James Blond McCroskey, Nixa

J.B. McCroskey, Nixa, Missouri is a pioneer in cooperative milk marketing and milk market regulations. His career in these endeavors involves programs in several states as well as Missouri.

Blond, as he is often called, was born 1906 on a dairy farm operated by his parents William Robert and Bertha Shelton McCroskey. Their farm is located in Christian County, near Nixa. Blond graduated from Springfield High School in 1925. He was awarded a scholarship at Drury College and the University of Missouri. He received a B.S. in Agriculture from the University of Missouri in 1929 and continued his studies for a Masters Degree in milk and dairy products under the tutelage of the well know Professor W.H.E. Reid.

In June, 1931, J.B. and Dorothy Wasson, high school sweethearts were married at Nixa. The cooperative milk marketing system in St. Louis and Kansas City got underway in the 1920’s and 1930’s. Early in 1930 Mr. McCroskey was hired by the first Co-Op Pure Milk Producers Association in Kansas City, Missouri to set up the milk handling program. He established the “Pooling system” for receiving milk dealers receipts and use of these reports in determining the “pool price” of milk for the first Kansas City pool. He originated a system of random checking on the accuracy of butterfat tests usually made by dealers on composite samples. He helped popularize the system throughout the Midwest. He was an early advocate for cooperative milk marketing at many dairy meetings and was the editor for the first paper published by the Pure Milk Producers Association.

During the mid 1930’s the U.S. Department of Agriculture became involved in regulating the marketing of milk. Among the first USDA Milk Marketing Licenses were those issued for the St. Louis Kansas City and Wichita Markets. The USDA needed persons experiences in milk marketing; J.B. McCroskey was appointed Market Administrator for the Wichita license in March 1934 – the first in the state of Kansas. In 1935 he was made Market Administrator of the Tulsa license – the first in the state of Oklahoma. He became the Market Administrator for the Cincinnati Order issued in 1939 – the first in the state of Ohio. He was transferred in 1942 to be Market Administrator in New Orleans and Shreveport LA- the first orders in the South.

J.B. served during World War II in the Quartermaster Corps and Veterinary Corps of the U.S. Army. His military career developed into a food and ration inspector in the Alaskan theatre of operations. Following his Army tour, J.B. spent two years in Washington D.C. as a marketing specialist with the Dairy Branch of USDA.

Another first for McCroskey came in 1947 when he was named the Market Administrator for the Nashville, Tennessee Order. He was also named Market Administrator for the Knoxville Order in 1949 and the Chattanooga Order in 1956. For 25 years J.B. was deeply involved in the whole process of milk marketing in Tennessee and the South until he retired in 1971. At that time the Director of the Dairy Division of USDA stated “his integrity and understanding of milk marketing has earned the respect and confidence of the milk industry and others with whom he had contact – he, indeed, has rendered a valuable service – as a pioneer in his chosen field”.

J.B. and Dorothy have always been active in community affairs. They served in many and varied ways in the six states where they were privileged to have and make a home. He is a member of the Farm House Fraternity and a Mason. J.B. was the chairman of the Board of his Church when in 1955-56 it moved from down town Nashville to a suburban location and built a new million dollar church plant. After retirement from the USDA he became a volunteer “lay assistant to the ministers” for this church. He served five years in this capacity ­ primarily as a business manager.

J.B. and Dorothy like to travel. They have been in all 50 states and many overseas countries. They returned to their beloved Ozarks in 1976 and built a home in Nixa, MO. They still own and are engaged in the operation of the farm that J.B.’s great grandfather bought from the U.S. Government in 1845. They continue active in civic and church programs.