Marion E. Masters, Aurora
Marion E. Masters has followed in the footsteps of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. H.E. Masters, Aurora, in breeding outstanding Jersey cattle. He was born June 10, 1929, graduated from Aurora High School and received his B.S. in Agriculture degree from the University of Missouri in 1952. While at U. of MO he was active in the Students Dairy Club and was a member of the Intercollegiate Dairy Cattle Judging Team.
Following graduation he joined the U.S. Air Force and served for two years. He retired as a captain. He worked as the Field Director for the American Dairy Association of Missouri 1955-59 then became a Field Representative for the American Jersey Cattle Club 1959-63.
In 1958 Marion and Margaret Carstens, Burchinal, Iowa were married. They have one son, Alan, who is a sales representative for a feed company.
Due to death of his father in 1963 Marion bought the herd, of some 170 head from his mother and has been a full time dairyman and registered Jersey breeder since. His father started the registered Jersey herd in 1943 and Marion has proceeded to carry on the program his father began with emphasis on production and good type cattle. The herd had an average production of 11,800 lbs of milk, 590 lbs of butterfat on 170 herd and has been classified officially several times with an average of 85 to 86 on 140 to 150 cows. During the years the herd was most actively operated several bulls were sold to AI organization and many Tonof-Gold Cows were produced. In the late 1970’s the herd had several state leaders and two National Class leaders. One of the leading producers in the herd was a cow purchased as a bred heifer from Pixy Farm Hudson, Wisconsin. She had three records over 20,000 lbs of milk, 1000 lbs of butterfat and was classified Excellent. Cattle from the herd were not exhibited at fairs and shows very often but Marion’s son, Alan, showed cattle from the herd at local and national shows including Grand Champions at the Ozark Empire Fair and the Missouri State Fair.
Through the years Marion has been active in the Missouri Jersey Cattle Club including three terms as president and a member of various committee. He also served many years as a member of the Lawrence County School Board and he was a long time member of Corporate Resolutions Committee Mid-American Dairymen.