According to the United States Department of Agriculture, the firnt milk and cream contest In this country was held at the National Dairy Show at Chicago In 1906. Since that time such contests have been held in conjunction with various dairy shows, fairs and other meetings, such as campaigns for the improvement of city milk supplies, In which milk producers and dealers were Interested; up to February, 1915, 87 such contests had been judged by members of the Dairy division or the United States Department or Agriculture.

In general, it is believed that these contests have been of distinct service from an educational standpoint In teaching exhibitors the ad· vantages or disadvantages of various methods of handling milk, altho It Is recognized that commonly the attention given to the exhibited milk or cream is not given to the general supply.

The Dairy department of Iowa State college held its first educational market milk contest December 2.J, 1914, in connection with Its annual short course. Previous studies had shown that much of the milk (both raw and pasteurized) sold In the state was not of the quality it should be and the contest was proposed as a means of stimulating its Improvement.