Nelson Preusser, Jackson, (1925-1986)

Nelson Preusser was a prominent dairy leader and registered Guernsey breeder at Jackson, Missouri.

He was born June 30, 1925 in Shawneetown Missouri. His parents were dairy farmers and Nelson started milking by hand at an early age. He and his brother Norman and their father had a herd of mixed breeds. They liked the few Guernseys they had so they proceeded to buy more with the first registered animal purchased in 1957. Nelson and Norman operated the herd as a partnership until 1977 when Nelson purchased Norman’s interest. He proceeded to build a herd of registered Guernseys with about 65 milking cows. In 1985 the DHI average for 68 cows in milk was 12,472 pounds of milk, 611 pounds of fat with a Rolling Herd Average of 12,893 milk, 633 fat. Among the high producers in the herd were Shawnee Farms C Pony with 19,200 milk, 848 fat as a four-year-old, and Shawnee Farms M Nuke with 14,850 milk, 749 fat as a two-year-old. All records are 305 days lactation on a 2x a day milking. The herd is regularly enrolled in the DHI program and for the past several years has been among the top producing Guernsey herds in Missouri.

Nelson was active in community affairs and president of the District 6 Guernsey Association. He was a director of the Missouri Guernsey Breeders Association and served on the state sale committee. He consigned cattle to the purebred sales in his area and some out-of-state sales.

Nelson married Marian Popp, of Perry County, in 1952 and she became an active part of the dairy operation. They have four sons. Steve, who works in St. Louis but also farms; Mark now in the U.S. Air Force; Jeff engaged in farming; and Dan who also works in St. Louis but also farms. Shawnee Farms is a family project with all members of the family participating. The farm consists of some 500 acres with most of the feed for the herd home produced. The herd and farming program Nelson established continue to be operated by the devoted family.