11/10/76

INTRODUCTION

FARM BUILDINGS ON SPRECHER FARM
Scope and Content Note: Originally a house, barn, hoghouse, chickenhouse, part of a shed, corn-crib. Later, most outbuildings removed or replaced. Farmhouse completely remodeled; barn has new addition, com- pletely remodeled on inside. 12 x 45 cement-stave silo built about 1942; 12 x 60 silo built in 1963.

NEW EQUIPMENT ELIMINATES DRUDGERY
Scope and Content Note: Later addition of equipment for automated feeding, silo unloading, and barn cleaning helped to increase production but eliminated much physical drudgery.

WHY SPRECHER DECIDES TO BUILD CEMENT STAVE-SILO
Scope and Content Note: Hard to get wooden-stave silo; convinced by neighbor, a sales- man, to buy one of cement-staves. Built at cost of less than $1,000; later silo cost over $13,000. Considered buying Harvestore silo in 1960s but cost $7,000-$8,000 more than cement-stave structure.

FORKING HAY
Scope and Content Note: Stopped forking hay about 1960.

EXPANDS AND IMPROVES BARN
Scope and Content Note: Barn originally built for nineteen cows; expanded to accommodate forty-two. Built separate, environment- controlled barn for calves. Main barn remodeled three times over the years. First barn cleaner installed about mid-1950s.

PROBLEM OF FARM WATER SUPPLY
Scope and Content Note: Windmill unreliable, often had to pump water by hand until purchase of electric motor. Inadequate water supply until well drilled about 1953.

FORTIETH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY GIFT
Scope and Content Note: Very moved by daughter's gift of a metal model of the farm as it was during the early years (hanging on wall of Sprecher's home in Sauk City).

WHERE TO LOCATE A SILO
Scope and Content Note: Should locate on side of barn rather than on the end to allow room for expansion. Sprecher's newest silo not attached to barn but in midst of cement yard.

LIGHTNING RODS ON BARN
Scope and Content Note: Put lightning rods on barns because of concern for fire; explains how to position rods on barn roof.

IMPROVEMENTS IN LOADING HAY
Scope and Content Note: Forked loose hay until cultivation of alfalfa; use of haylage became widespread in 1940s. Unsuccessfully tried to chop dry hay. In mid-1940s bought a baler with brother and used it for all except silo hay. Later used automated loading machinery.

SHARING MACHINERY WITH OTHERS
Scope and Content Note: Important that farmers share expensive machinery; Sprecher fortunate to cooperate with brother. Together bought McCormick-Deering seed-plow tractor in 1936 for plowing; later purchased a cultivator. Emphasizes acreage covered by modern tractor with five-bottom plow.

FAMILY HELPS LOA LOOSE HAY UNTIL TRACTOR ABLE TO PULL HAY LOADER
Scope and Content Note: Wife and children helped drive team while men loaded hay. Explains how to load loose hay on a wagon.

FALL PLOWING
Scope and Content Note: Liked to plow in fall to save time in spring. Much more fall plowing in Minnesota than in Sauk City area.

USE OF COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERS
Scope and Content Note: Soil needs commercial fertilizer in fall. Sprecher first tested it (type C-12) in his marsh. Feels commercial fertilizers, improved seeds, and better soil management all have reduced potentially drastic effects of 1970s drought.

SOIL EROSION BECAUSE OF FALL PLOWING
Scope and Content Note: Soil erosion if winter doesn't bring considerable snowfall.

BUYS MANY SUPPLIES AT SAUK CITY FARMCO COOPERATIVE
Scope and Content Note: Over the years has bought almost all expendables such as seed and twine at Sauk City Farmco Cooperative.

IMPORTANCE OF BUYING MACHINERY FROM DEALER WHO PROVIDES GOOD SERVICE
Scope and Content Note: Bought milking and other equipment from private dealer who provided reliable service. Very expensive modern machinery requires constant care. Gives example of high repair costs in 1970s.

BUYS FIRST COMBINE ABOUT
Scope and Content Note: Ran threshing rig with brother, but about 1951 grain too windblown and tough and bought a combine on the spur of the moment. Recalls German exchange student startled at on-the- spot decision to buy major piece of machinery. Combined extensively in the neighborhood that fall; sold old threshing machine before it became obsolete. John Deere combine cost $700-$800; disliked cranking engine, so after two years got another when purchased bigger tractor with power take-off. In 1970s many individual farmers better off to contract for combining because of high machinery prices.

END TAPE 5, SIDE 1

INTRODUCTION

SHARING FARM EQUIPMENT WITH BROTHER
Scope and Content Note: Able to save money and buy good machinery by sharing costs and upkeep with brother.

LOCATION OF BROTHER'S FARM
Scope and Content Note: Brother's farm about one mile away; extensive road-running hard on equipment.

SPRECHER AND BROTHER PROVIDE THRESHING MACHINE FOR OTHER FARMERS
Scope and Content Note: Charged farmers various prices; considered $50 per day and $500 for a season of threshing very good. Enjoyed providing the service; threshing crews lots of fun.

MEALS FOR THRESHING CREWS
Scope and Content Note: Farmwives competed to provide most impressive meals for threshing crews; “banquets” every day.

POLITICAL DISCUSSIONS AMONG MEMBERS OF THRESHING CREWS
Scope and Content Note: Often tempers flared over political issues.

LAMENT OVER THRESHING DAYS
Scope and Content Note: Misses camaraderie of threshing crews; work easier since demise of threshing, but improvements also have meant sacrificing the good times.

CONTRACT ARRANGEMENTS FOR THRESHING
Scope and Content Note: Contracted informally to do threshing for same farmers every year.

SHREDDING CORN
Scope and Content Note: Explains how farmers used to shock corn, dry it, then run through shredder to separate ears and stalks. Stalks went to barn for feed and bedding. Shredding hard and dangerous work. Sprecher provided shredding service for other farmers for $5 per hour. Less shredding done after more alfalfa grown for haylage.

HOW SPRECHER AND BROTHER DIVIDED THRESHING RESPONSIBILITIES
Scope and Content Note: Brother responsible for machinery maintenance while Sprecher hauled the grain. Sprecher's first job on threshing crew was tending the blower.

WEIGHING AND ELEVATING GRAIN
Scope and Content Note: Bought first grain elevator at Portage during World War II; received government priority because would be used for many farmers.

SETTING A THRESHING MACHINE
Scope and Content Note: Depends on direction of wind.

BUILDING A STRAW PILE
Scope and Content Note: Sprecher built many straw piles for $1 per day extra. Farmers very particular about position on piles.

WOMEN'S ROLE DURING THRESHING
Scope and Content Note: Women's contribution vital; did most of daily chores including milking to enable men to thresh.

DETAIL ON BUILDING A STRAW PILE
Scope and Content Note: Explains how to build a good straw pile.

DRINKING WHILE THRESHING
Scope and Content Note: Not done in Sprecher's community.

WOODCUTTING
Scope and Content Note: Preferred oak; worked with father, brother and neighbors between chore times. During several winters cut cord wood for dairy plants; once cut four cords to buy an overcoat.

COMPARES WORK IN PAST WITH PRESENT
Scope and Content Note: Recalls hard physical labor on farm; always ate and slept well. Worried more in later years when concerned as cooperative leader with other people's affairs; thirty years ago concerned mostly about his own debts.

USE OF HIRED LABOR
Scope and Content Note: Hired some help after first two children born and wife less able to help. Usually hired single men; had homeless boy for many years. Never asked hired worker to do anything he wouldn't. Good relations with all hired help; recalls hiring debt-ridden alcoholic that wife Della helped to straighten out.

END TAPE 5, SIDE 2

INTRODUCTION

DESIRABLE QUALITIES IN FARM LABORER
Scope and Content Note: Honesty; able to feel part of the family. Strongly believes laborer should be well-fed. Hired man should be a “little full of fun,” have some of same interests, and be willing to work. Disliked drinkers.

DIFFICULTY IN HIRING COMPETENT LABOR
Scope and Content Note: More difficult in later years to find competent farm workers; greater skills required to deal with expensive, sophisticated machinery.

WAGES FOR HIRED LABOR
Scope and Content Note: Paid hired men wages comparable to those in town; gave extra rewards at Christmas. In 1970s not uncommon for hired men on dairy farm to get $600-$700 per month, plus room, fuel, and some food. Trend towards hiring married men instead of single men.

COMPARES PAST AND PRESENT WAGES FOR HIRED MEN
Scope and Content Note: Sprecher in 1930s earned $200 per year as a hired man; fifteen years ago paid hired man $200 per month .

MORE ON HIRED MEN
Scope and Content Note: Hired men often went into business after leaving Sprecher's farm, although none farmed. Hired help often farm boys with too many brothers on family farm.

IMPACT OF WORLD WAR II ON FARMING
Scope and Content Note: Brought great increase in farm income; Sprecher able to pay off debts and heavy mortgage. Rented more land during war. “Anybody that didn't make money in those years will never make money.”

ANECDOTE ABOUT STOCK MARKET INVESTMENT
Scope and Content Note: Recalls rich neighbor who convinced him during 1940s to invest in paper company stock. At first made large profit, then reinvested it and just broke even. Later invested only in safe companies, like utilities.

SPRECHER DECIDES NOT TO EXPAND
Scope and Content Note: Since son wouldn't remain on farm, Sprecher decided not to expand farm in 1940s, but began to get more involved in cooperatives. Feels he missed opportunities by staying status quo; realized later farmer can't progress by leveling off.

FARM IMPROVEMENTS DURING WORLD WAR II
Scope and Content Note: Net income during war despite rising prices. Bought new tractor, cornpicker, barn cleaner; remodeled house as well as barn. Feels his situation typical of other farmers, though some managed badly, overinvesting in land and equipment.

ABSENCE OF HARD YEARS ON FARM
Scope and Content Note: Years uneven, but recalls no real “bad years.” Most problems related to his own lack of initiative in making heavier investments; should have borrowed more money to make improvements.

HESITATES TO SWITCH TO GRADE A WHILE DIRECTOR OF GRADE B CREAMERY
Scope and Content Note: Area farmers began to change to Grade A market while Sprecher director of the Grade B Honey Creek Valley Dairy Cooperative. While Sprecher's brother switched to Grade A, Sprecher stayed with Grade B until bulk cooling tanks appeared in 1954.

FARM CHANGES REQUIRED BY SWITCH TO GRADE A MARKET
Scope and Content Note: Switched to Grade A in fall 1954. Dug new well, had water tested, cemented cow yard, improved lighting in barn, rewired barn, improved floor. Built new, painted milkhouse with adequate hot water heater and new bulk cooler. Never sorry he switched; approves trend toward all Grade A milk in Wisconsin. Recalls long hours of work to get ready for first Grade A inspection.

FARMER AND MILK HAULER OPPOSITION TO GRADE A
Scope and Content Note: Milk haulers without bulk tank bodies lost customers. Some conservative farmers cautious and hesitated too long. Stresses farmer should be neither overcautious nor overanxious to change.

MORE ON STANDARDS RELATED TO GRADE A
Scope and Content Note: Pipeline systems later brought additional standards. Had to watch cows health more closely, especially for signs of mastitis.

MILK HAULERS ADJUST TO GRADE A
Scope and Content Note: Explains how Grade B milk haulers contracted with dairy plants. With switch to Grade A, state Public Service Commission awarded franchises to haulers which ended competitive bidding between plants. By 1976, Sauk City almost all Grade A, although some plants of Wisconsin Dairies Cooperative still take large amounts of Grade B.

COMPARES PRICE FOR GRADE A AND GRADE B MILK
Scope and Content Note: Traditionally prices higher for Grade A, although more recently narrower gap between Grade A and Grade B prices. More prestige in producing A.

COST OF SWITCH TO GRADE A
Scope and Content Note: Estimates overall cost at $5,000-$6,000; bulk tank alone cost $2,000. Again stresses higher status of Grade A producers among dairy farmers.

END TAPE 6, SIDE 1

INTRODUCTION

CATTLE RAISING AND MARKETING
Scope and Content Note: Over years great changes in raising cattle for meat, mostly because of artificial insemination. Meat producers criticize dairy farmers for raising beef as a sideline. Sprecher raised Holstein steers; sold for around 34 per pound.

MARKETS STEERS THROUGH EQUITY COOPERATIVE LIVESTOCK SHIPPING ASSOCIATION
Scope and Content Note: Sometimes sold steers directly to Oscar Mayer Company in Madison, but usually through Equity. Hauler took steers to auction barn at Richland Center. Dairy farming with combination of dairy and beef potentially more profitable.

NEED FOR FAMILY-SIZED FARMS MANAGED BY TWO FAMILIES
Scope and Content Note: Would release dairy farmers from seven-day work week.

PRIVATE BUYERS CONTACT SPRECHER TO BUY STEERS
Scope and Content Note: Private buyers of steers used to contact Sprecher, though less so in later years. Equity reliable, even though didn't always offer top price.

ASSOCIATION WITH EQUITY COOPERATIVE LIVESTOCK SHIPPING ASSOCIATION
Scope and Content Note: Attended meetings; never an officer because of involvement with dairy cooperatives.

COMMENTS ON FARM BUREAU LIVESTOCK MARKETING PROGRAM COMPETING WITH EQUITY'S
Scope and Content Note: Didn't like Farm Bureau setting up separate program; Equity and FB could work together more closely instead of competing.

SUPPORTS INCREASED COOPERATION AMONG COOPERATIVES
Scope and Content Note: Supported FB and Equity collaboration on marketing, producing, and research of hogs. Need for livestock marketing cooperatives to cooperate more on regional level.

COOPERATIVE CONSORTIUM BUYS ATLANTIC-RICHFIELD COMPANY (ARCO) REFINERY
Scope and Content Note: Example of cooperation among cooperatives. Regionals joined to purchase ARCO refinery in Chicago area.

COOPERATIVES SELL LIVESTOCK
Scope and Content Note: Cooperatives compete to sell livestock, mostly to Oscar Mayer. Believes it might be necessary for cooperatives to develop own processing facilities to bypass Oscar Mayer.

PROMOTION OF DAIRY PRODUCTS
Scope and Content Note: Recalls failure of Wisconsin Dairy Federation to get support from processors and farmers for dairy promotion. Opposition from farmers who fear present and future checkoff rate, and from those who don't believe that farmers should get involved in advertising.

BEGINNING OF INVOLVEMENT IN SAUK COUNTY SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION IN
Scope and Content Note: 1946 law authorized school districts. Sauk county board of supervisors appointed Sprecher to school consolidation committee, organized in 1947. Believed consolidation would provide better schooling opportunities for rural children. Consolidation brought urban and rural people together to share equally burden of financing modern schools.

ADVANTAGES OF CONSOLIDATION OUTWEIGH DISADVANTAGES
Scope and Content Note: While neighborhood lost one-room school as community center and children gave up advantages of close mingling between children of various ages, gains from consolidation greater than losses.

PURPOSE OF SAUK COUNTY CONSOLIDATION COMMITTEE
Scope and Content Note: Get outlying areas into equally valuated high school districts so costs borne equitably among taxpayers. Sprecher remembers young generally supported change; older citizens opposed. Personal harassment; once needed police escort to leave meeting. Anecdote about meeting where young mother who supported consolida- tion knocked out man with opposite viewpoint. Great antagonism against “outsiders” on school committee for attempting to run affairs of local districts.

CONTEMPORARY SCHOOL TEACHER-BOARD RELATIONS
Scope and Content Note: Poor communication; teachers don't know how to make their demands known, and school board doesn't know how to negotiate. Opposes teachers' unions; doesn't like children to see teacher-board of education animosity.

HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICTS ESTABLISHED IN SAUK COUNTY
Scope and Content Note: Sauk county divided into four districts with approximately equal valuations. Committee members went from school to school to explain law and help make decisions on petitions from individuals for attachment.

SCHOOL COMMITTEE ENTANGLED IN COMPETITION AMONG DISTRICTS
Scope and Content Note: Some school administrators interested in grabbing territory outside their own counties; as many as five school committees involved in some Sauk county territory. School committee members often unwelcome and even hated.

MORE ADVANTAGES ON SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION IN SAUK COUNTY
Scope and Content Note: Pulled together cities of Sauk City and Prairie du Sac, even though reservations about travel distance for some rural children.

OLD SAUK CITY AND PRAIRIE DU SAC DISTRICTS
Scope and Content Note: Witwen children went to Prairie du Sac; children south of Witwen to Sauk City. Always much rivalry between Sauk City and Prairie du Sac.

SCHOOL COMMITTEE TRIES TO ACCOMMODATE MAJORITY
Scope and Content Note: Purpose of meetings to accommodate wishes of majority.

REPRESENTATION ON SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION COMMITTEE
Scope and Content Note: Representatives from both city and rural areas.

OFFICE OF COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS ELIMINATED
Scope and Content Note: Because of new redistricting.

OPPONENTS OF MERGER
Scope and Content Note: Consolidation, like any change, blamed by some on socialism and communism. Sprecher involved simultaneously in cooperative mergers, so got double dose of nasty telephone calls. “Nobody put you on a pension plan, I'll tell you, unless it was at the end of a foot.”

NEIGHBORHOOD DIVIDED ON CONSOLIDATION
Scope and Content Note: Many of Sprecher's neighbors supported consolidation, but some, including splinter religious groups, opposed to change.

END TAPE 6, SIDE 2

INTRODUCTION

RELIGIOUS OPPOSITION TO SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION
Scope and Content Note: Recalls particular sect that didn't believe in high school education. Sect had strong leadership and was an influential minority; appeared first in 1920s and opposed community functions as well as unnecessary education.

PROBLEM OF SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION IN WINTER
Scope and Content Note: Children riding preferable to walking one and a half miles to the one-room school in winter. Concern about mixing elementary and high school children on bus.

COUNTRY CHILDREN PARTICIPATE IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Scope and Content Note: Country children used to fear participation in athletics; became major participants after consolidation.

CONSOLIDATION FAVORABLE DESPITE TRANSPORTATION COST
Scope and Content Note: Cost of transportation doesn't outweigh advantages of con- solidation; insignificant cost if children's lives improved.

CHURCHES AND NATIONALITIES IN SPRECHER'S NEIGHBORHOOD
Scope and Content Note: Immediate neighborhood strictly German. Many religions: Protestant, Catholic, Lutheran, Evangelical (United Brethren Evangelical, now United Methodist). Formerly strong division between Protestants and Catholics to west and east of Sauk City; as a Protestant, Sprecher wouldn't mingle with them. In 1970s religious communities mix and cooperate; optimistic about ecumenicalism in community.

NEIGHBORHOOD CHURCHES
Scope and Content Note: Three churches, two of which closed. Recalls while a boy the transition from German to English-speaking services to attract young members.

NEW CHURCH BUILT IN SPRECHER'S NEIGHBORHOOD
Scope and Content Note: After two churches closed, members of the third (Evangelical) after many years of discussion, in 1949 decided to build new church. Sprecher on building committee; cost exceeded budget of $100,000; members pledged balance; and $40,000 paid off in seven-eight years.

CHURCH MEMBERSHIP AND ATTENDANCE AT EVANGELICAL CHURCH
Scope and Content Note: Church once had 325 members; reduced to 250 with weekly attendance of about 100. Traditional service needs to change to attract young people. Increase in intermarriage also decreases membership.

INCREASED PROPORTION OF CATHOLICS IN WITWEN AREA
Scope and Content Note: Catholics in area tend to have large families; children have bought farms owned formerly by Protestants.

CHANGING ROLE OF CHURCH
Scope and Content Note: “Church changing for the good” in terms of performance and attitude, despite dwindling attendance.

NEIGHBORHOOD GATHERINGS AT OLD COUNTRY STORE
Scope and Content Note: Men met in evenings at old country store at Witwen, sat around pot-bellied wood stove, held wide-ranging discussions, ate peanuts and bologna and drank pop. Some card-playing. Recalls vicious political arguments between stalwart and progressive Republicans.

BUTTERMILK AUCTION AT WITWEN
Scope and Content Note: Men gathered on first Monday of every month to bid on butter- milk. Auctions ceased when it became more profitable to feed buttermilk to people than to hogs.

WOMEN'S GATHERINGS
Scope and Content Note: Women met at church, in homemakers groups, and at one-room schoolhouse for meetings and children's events.

COUNTRY STORE CLOSES
Scope and Content Note: Country store closed about 1964; fell to competition of supermarkets in Sauk City and Madison.

WEEKLY FARMERS SHOPPING NIGHT IN SAUK CITY
Scope and Content Note: Saturday night used to be main shopping night; later switched to Friday.

SELLS EGGS AT COUNTRY STORE
Scope and Content Note: Used to barter eggs at country store; practice ceased when farm pick-up began.

DUCKS AND DICE
Scope and Content Note: Anecdote on how farmers would shake dice for ducks in country store.

MARKETING EGGS AND POULTRY
Scope and Content Note: Occasionally sold eggs and poultry in Sauk City.

NEIGHBORHOOD POLITICS
Scope and Content Note: Serious split between stalwart and progressive Republicans, and between supporters and non-supporters of Bill Evjue. Country store arguments often carried over to next day's threshing.

END TAPE 7, SIDE 1

INTRODUCTION

VISITS TO MADISON
Scope and Content Note: First visit to Madison via train; then and later visited state historical society, and later encouraged children to do so. Remembers excitement the first time he drove alone to Madison, and toured the Square.

CHANGING FUNCTION OF COUNTRY BANK
Scope and Content Note: Country bank much more concerned about farmers and agricultural loans than in past.

SPRECHER BECOMES BANK DIRECTOR
Scope and Content Note: Invited to join board of bank to help with loans for bulk milk coolers. Feels that Depression changed bankers attitudes in Prairie du Sac area; now ahead of Federal Land Bank office in making agricultural loans. Mentions meeting of bankers to determine how to help farmer in period of 1970s drought.

BRANCH BANKING
Scope and Content Note: Opposes branch banking because big city banks don't understand local situation. Local banks grant loans more on basis of character and management ability than on collateral.

BANK BOARD SEEKS FARMERS
Scope and Content Note: Eager to get farmers on board of directors.

PROBLEMS OF STARTING TO FARM IN
Scope and Content Note: Despite estimated initial cost of $200,000 for starting a farm, Sprecher feels it can be done but with just as much difficulty as in the past. Startup costs high, but higher returns for hard work.

MODERN LABOR-SAVING MACHINERY FAILS TO GIVE FARMER MORE FREE TIME
Scope and Content Note: Despite labor-saving machinery, farmers seem to have less time, perhaps because they seek greater variety of leisure activities. Less time to socialize with neighbors as they travel to cities for food and entertainment. More emphasis in past on family and neighborliness.

LIFE IN RETROSPECT
Scope and Content Note: Wishes he had gotten a better education, but still would become a dairy farmer, work for cooperatives, and participate in community affairs.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

END OF INTERVIEW