Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1910-08-03
FAIRS AS EDUCATORS
Writer Declares They Result in
Much Benefit if Properly Con-
Quoted.
INTEREST THE YOUNG PEOPLE
Every Farmer Who Possibly Can
Should Exhibit Something and
Let the Boys and Girls Ar
range Exhibits.


ness. The fair is the only school
where every member of the family
can attend and find classes adapted
to his or her own needs. One of the
subscribers, Mr.. R. B. Rushing, eX-
presses his views on this important
subject in this way:
The county and state fairs are
in reality great agricultural schools.
They have departments for all lines
of farm work, including the home.
Being in session for a few days or
a week it is impossible for all the
family to attend and see exhibitions
of the best that is produced in the
county or state, and no one should
be satisfied with producing any,
thing but the very best. If better
wheat than you grow is exhibited,
find out what the trouble is. You
can easily learn from the exhibitor
how he did it. What you can learn
in this one item alone may more
than pay for your trip to the fair.
If one raises twenty acres of wheat
and learns how to increase it five
bushels per acre, that would mean
an increase of 100 bushels of wheat
And this is just one of the things
that it is possible to learn. Like
knowledge and results may be OBJ
tanned in the growing of oats, corn,
barley, clover, etc. At the fairs
one has a good opportunity of learn
ing of the best varieties of fruits,
of vegetables and flowers and how
to grow them successfully; how and
when to spray so as to kill the
worms, bugs and diseases that cause
knotty and worthless fruit. If one
man can, you can, and the man who
has demonstrated that he can is al
ways ready to tell how he did it
and to give you the benefit of his
experience.
If anyone exhibits better cattle,
horses, sheep or swine than you
raise, then learn how it is done. If
it is due to better blood, learn
where you can get the better ami
mails. Also learn how the animals
that are in the best condition have
been fed and cared for.
Don't neglect the farm machinery
exhibit. So much of the work is
done on the farm by machinery that
one wants the very best, and the
fair is where one can see the diff
ferent lines exhibited and in opera
ton. The manufacturers of the
most modern machinery are sure to
have exhibits.
Never be satisfied as long as you
are not doing as well as the best.
You have the same opportunity.
Others are more than willing to tell
you how. SO when you go to the
fair go prepared to learn. Keep
your eyes open, and ask questions.
Take the boys along. Call their
attention to the valuable things and
let them hear you talk with the ex-
hIbitors.
There are always many things to
interest and instruct the good house
wife and the girls, so take them
along. They will want to see the
cooking department, the art de-
partment, the exhibits of dresses
and wearing apparel, the poultry,
and oftentimes will take an active
interest in seeing the live stock
the garden, fruit and farm exhibits.
AS stated before, he who would
know of the latest and most ap-
proved things produced on the farm,
or made for the farm and the farm
er's home, should go to the fair to
see and learn them, as that is where
Judgment is passed upon them. We
should be satisfied with nothing but
the best, and the fair is where we
VIII find the best. The getting
away from the farm for few days
and mingling with our neighbors and
with strangers is within itself quite
an advantage. 1t broadens and
educates us. 1t teaches us better
our place and position in the world
and should fire us with a desire and
ambition to do better than ever be-
fore.
Those who are so lucky" as to
win prize will go home with an
increased confidence in themselves
and those who do not win prize
should go home determined to win
the next year. Both sides are bene-
hted. In fact, there are as many
good reasons for attending the fairs
as there are for holding them
Ihelr purpose is to stimulate an in
terest in agriculture, horticulture
| stock raising, domestic science. the
home and its surroundings, and in
fact those things that tend to the
betterment and welfare of the en-.
| tire community