The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1907-09-06
That Offered by West Michigan
State Fair Rivals the Best
Seen in Country.
PREMIUMS THE RICHEST EVER
State Legislature Appropriates 5000
for Premiums - ALI Michigan
Class Created - Ponies
Get Fat Prizes.

/
pass any ever given before In Crane
Rapids. And there Is reason. TIL
state legislature made an appropria
ton Of $1,000 to be used in premiums
for Michigan exhibitors only, whicl
enabled the fair management to dup
llcate all cattle classes, one "open t
ALL" the other for Michigan exhibitors
only. In the Horse Department the
amount of premiums offered was in
creased from 5000 last year to moro
than $4,000 this year. The total pre-
miums offered this year aggregate $1S-
600 compared with $4,000 last year
This big premium list is bound to
bring the best herds of Michigan and
neighboring states in the cattle line.
AYRSHIRE cattle have been shown al
Eastern Fairs for several years past
but are comparatively new breed in
this state. They come into sharp COM
petition with the Jerseys and will re-
ceive prominent attention at the West
Michigan Fair. Several herds have
entered this year for the first time
and they are expected to awaken a
wide degree of interest among breed
ers and patrons of the exposition.
Many Other Glasses.
There is every prospect that the
live stock exhibits will far surpass any
like show ever gathered together in
Western Michigan. One Of the big
features of the Fair will be the
parade of all prize winning horses and
cattle, both Wednesday and Thursday
and in these parades a large number
OF animals will be shorthorns. A
class which will be close second will
be the Herefords; and the Aberdeen
Angus will also be well represented.
1t Is not the men alone who are at
tracted by the dairy cattle, for the
women of Michigan of whom thou
sands will visit the West Michigan
Fair this year are all interested The
Jerseys, Holstein-Fresians, Ayreshires,
Guernseys and Brown Swiss are all to
be exhibited in greater numbers than
ever before. The special dairy test,
feature Of the Fair for the first time
last year, will be repeated this year.
This test is under the supervision Of
the State Dairy and Food Department.
The premiums offered are 500 for
the most economical production of
milk. during Fair week, for all pur-
poses of dairying and based upon the
cost Of feed and the value OF milk and
butter fat produced.
IN the horse department Secretary
Corger has received inquiries from
breeders who have not shown here
in years past. many Of them from
long distance and in greater number
than ever before. This unusual inter-
est Is probably caused by the in
creased premiums offered this season.
The grand cavalcade Of all prize win
ming horses and cattle will be by far
the most pretentious ever seen.
The Martin Draft Horse Trophy is
also attracting increased intention.
This Is premium offered for the best
draft team Of any age, owned in Mich
igan. In addition to the trophy offered
for the best draft team, cash prizes
also will be given this year. 500 with
the trophy for the best, $50 to the
second, $15 to the third and SO to the
fourth. Drivers of the best ten
teams will he awarded prizes ranging
from So to 81.
Illustrating this increased interest
the records show there were two draft
teams in competition for this trophy
in 1903. ten in 1906. while this season
all indications point to there being as
many as twenty.
The premiums offered for Shetland
ponies and for ponies other than Shet-
land show substantial increase over
those offered last year. While n total
Of $40 was offered in premiums for
the Shetands last year, this has been
to $347 this season. This
will most certainly make the exhibits
offered in these lines proportionatcly
better.
Mules Not Overlooked.
In years past no premiums were Of |
rered for mules. This year new
class was made for them and the |
prospects are good for a fine showing |
Of these most useful animals. The |
total of the premiums offered in this |
special class amounts TO 1852.
For carriage horses, saddlers and |
light harness horses there is long |
list of rich purses offered. In these
classes speed, conformation. color. |
style, gait, manners, biting and shoe
ng will all be considered. 1t Is GER
ain that the West Michigan Fair will
this year attract some Of the finest |
specimens of this noblest Of animals |
Ind the horse show will be one well
worth spending day to sec critically. |
Other classes are for the Clydesdnlc
Ind Englishshirc, French and German
Coach, Cleveland Bay, Hackney and