Charles F. Watkins (1891-1973), Raymore, Missouri

Charles F. Watkins, Cass County, Missouri, was a prominent Guernsey breeder and dairy leader for over 40 years.

Mr. Watkins, “Chuck”, as he was generally known was born September 7 in Tazwell County, Illinois. His attended school at Delavan, Illinois and become a successful carpenter. In 1915 he married Rita Allen and moved to the present Watkins farm, Raymore, Missouri, in 1916.

Mr. Watkins started his dairy herd with several registered Holstein cows. He no doubt started with Holsteins because his grandfather A.W. Ball in Illinois had Holsteins and in 1884 received a silver trophy for having the grand champion cow at the Tazwell County Fair. This trophy is now a prized family heirloom. In 1923 Chuck started his Guernsey herd with three registered heifers purchased from Phillip Toll, Greenwood, Missouri. From these three foundation animals, and by the use of good production bulls, he built a herd of some 90 head by 1966. All descendants of the three original heifers. Mr. Watkins helped organize the Cass County DHIA in 1929 and his herd was on continuous test until the dispersal, due to ill health, in 1966. When he started testing for production the herd averaged only 6,160 pounds milk, 282 pounds butterfat. Over 30 years later the herd was averaging nearly 10,000 pounds of milk.

Mr. Watkins was a good farmer. His farm grew to 380 acres and produced all of the grain and roughage for the dairy herd. He enrolled in the Missouri College of Agriculture Extension’s Balanced Farming Program and followed a system of farm management best suited to his farm and live­ stock program. All the land has been limed, treated with phosphate, and that subject to erosion has been terraced. He worked closely with the agricultural extension service and was an honorary member of the Harrisonville FFA. A long time member and leader in the Missouri Guernsey Breeders Association, he was also a member of the American Guernsey Cattle Club. He was President of the Raymore School Board, a member of the Farm Bureau as well as the Masonic Lodge.

Mr. and Mrs. Watkins are the parents of four children: George, Retired Colonel U.S. Air Force, Greenwood; Nellia Lyman, Versailles; Luverne Halbrook, Kansas City, and Charles who lives on the farm with his wife Jane and his mother. The farming operation are now largely carried on by Charles and Jane.

The Watkins family provides a trophy in honor of “Chuck” to be given annually to the highest producing registered Guernsey cow shown by a Missouri breeder at the State Fair, Sedalia.