The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1911-12-22
ERRORS Of COUNTY FAIRS
Pointed Out by A. c. Aicker
Of Aberdeen.
PREMIUM LISTS WRONG
Should Encourage Better Crops
Instead of Horse Racing.

In the Idaho Agricultural news.
letter, A. G. Aicher, superintendent
OF the Aberdeen, Idaho, cooperative
station, writes on the subject "Coun.
ty Fair Associations versus the
Farmer" as follows:
Is the farmer deriving the benefit
IRON the fairs that should be due
him for his labors:
The primary object of an agricul.
tural fair is to encourage the farmer,
TO stimulate him that. be may grow
larger, better and more marketa BILE
crops. 1t is the time when the
farmer and his products should al
ways hold sway. 1t only happens
once year aud a farmer is entitled
to at least that much recognition
The farmer is there to learn wherein
he has made his mistakes, and how
and where he can and should rectify
them.
RACING FEATURES TOO
PROMINENT. The premium list
originally introduced to attract the
farmer to compensate in part at least
for the time, labor and money spent
in growing, selecting and preparing
his articles for exhibition have SO
deteriorated that at many fairs they
have become farce. This is especial.
ly true in the crop department of
many of the fairs. However, the
racing end of the fairs has had its
premiums increased until at some OF
the larger fairs, single premiums as
high as five hundred dollars have
been listed. This would not be
serious if the farmer had his premium
lists increased in proportion. But
instead his premiums have been de-
creased in order that the racing
premiums might be enlarged. At
some of the fairs the agricultural side
has in measure been practically
disregarded.
PREMIUM LISTS NEED REVI.
SION. Premiums have been Jumped
off in punches without any regard as
to the crops grown in the community
nor the value of same to the commun.
ity. The same premiums are paid
for freaks and curOsities that have
no commercial value, as are paid for
crops that are widely grown 10 the
state and recognized all over the
United States as the best Of Their
kind produced.
The fair associations should know
which crops are most profitably grown
in their respective communities and
then encourage the commercial pro-
duction of that crop by Offering
larger premiums for same.
SHOW BUSIN ESS EXPENSIVE
TO FARMER WHO SHOWS. The
fair association depends upon the far
| mer to make their fair attractive, and
to get the support Of the farmer the,
should make it worth while for him
to show. The exhibition business Is
| expensive and takes considerable
time. and as rule usually comes
during the farmers busiest season
He cannot afford to put his valuable
time and labor into a proposltlor
when he receives no compensation fol
tis time and effort. A dollar or Two
as premium for first place for
nroduct that has taken from day
tn a whole seasons labor in th'
selection and preparation for show, II
no compensation, and that 10 a large
measure explains why only a few
farmers show their products at mos
fairs.
SPECIAL CROPS DESERVING
OF HIGHER PREMIUMS. In Sc
lectiug the crops that should receive
the highest awards in premiums, IL Il
necessary to select those crops ina
can be shipped in large quantities
and especially crops that are not to'
rerishab,e Some Of Idaho's bes
crop, are Wheat, Oats, Barley
po,atoes. Alfalfa, Onions, NAY!
Beaus, Alfalfa Sc d and where iac
,or,,s are handy. the Sugar Beer