Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1: Why Can't the Cal Aggies Have a Band?

(1907 - 1928)

Prior to the opening in 1907 of the University Farm for the use of the College of Agriculture of the University of California, the little town of Davisville was home to less than one thousand people. Yet between the years 1879 and 1901, there were no less than four bands in Davisville. There were the Band Boys, formed in 1879 and who were known for their rowdy, drunken midsummer's picnic; the Davisville Cornet Band, formed in 1878; and the Davisville Brass Band, formed in 1901. Finally there was the Davis Band, formed in 1909 and continuing off and on as the circumstances demanded until late 1939. The Davis Band participated in many of the early Picnic Day parades sporting straw hats and white shirts. It was the Davis Band performed at the Panama Pacific Exposition of 1915 on Yolo County Day. So even before the opening of the University Farm and despite a relatively small population, the Davisville community was still able to support a large number of bands.

Instruction began at the University Farm School in 1908 with fifteen non-degree students and six degree students from the Berkeley campus. Between 1908 and 1922, the University Farm School was devoted to the teaching of farming practices to anyone over the age of fifteen years old and the degree candidates of the College of Agriculture of the University of California. Student population remained less than 300 until the early 1920's. Yet the impact on Yolo County was still significant. Davisville changed its name to the City of Davis in 1917 to demonstrate the confidence that the region was acquiring state- wide status as a result of the presence of the University Farm. The first Picnic Day was held on the University Farm on May 22, 1909. Student government was formed in 1912 as the Associated Students of the University Farm (ASUF). In 1922, four year degree instruction began at the University Farm. For the first time, students could come to University Farm and study all the subjects needed for a four year degree from the College of Agriculture without necessarily having to travel to Berkeley for other instruction.

School Spirit on the University Farm

The now familiar block "CA" was approved by the Executive Committee of the ASUF in October, 1922, to be the official athletic letter of the students of the University Farm, the California Aggies. That same month, Dr. Barger of the Veterinary Science Department formed an 18 member band to perform at football games. In February of 1923, the California Aggie, the student newspaper, announced a song and yell composition contest with a prize of $35.

Dr. Barger continued his efforts at organizing a band for the University Farm. There were Wednesday night practices for all those interested in participating in the Aggie Band. The last recorded existence of an "Aggie Band" during this time was in 1925 when the Band made an appearance at the football game with the College of the Pacific (later to be known as the University of the Pacific). Despite attempts by others, an "Aggie Band" would not reappear until 1929.

Despite the lack of a band, the traditions and symbols of the California Aggies were being formed. The Mustang was first used as a mascot in 1925 to memorialize the basketball game with Fresno State in 1924. At this game the Aggies fought back to overcome a huge point deficit. A reporter characterized the Aggies efforts as those of wild "Stallions." For a while, "Stallions" was used as the mascot of the Cal Aggies. It was decided in 1925 to change "Stallions" to the singular "Mustang" because the term "Stallion" had sexual overtones that the term "Mustang" did not. The term "Stallion" refers to an uncastrated male horse used for breeding while the term "Mustang" simply refers to hardy, wild horses. It must be kept in mind that the students at the University Farm were agricultural students who would see and draw a distinction between a "Stallion" and a "Mustang." While they were proud to be Aggies, they did not want to be seen as crude country hicks.

The white shirt became the official uniform of the student rooters at Aggie games in 1927. It was desired that the student rooting section be a visible and dominating force at Aggie athletic events. It was common throughout the United States for student rooters to wear white shirts. The principle reason for this was that everyone had a white shirt.

The frustration with not having a band of their own can be seen in a 1926 editorial in the California Aggie entitled "Why Can't the Cal Aggies Have a Band?" If the Cal Aggies had a band, then they would been viewed as more that just a "cow college," but a respectable, modern school. The Cal Aggies, both students and faculty, were striving to build their own identity during this time. They were not students of the Berkeley campus. They had their own symbols now, the block CA, their own mascot, their own team, their own campus. What they needed now was their own band. They needed a band for athletic and social events. The City of Davis was able to support a number of bands, the Berkeley campus of the University of California had an established band at this point. To the California Aggies, the importance of having their own band would secure their own community identity and stability. They had already chosen the name for their band. It would be the "Aggie Band," not the University Farm Band. It would be a band made up of California Aggies. They were proud to be agricultural students at the Northern Branch of the College of Agriculture of the University of California and they were proud to be Aggies. With their own band, a band that could reflect that community pride, all would know of the California Aggies.

One of the main factors hindering the formation of a band was the lack of people able to play instruments. These first attempts included not only students, but also faculty and Davis community members. The University Farm was not attracting students of the performing arts at this time. If the students knew how to play instruments it was because they knew when they arrived. There were no facilities to teach anyone how to play. Generally, students with interests in music would not be going to Davis, they would have stayed in Berkeley. With a student population of under 500, it would be an uphill battle to build a sustainable band.

In August of 1928, after a three year absence, Leon Milsner announced rehearsals for the reorganized Aggie Band are to take place on Thursday nights at 7:30. No one showed up. The California Aggies would have to wait one more year before the presence and efforts of a dynamic new addition to the University Farm would finally create their band.