The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-12-20
STATE AND COUNTY FAIRS.
The Former Have Degenerated Into Horse
Racing Humbugs.

Yellowstone Journal: "A Farmer"
writing to the Great Falls Leader on
sundry topics relating to the better
ment of the Montana farmers conoi-
tion makes one assertion which Is pref
ty near true and follows IL with a sug-
gestion which strikes US as being
good one. Here is what the Farmer
says:
State fairs as a rule are humbugs. They
have developed into pool selling places
and horse training quarters.
III the farmers of 20 counties OF Mon
tana will pull together and organize ag-
ricultural assertions in their respective
counties this winter end hold fairs next
fall and then go to the legislature and de-
mand Of that august body OF statesmen
an appropriation OF at least $1,000 annu-
ally to each fair association to be paid In
premiums to the farmers making the best
exhibits of agricultural products and live
stock. great good would be accomplished
The fairs should be made strictly for
the benefit of the farmer and the exhibit
of his products.
Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan. Ore
gon and several other western states
make appropriations for county fairs.
ranging from 1900 TO $500. and the re-
suits are a great benefit in settling these
states.
There is no question but that the
state fair has degenerated into a race
meeting, and the county fair is sadly
hampered in its field of usefulness by
a lack of funds. The suggestion OF
state aid to the several counties Is not
an outrageous one. The prosperity OF
the county is the prosperity of the
the spur to our farmers and ranchers
as yearly competitive exhibits Of theiy
products. This has been evident In this
county in the past two years. A very
few exhibits a year ago excited much
liveher competition this fall, and the
showing this fall Is sure to bring out
a much larger exhibit next fall. A man
who has been too indifferent or toe
lazy to bring in an exhibit sees hiz
neighbor walk of with a money prize
and a blue ribbon for something that
he knows he can beat to death without
trying. The result is he says: We'll.
IL they give premiums on such stuff as
that I'll show 'em next year what q
firstclass article is" and In the ma
jority of Gases he remembers his vow
and becomes an exhibitor. OF course
there can be no fairs without exhib-
itors, and though the premiums bt
small-say from 81 to SIT takes
good many hundred dollars to &c
round. 1t would therefore seem proper
and reasonable that the state should
offer some inducements for the sue
cessful holding OF county fairs as a d.
rect means of stimulating the farmers
and stock-growers to enlarged and i'm.
proved methods Of business. Last fal
during our fair, and when everyone
was imbued with the desirability. II
not necessity. of making II a perma-
nent institution, IL was suggested thai
the county levy a small tax-from one
quarter to one-half a mill-to estab
lish county fair fund, and II is no
improbable that the commissioners will
be asked to do this next year. Thu
county fair is something which every
| one in the county should take an in
terest in. and this is one way to brint
At about. Meanwhile our chamber o.
commerce committee to whom was re
ferred the matter of formulating a plar
for the organization of a county faii
association, have not yet reported; w
| should hear from them soon.