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Taxes Prohibitive to Thoroughbred Production Some farms already have come under re-zoning for residential purposes and the taxes on these have jumped to prohibitive figures in relationship to thoroughbred production. Witness, for instance, what is happening to another farm not far from Amarillo. Part of it was taken over to build a missile plant, the owner gladly selling for this purpose at cost no profit as a patriotic gesture. .Another portion of the land has been condemned by the state for a freeway. The taxes on the remainder, assessed as subdivision property, have jumped to more than 0,000 a year. This breeder, as you might imagine, is preparing to move his base of operations. Also of note last week was the acceptance of the post of general manager of the California Breeders Association by Col. F. W. "Bill" Koester, the retired Army remount officer and who has served, for the last several years, as part-time employee of the association as field representative. The Colonel is regarded as one of the ablest judges of conformation in the world,, and, through his field work, has done a tremendous amount of "behind the scenes" work in helping improve the technique and knowhow of California farm operation. Not only has he visited every California farm in the state, but at the same time has given freely of his advice to all on how best the operation might be improved. Criticism of a farm or a horse, even if constructive, is a touchy business at best, but Koesters standing is so eminent, his reputation as a forthright man so lofty, and his background with all types of horses, and most notably the thoroughbred, is so vast that his comments are accepted without rancor. Part of Koesters new job will be to bring a greater unaniminity of opinion among the breeding industry in this state, a harder task than might be imagined because the industry is so diverse and so widespread. A better choice by the directors of the California breeders could not be imagined, and we dare say that in future years, a so-called "new era" or "another big forward step" in the production industry will be dated with his acceptance of this post. Like most former Remount Colonels " Fred Hamilton, et al Koester handles the written word rather well and can expound his zeal for betterment of anything and everything pertaining to the thoroughbred with considerable clarity in print. This facility should stand him well during his tenure in office.
