Evening journal., 1909-08-02
MANY BENEFITS
IN COUNTY FAIRS
City Farmer" Should Take
Interest in Annual Show
and Exhibit

The annual county fair will soon hold
sway throughout the country. Begin
ming with the last week in August
and continuing through September
and into October, this yearly fete of
the farmers exhibits its glories from
county seat to county seat and the
people from the remote sections and
from the towns and cities join in the
festivities.
Formerly this was a great institu-
tion, promoting progress in agricul-.
ture and stock raising by instilling the
spirit of rivalry and showing the re-
suits Of methods in culture, and al
though the latter day humbugs have
crept in, its glories have not departed
The county fair nowadays has its
midway and its pike" and it's war
path" i'm imitation of the great inter-
national eXpositions, and these are in
fact cheap amusement centres, de-
signed solely to get the nickels, dimes
and quarters of the gullible.
"Premiun chasers."
| fThen, too, in the competition classes
\ there has developed a large number Of
premium chasers," persons who get
together a fine class of stock. not
necessarily of their own raising. but
which excel, i'm points and can capture
the prizes. These are taken from fair
TO fair inrotation, and against these
the ordinary exhibitor is at a dsad-
vantage. Notwithstanding these abuses
land setbacks the fair as an institution
Is of benefit to the community and TO
tho exhibitors. Intelligent and careful
Examination of the animals and things
leXhibited will inform the farmer, and
the calsses for articles produced in the
home have tho same relation to the
women folks" of the farmers family.
The city man who has taken a home
in the country or who is farming ac-
cording to the most modern and scien-
tifc methods will do well to take an
interest and active part i'm the affairs
Of the country agricultural society and
it's annual fair. He will find il of BEN
eft TO himself and he will add to the
general uplift In the first place. he
will help i'm establishing a reputation
= for his democracy. and this is no small
item. Country folk look askance at
the city farmer who comes to their
community and holds himself aloof
lIf hc mixes i'm local affairs and is hale
fellow well met with his neighborS he
will find entertainment some bright
minds and agreeable companionship in
his rural community.
The county fair is the rallying place
for the people and an institution in
which they take great pride. The city
farmer can show what he has accom-
Iplished by his exhibition and entries
and before the knows It he viii have
entered into the spirit Of the affair
and will be examining the exhibits
Of his rivals with keen interest and viii
discover points of excellence which will
be Of benefit in the future. In this
way he will be helping himself and
furnishing material by which his
neighbors and fellow citizens can adt
to their funds OF information.
An Educational Power.
While the county fair has become &
greater degree than formerly al
amusement enterprise. it retains III
germ Of its educational powers. Whi'
the throng IS on the midway" listen
ing to the harangue of the barker ii
front Of the side show thoughtful me-
are examining the exhibits of horses
cattle, sheep and swine, going owe
carefully the latest farm machiner
and estimating the value Of the i'm
provements.
As I'm the East the old fashlonc
farmer and crops have given way i
a great measure to the raising Of sma
garden truck. fruits and vegetable
for the canning and packing factories
so new methods have displaced the ole
The dairy. the orchard and the Gu
lcumhcr reld lorish now where fol
merly We're the wheat fields. This mean
that the county fair can be made {
great value as an educational institu
tion OF practical value TO the husband
man in giving hints on how TO meet I'll
changed conditions. Intelligent &C
operation Of the men who tin the so
either for pleasure or profit will brlr
about this result.
1ht trtMopE n 0HtO % q