The Railroads played an important part in the settling of the county. They were also interested in keeping the people here and making a living so they could in turn pay for the services made available by the railroads. The lines were actively involved in various types of educational projects. An article in the Independent 1930:
"Soo Line railroad brought in exhibits in the Soo Line Better Dairy Sires train. They were reviewed by over 900 people. An auction was held where four purebred shorthorn bulls of the milking strain were sold to local farmers. Prices ranged from $85 to $140. This was part of an effort on the part of the railroad to endeavor to improve the dairy herds in the county.
The farmers and their families were guests of the Carrington businessmen at a free lunch.
The mock trial of 'Soo Line Susie' and 'Scrubus Bullus' a mechanical talking cow and bull was a popular entertainment feature. Loud speakers inside of the animals amplified their voices, which could be heard from the interior of the railroad cars. Twelve local farmers acted as jurors, convicting "Scrubus ‑Bullus' of being public enemy for siring low producing off spring and sentenced him to be made into bologna.
The dairy sire train consisted of five cars which contained charts and exhibits and a number of purebred cattle. One feature showed six generations of cattle. By the use of the purebred sires the butter fat production was raised from 244 to 385 pounds by the fifth generation."
In 1931 a Soo Line Crop Improvement demonstration train came to town. The Agricultural Department of the railroad was making an effort to educate the farmers on the necessity of using good and pure seed, smut control, and other methods to improve their yields and eventually realize higher financial returns.
Source: A History of Foster County 1983 Page 109