Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1911-02-09
UmATILLA--moRROw FAIR.


regrets the lack of general interest
that is manifested in this worthy en-
terprise. We are glad to give space
to his discussion of the subject, as
we of Morrow County are as much
interested, or at least we should be
as much interested in the success of
this fair as the people of the adjoin-
ing county. Mr.. McManus says:
"It is of the utmost Importance
that something should be done to
arouse interest in the Morrow-Uma-
tilla Fair. AS interest in the Fair
seems to be on the wane, something
must be done to infuse a little life
into this annual exhibit of the farm
and home of the two counties in in
terest. We view with considerable
regret it's moribund state of exist
ence-the absolute lack OF interest
manifested by the very class that is
benefited most by the concentration
at the county seat of this county OF
the very best samples Of cereals and
grasses, fruits and vegetables-the
best breeds OF hogs, cattle, sheep
poultry, all OF which is an education
to our farmers and an incentive to
better farming and better breeding
Why this lack OF interest in our
District Fair? We shall offer some
suggestions along this line, not in a
captious manner, but in the hope
that it may rebound to the good Of
the two counties interested in seeing
the Fair grow in popularity and use
fulness.
To begin with, the location OF the
Fair should be changed to the
grounds boughtfor the annualround-
up show. Two good reasons can be
given for the change. First, the
roundup may not prove a drawing
card more than a year or two and
the grounds will always be in de-
mand by the exhibitors OF livestock
and the speed contests, ii properly
managed, which may in time become
an attractive feature OF the Fair.
The present quarters are too cir
cumscribed, inadequate in fact to ac-
commodate such an exhibit of live
stock as the two counties are capa-
Bile of concentrating We want big
ger and better grounds for the Fair
if interest is not to die out alto
gether.
Another thing to which our at
tention has been called, not by a
knocker, but friend of Pendleton
and OF the Fair, namely. the necess-
ity of a change in the personnel OF
the management. The complaint is !
made and with much Justification,
that merchants and business men OF
should not predominate
in control of the Fair as their know
ledge of horses, cattle and farm pro-
ducts is very limited and while they
may have done the best they knew
how, their management is not salts
factory to exhibitors of the two
Because of the prominence
Of the merchants taking an active
land in the Fair, and largely because
5he positions held were unsought and
would be given up at moment'sno-
ice if more competent men could be
ound to serve, nothing has been
aid.
The president of the Fair associa-
ion is a good fellow and is popular
With all classes, but say the stock
nen, what does he know about run
ling a fair? The same objection is
made to Secretary Fitzgerald and
,ther members OF the board. 1t is
aid that there is only one farmer
represented on the board Of manag-
rs, all the others being merchants
nd business men who know little or
othing about farming and stock
aising.
Why not, then, let the farmers take
barge of the MorrOw-Umatilla Dis
rict Fair? Give to Morrow county
quail representation with UmatIlla
ounty, but in every case let the men
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