This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Sg.2ADI/3363.2 Message Board Post: Gregory: Lake County was from its inception (when it was carved out of McHenry County) until the 1960's or so) primarily agricultural. The majority of the farms were dairy, My grandfather was a dairy farmer, and he was famous as being the very last farmer in the county to use draft horses. I suppose nowadays we could consider this a conservation effort. In his case it was more of a sentimental issue. Another way that dairy farmers engaged in conservation efforts were rotation of crops, including rotating land as pasture, Yet another way was the use of manure as fertilizer. The Lake County Farm Bureau functioned as an educational resouce in this regard. The Farm Bureau was also something of a cultural institution since it organized events like Square Dances, not to mention the annual County Fair.