The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-06
NOT FOR THE FUN
The Reasons Why Farmers Come to
the State Fair, by One
of Them.
J. J. Furlong of Austin Gives Facts
About Great Value Of
the Fair. = .: *7>~

Why does a farmer come to the state
fair?
'That's not so hard to answer" replied
j. J. Furlong of Austin, representative
farmer from land of splendid farms,
southern Minnesota. 1.-The only trouble
is that the farmer has so many good rea-
sons, each better than the other.
Il might call my own benefits as exam
pies Of those to be gained by coming early
and often to the Minnesota fair. I saw
my first state fair at Rochester more than
twenty years ago. The fair then travelled
about and was not permanently located at
Haml1ne. Well, I was a young fellow
then, but I was so impressed with the
possibilities of cattle breeding and with
the inferiority of our ordinary cattle to
the ones I saw at the Rochester fair that
at once bought couple Of shorthorns.
And in a few weeks from now, when we
are going to give a fair Of our own to
comm emorate the semicentennal of our
county, I expect to be able to make on my
own account better showing Of fine cat
tie than any I saw at the Rochester fair.
Yes, a farmer like myself, or like tens
of thousands of other VISITORS comes here
not specially for amusement, as the comic
papers say-I haven't had my fortune told
this Week!-but to get useful hints that
will make his work easier, his home on
the farm more comfortable and his income
larger.
II always go first to the live stock de-
partment. I can keep in touch here with
all the improvements in breeds of horses
| and cattle and with all the latest ideas
that other people have gained by expert
ence as to the best breed to raise fer
| particular purposes, the best feed, and
| everything else that helps man succeed
as a stock raiser.
| "Why, here just now''-Mr. Furlong
was standing among the crowd in the big
| tent where an auction sale Of cattle was
in progress-'just now I've been studying
| the good points of a single animal that
sold a few minutes ago for more than the
value of a whole car load Of ordinary
COWS. To see such practical results as
that results expressed in actual unmis-
taxable cash, is an inspiration to any
farmer who is trying to improve his herd
Encouraged to Invest.
"A mans experience right in this tent
gives him encourage cement to put $500 OF
$1,000, or even more, inside OF single
hide as one of the boys just said He
learns that while he is taking a sllgh
risk, the possible profits are so great thai
the average outcome will be certain to re-
ward him for his enterprise and conn
dence. But had he remained away from
the fair and only read about these tne
high priced cattle-nOt quite believing al
he did read, either-he would hesitate {
| long, long time before he ilSheu lib 1lloilo.
in what he would call a breeding expert
ment That is to say, he would never
know enough of the actual facts to stool
his farm with improved cattle or to In
crease his income from the produce O.
such cattle. He would continue an ole
fogy and would never get UP to date.
"And a farmer that comes to the fa1
will be sure to visit the agricultural de
partment also. He wants to see VIVA
kinds Of grain are being grown In othe
counties, he wants to see what can be &C
complished on farms that he has had n
opportunity to visit personally. And i
the agricultural section he will see all tn
grains that he is most interested in. H
will learn whether there are any ne1
varieties that look as If they would pa
him to experiment with He will prof
in very practical way from the work c
- our state agricultural school, which ha
been worth millions to Minnesota.