The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1903-09-29

A competitive exhibition OF farm
products can be made of much value
if rightly managed and generously
patronized by farmers and town peO-
pie. The first mistake commonly
made is in having the fair run by
town men instead of country men.
This is no fault of the town men, for
in many cases if they didn't take hold
and push things along there would
be no fair. We farmers must admit
that most of us are not good business
men, and when it comes to organic
ing a fair association and conducting
it on business principles few OF us
have the necessary ability and enter
prise That is one reason why town
men take such a prominent part In
managing agricultural fairs. An
other reason is that they are in
better position to attend to the cor
respondence, pay the bills and han
die the concessions. This work can
best be done by men who live in the
town where the fair is to he held, but
the executive officers and Supern-
tendents should undoubtedly be
farmers.
A farmers fair that isn't run by
farmers is an anomaly that could
hardly be expected to be very sue
cesSful in the advancement OF agrl-
culture Farmers should secure con-
troll of the organization and maintain
that position.
The second mistake most common
~ made is to make horse racing and
side shows the most prominent
features of the fair. The manage
ment offers as an excuse that these
things draw the biggest crowd, but
in this they may be mistaken. In
Great Britain the fairs. or stock
shows. as they are called, are con
Quoted very successfully with no 9th
er attractions than the exhibits. and
we cannot admit that Americans have
a more depraved taste than the
British.
Horse racing is defended on the
claim that it encourages the breed
ing of good carriage and saddle
horses, but the fact is that most OF
the race horses are owned by pro
fessional jockeys and sporting meI
and that the element of contest an(
opportunity for betting are wha
makes horse racing so attractive t.
certain class Of people, This il
easily proven by the fact that if thu
the track one at time there woult
be few who would care to watch thi
simple exhibition of speed. But rul
two or more horses together and pee
pie become wildly excited to Sc
which will win. This fosters tn
gambling instinct. The same is tru
OF baseball games played by profes
SIGNALS, and similar sports.
- 60
tune" and other gambling device
have brought many a country fai
into disrepute and prevented the be
ter class of people from attendin
and making exhibits. The confer
ton that these things are necessar
to make fair pay is not substanti;
ted by facts. For three years tn
Shenandoah Iowa. fair has barre
out these Objectionable features, an
each year there has been nice cas-
balance in the treasury. after payin
all premiums in full and other e,
penses. The Shenandoah fair is or
of the best in the state and Otht
fairs are following it's example.
1T We're true that a fair could not |
run on a paying basis without ALLOW
ing professional gamblers and lew
1T would be far better to have no fai
But to claim that such things are Il
cessary is a libel on the respectful
ity of the people.
Another reason why fairs are n
more successful is that the bulk
farmers take so little interest
exhibiting their products. They
not realize how much can be learnt
in preparing such exhibits, nor Il
interest and enthusiasm which it
awakens in ones work The educ
tional value of large and compile
exhibit of farm products is very gre
and therefore all farmers should he
to make such an exhibit.
One reason why many do not ma
a showing is because they THU
they have nothing worth exhibitir
This is a mistaken idea and is d
more to the fear of defeat than
native modesty. There is certain
no disgrace in failing to win a pl
MUM, for some who do not win pl
mlumS deserve greater credit tn