The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-08-13
SHEEP AT THE FAIRS
SOME GOOD SUGGESTIONS FROM
THE OHIO FARMER
How Prizes should BE Distributed
-OppOrtunities for Improvement
In That Responsibilities Govern
ing sheep Rings in Agricultural
Fairs Should BE More RiSidIy
Enforced.

Along last July in anticipation of the au
tumnal agricultural fairs, the Ohio Farmer
printed an interesting article on the subject
OF Sheep At the Fairs" The o b read
ers will accept it advisedly, ard the mana
gers of the coming state fair viii regard 1t
particularly:
There are several things in correction with
the exhibits of sheep at fairs that l should
like to see somewhat different. Some changes
night easily be made that would make the
fairs of far greater value to both exhibitors
and attendants. Securing a Just proportion OF
the premium money for the sheep in some
instances, where ii is not now given, may
not be so easy. Another reform in the dis
tr.bution of the premium money that l have
urged is the abb ition of sweepstake prizes
ana The addition Of a third prize in Classes.
Unless grieN Gus error has been made IN the
SWEEP stake show, a diSpropo: uonate amount
goes to certain animals, know that 1t is urged
in many instances the SweepStake prize is
TO compensate for previous errors. far
better remedy lies in the selection of known
com! eteGt judge. Then in requiring MN to
give reasons Tor placing AWARDS as ne does.
The SWEEP stake c0ntes.s as usually arranged
are difficult for a judge to decide and CT
very ittle benefit Tor instruction when de-
ciee1.
contend for the third prize in classes be-
cause there is in so many cases a worthy
third exhibit. 1t is frequently difficult for a
judge to decide between two animals for the
second place 1t is real hardship fer man
to make a worthy exhibit ana 1all 10 get
any prize largely because there are nat
enough prizes to go around. Indeed, | think
a more nearly fair division OF the premium
money would be to divide the money set
apart for single number in class between
the exhibitors except the one failing lowest IN
the contest That is, if there were five ex-
exhibitors l would divide the purse into four
premiu:..s.
Fer similar reasons l think it far better to
give each breed class and if necessary make
the premiums correspondingly smaller, than
Ill h.Avn oil MnTiT iC
done AZ some fairs The only thing that is
admissible is that of the long woods and the
various families of delaines. Poss bly, to this
might be added a group of the larger Downs,
including Hampshire Ox.ords and Suffo ks
where there are not enough of each to make
g respectable showing. Some CT the classifi-
cations that are now made are certainly as
ludicrcus as il would be to make Jerseys and
Holstens compete.
One great improvement could be made N
many county and district fairs BY plaCi- g
in charge of the department a man who 8
thoroughly familiar with shaep and ee)
men. Failure here usually les Its IN
selection of careless or incompetent JUG 8
BY all means have the snge judge, and
then make him feel that he has an impor ant
work to do; There is ent rsly too M Oh
The objection to the single jul 'ge, tn it
Is easy for him II show favo~it SIN. MAJ BE-
obviated by requiring him to give reasons as
have suggested above for his awards. This
would require greater accuracy and com 7et-
ency on his part and at thu same t me m Ike
the show of far greater value to thu b :
~ ISLANDERS. Much more thought shou tie given
to making these exhibitions schools 70. thu g
who attend.
For the sake of justice to honest exhi-
bitors and to visitors, the rue go en- n ?
sheep rings should be more rgidly enforced
1t is VIGOROUSLY violated by many pro-
fessional showmen. 1t is We trying u OF a
man to feel that he has been beaten just
because he had teen honest IN fitting his
animals. The story told of a well-known
exhibitor we'll illustrates the feeling that is
altogether too prevalent among showmen.
HIS son at one me expressed the intention
OF joining the church. The father sad
Don't do IL until we quit showing sheep"
The only remedy l have to sugge lies n
securing q judge that and will emf rec
the rule. A judge should be able to tell when
an animal has been evenly, closely sAorn
ard shOrn not carrier than April l. U1der
present methods the Snowman is more of a
filter than breeder. There is entirely too
much sham in tie show ring. 1t is all Zig t
tc employ the feeders art to the fullest ex-
tent hut falsifyiHg with the shears should be
discouraged in some way.
The fairs should afford a satisfac o y
means Of buyer ard sel!e. meet ne, but as a
rule. show sheep are not safe animals to buv.
The fairs of this season will afford op or
tunty for exhibitors to confer aud urge the
reforms they desire and upon superintend-
ents I want to urge the necessity of securing
the best.