The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1906-10-17
THE CHINOOK FAIR.
A FINE EXHIBIT OF AGRICULTURAL
RESOURCES OF NORTHERN
MONTANA,
The beginning Of An Enterprise That Will
Benefit the Community.

The first annual exposition Of the
Milk River Valley Fair and Racing
association is a success beyond the
fondest expectations of its promoters,
and the latter are to be heartily con.
graduated upon the result of their en-.
terprise in planning and carrying out
the project. 1t will be popularity
known as the "Chinook FAIR as it
is the product of citizens of tina, pro-
gressive little city.
Visitors who attended this first effort
10 exhibit the agricultural resources
OF northern Montana, pronounce it to
be superior to the first state fair held
in Helena a few years ago. They pre-
diet that, with the favorable environ.
ments from which supper, and en-
couragemeut will come in increasing
volume from year 70 year, the Chinook
fair promises to become an institution
that will no suffer by comparison
with similar projects 10 other parts of
the state.
The fair and racing grounds consist
of a little over twenty acres on the
outskirts of Chinook, most OF which
vas formerly part o! the townsite.
This area has been enclosed with a
tight board fence, and in the enclos.
ure a half.mile race track has been
laid out and graded, and fenced at
points where such provision is neces.
sary. Other improvements consist of
a c~ommodious frame building for the
display of exhibits. a grand stand
capable of seating over 500 persons,
a band stand, stables, barns and ems
for livestock, and other facilities. The
cost OF the real estate and improve.
ments was nearly 5000, and it prom.
ises to be an excellent investment.
There is an exceptionally good dis.
play of agricultural and other ex-
hibits at the first fair. The create
portion of them come from the vici.
nifty of Chinook, but among them are
collections from Rinsdale and other
points in Valley county. from the
Fort Belknap reservation, from Fort
Benton and other distant points.
These are assembled and tastefully
arranged in exhibition hall, in which
also are departments containing edu.
cational exhibits made by pupils of
the public schools, displays of fancy
work made by the ladies, art work
o other attractions. 10 each of
these departments the visitor is con-
fronted by exhibits that would be
creditable to any fair that had be-
come u we'll established institution.
The livestock exhibits we're prob.
ably the feature that commanded the
greatest admiration from visitors.
Some OF the finest types Of horses OF
the Belgian and Percheron families
took part in the parade, which also
included a procession of their progeny
that demonstrated the improvement
made by judicious breeding and
proper care. 1t vas certainly an in,
structive demonstration. In the live
stock barns were several exhibits of
cattle and hogs, which indicated sat.
isfactory progress in those lines.
Another interesting display was an
irrigating exhibit made by Reser Il
Knapp, consisting of gasoline engines
and centrifugal pumps, which gave a
very liberal water supply for the
amount Of power used.
Wednesday was the banner day of
the fair, over 1900 visitors passing
through the gates. Over one.third of
these came from Havre, accompanied
by two bands, a special train being
run for their accommodation. The
Havre bands contributed largely to
the success of the occasion by render
ing selections throughout the after.
noon program. This included several
we'll contested horse races, a football
game between the Havre and Chinook
teams, and other event
II is a good testimonial to the pro.
mOters of the fair that no word of
complain or criticism was heard from
any of the visitors. On the contrary,
it was the unanimous verdict that the
Chinook Fair is an institution that
will grow 10 popular favor. and be.
come the greatest attraction of its kind
in this part Of the northwest.