The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1910-09-02
THE AGRICULTURAL FAIR
Gem State Rural


work be limited to art, music and en-
tertaining? May not our county and
State Fairs be source of much
pleasure and profit to our house
wives? Surely What to Eat ap-
peals as strongly to the farmers wife
as it does to the society woman, and
women from all walks of life may
mingle at our smaller Fairs as well
as at our great National Fairs. Let
each and all be more interested in
cur pure food exhibits this fall-and
we shall have some good and be the
better for the meetings.
Now, what may we really do to as
sist in these Fair exhibits?
The dairy products should be of
keen interest to us. We hope a
model dairy may be in operation
where the different methods and pro-
cesses may be studied in detail.
The display of all kinds of bread
cannot fail to be of interest to house
keepers.
Pies, cakes, biscuits, fancy and
compressed breads with a compre-
hensiye array of BAKING powder and
yeast should be here for use in dem
cnstrating the purity of different
brands of bread ana pastry-so that
by testing and tasting, all visitors
may satisfy themselves concerning
all claims of demonstrators.
Another Department in the wo-
mans building may be devoted to
canned meats, fish, vegetables and
fruit If possible have everything
from the raw material to the ready
to-serve product effectively displayed.
Coffee, tea, cocoa, chocolate and
the substitutes for coffee would form
an interesting group and by use of
separate booths might be made a
profitable and healthful part of the
exhibit.
Then we may have our watermelon
and peach days, etc.
Almost everyone has at some time
attended country fair-if in nc
other way, at the moving picture
shows.
K We no-1onger think of these agri-
cultural fairs as cheap side shows OF
the race track with it's attendant
evils-but with the increased knowl-
edge of agriculture on the part OF
men and women in all walks of life
and particularly that of farmers, the
tide has turned in the right direction
and the educationa< features are re-
ceiIing more and more attention.
Country and city alike are inter.
ested in the maintenance of these
fairs. We hear on every hand how
the farmers are the real rulers of this
country.
In spite of all talk of high cost oil
living, many of our families from the
farms will come to the fairs this fal
in automobiles-and the city people
in place Of visiting these gatherings
as an occasion for hilarious outing tt
make sport at the farmer boys anG
girls, hand in hand. with the sack OF
peanuts, will find themselves, because
of their ignorance of realities, huge
jokes to the farmers, and thus the en-.
joyment may be even on both sides.
| We are going to make a plea fol
more interest in home science and
the handicrafts in our local fairs thai
we maykeep abreast with the rapid
growth in other localities.
Let us have lectures in cookery
demonstrations in the preparation Of
our vegetables and fruits-talks or
foods, food values, utensils, stoves
arrangements of kitchen and dining
room care of the home, etc.
! We would not neglect our exhibit
of cut flowers and potted plants fol
here is opened the field of floricul
ture, home grounds, and many Other
avenues for the childrens depart
ment.
While the farmers and Experiment
station people will look after the ami.
mals-we, the women, should be in.
formed sufficiently to look after the
meat and milk supply, their home
care and transportation.
If our state and county agricultural
societies will give us recognition in
the way of small premiums, both old
and young may be encouraged to do
Let us have a premium offered to
the Normal school and high school
that will do the most during the com
| ing year to instruct it's classes in the
elements of the sciences relating to
agriculture; another to the graded
or rural school that during the year
attains the highest success in teach
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