The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1873-05-30
s6ume and farm.
Commtttees at Agricultural
Fairs

Commtffees at Agricultural
Fairs
In the progress oi business anon.
agricultural societies, at this season 0
the year, one important item is th.
naming OF gentleman and ladies Il
serve on awarding committees. Ate
an experience of twenty-five years il
the working Of these exhibitions, W,
are thoroughly impressed with tn,
fact that this Is one of the weakest
and most dihicult points 70 manage, o.
all we have to encounter. If our
State and large district fairs would
employ and pay picked set of judges
TO work exclusively at this one thing
during fair, something like Justice
might be done TO exhibitors, and
awards might have some significance
in the eyes oithe public As it's now,
the decisions are as tautilizipg and
uncertain as suit in chancery. The
award carries neither nonor or satis-
faction. On this subject, Mr.. G. l.
Claiborne, OF Brayton, Promulgstes
some good ideas through the Maine
Farmer. i am somewhat interested
in the subject of committees, at fairs,
being one of the many within the
State whose duty it has been, and is,
TO appoint said committees. And
when / say that ] have found it to be
the most difficult task required of an
executive committee, am in full be,
lief that my statement viii be endors.
ed by every one In ike situation. Not
that we are in lack Of men qualified
for the place designated, by any means.
We select one man for chairman, one
whom We believe fully competent to
faithfully and impartially perform the
several duties to him assigned, even
10 the making Of report worthy Of
publications. report which shall con-
tain first the name of each and every |
animal or articlt presented for his
adjudication, also their merits and de-
merits, and the points on which their
award was made, thus by these and
other facts proTing the justice of their
decision. The question is; VIII he
attend? If so, will he be COM
petitor (by which he is disqualified to
act) the same also to his associates,
and thus through all OF the depart
ments, the committees are appointed.
A list of said committees together
with the. prizes offered are posted in
all the conspicuous places. No one,
even if he has reason to believe that
he cannot act on the committees as
signed him, declines until the day of
the fair, and even the hour arrives for
the several committees to report for
duty. Then the roll is called. Chair
man of committee, No. l, present, but
unable to act being competitor; No.
Q, absent; No. 3, present and ready
for duty. The next business for the
executive committee is to find two
disinterested men to fill vacancies in
said committee.
The time having arrived that the
several committees were ordered to be 4
on duty and majority of them in the
like situation, confusion is the result, 9
and the first man met is urged to act, 4
who cannot have it anyhow; then to o
the second and even to the fourth, /
who may reluctantly accept the stu {,
uation, claiming that he is unfit for .
tie place and frequently proves he is q
right. A third party may be ap- I
POINTED on the recommendation of a
party interested, or more frequently G.
declines serving Jack-at.a-pinch for Il
a.-" ~ - Ia
Thus organized on short notice they is
proceed to duty. Can it be expected C
that they should take the interest they o
other wise would; and these reports n
consisting of their rewards and to l
whom given, no points, recommends n
ton or advice set forth, be of any ri
value? / have known instances where n
parties making entries, being them P
selves IN fault and perhaps losing their a
just due by neglecting to bring in a y
written statement as required by law.
l would suggest the propriety of
the society furnishing blanks with
questions to be answered Q
in part for report, thus setting forth Q
facts that would be otherwise over is
looked, more especially for stock a
They would aid in making up full n
report which is the most important a
and still most neglected part pertain a
ing to the success of Show and Fair. Il
l would also request that more care u
should be taken in making awards,and P
the reason of SO sdjudging should be v
given.-Cor. Ohio Farmer. p