 4/1 Time 20:50	FARM BUREAU AND FARMERS UNION ATTITUDE TOWARD GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT IN AGRICULTURE Scope and Content Note: Concerned that Bureau and Union national positions often different from state-level positions. FB basically against government interference while Farmers Union supports. Sprecher in middle; supporting government involvement in several areas, particularly international trade, but opposing government involvement in operations of individual farms.
Tape/Side 4/1 Time 22:45	SPRECHER SUPPORTS ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL FOOD POLICY Scope and Content Note: Would fulfill humanitarian responsibility to help people in developing nations and economic necessity to stabilize prices and income in the U.S. Feels Farmers Union more likely than FB to support such a policy, one that would demonstrate to the world U.S. desire to play a leadership role.
Tape/Side 4/1 Time 25:40	GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP OF GRAIN STORAGE BINS Scope and Content Note: Opposes.
Tape/Side 4/1 Time 26:35	SPRECHER SUPPORTS ESTABLISHMENT OF INTERNATIONAL “RESOURCES FUND” Scope and Content Note: Believes food bank should be established on international level, as part of “resource fund” of energy, metals, fertilizers, money, and perhaps people.
Tape/Side 4/1 Time 27:40	SUPPORTS INVOLVEMENT OF COOPERATIVES IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE Scope and Content Note: Estimates sixty per cent American grain sold to local cooperatives, only four per cent of which reaches overseas market. Grain exports controlled by five major companies. Supports establishment of interregional cooperatives to provide storage and loading facilities to strengthen marketing power. Control by cooperatives would improve image of American exporters, damaged by such practices as adding sand for weight.
Tape/Side 4/1 Time 30:35	OVERSEAS INTEREST IN WORKING DIRECTLY WITH U.S. COOPERATIVES Scope and Content Note: Several nations, including Denmark, interested in direct trade with cooperatives.
Tape/Side 4/1 Time 31:45	ESTABLISHMENT OF AGRICULTURE COUNCIL OF AMERICA TO IMPROVE URBAN-RURAL RELATIONS Scope and Content Note: Agriculture Council of America established to narrow gap in understanding between urban and rural people by arranging farm visits for city people.
Tape/Side 4/1 Time 33:15	END TAPE 4, SIDE 1