Milo K. Swanton, born on November 27, 1894, and for more than a quarter of a century Executive Secretary of the Wisconsin Council of Agricultural Cooperatives (originally the Wisconsin Council of Agriculture), was one of the most important and influential spokesmen for organized farmer interests in the state. Swanton began farming in the Town of Blooming Grove, Dane County, Wisconsin, in 1919 and continued to operate a dairy and livestock farm until 1962. He cash-cropped the land until 1966. Today much of what was Swanton farm land, now within the eastern limits of the city of Madison, is dotted with suburban homes.
Swanton was and is a staunch advocate of organized farmers' activity. In 1919 he was an officer in the local organization of the American Society of Equity, Wisconsin Union, and he later played an important role in the formation and development of such organizations as the Madi son Milk Producers Cooperative Association, the Wisconsin Cooperative Tobacco Pool, and the Southern Wisconsin Breeders Cooperative. He also held memberships in the Wisconsin Farm Bureau, the Wisconsin Grange, and the Equity Cooperative Livestock Shipping Association, as well as other groups and associations. (A paper copy of Swanton's biographical summary, corrected to February 1975 by Mr. Swanton, is filed in the Archives Division with the Case file copy of this finding aid.)
