One of Many Medals

It seems butter was spread quite thinly at the Taranaki Agricultural Society show held in December 1881. This heavy bronze medal is engraved to Mary Olson, for the best fresh butter at the show. A Taranaki Herald show report noted “there was only one entry for best 3lbs of fresh butter, but the sample exhibited by Mr. E. Olson was excellent, and the judges awarded it a prize.” Sharp-eyed readers will have noticed that while Edward Olson is said to have exhibited the butter, Mary Olson gets the credit on the medal.

The Olsons, who established their farm Woodlands on Egmont Road in 1874, were well used to collecting accolades. A Taranaki Herald correspondent, who visited the farm in 1891, noted the many prizes on display. “We had to give up exhibiting at the local shows,” said Mr Olson "for others would not send in entries if we did.” Their Ayrshire cattle stud also drew great praise but had tragic consequences for the family. In November 1893, at the Hāwera A & P Show, Edward died after being gored by one of his own bulls.