The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1912-10-04
BENEFITS TO THE FARMER AND HIS FAMILY
TO BE DERIVED FROM ATTENDING FAIRS.


found stock on exhibition even finer
than the illustrations in the papers.
Had we stayed at home we should
always have believed that our stock
could not have been excelled. In a
September Farm and Ranch. 1905,
there is something like this: "To
illustrate how much good may be
done by fairs: Farmers will come to
the fair and visit the stock depart
ment. They look at the fine horses,
cattle, hogs, ETC., and can scarcely be-
lieve that such fine animals can be
raised in this country. They ask
questions as to the breeding and feed
ing and get some good facts to carry
home, and often purchasing fine
registered animal" In the last para
grab of the same article Mr.. Offut
OF Cleburne is quoted as saying: "I
don't think there is any better educa-
ton of the people in the matter of
stock than the fairs. People go
there and see something better than
they have at home. This creates a
desire to improve their stock" And
they do improve it.
The implement, machinery and We
hicle display was certainly a revela-
ton. 1t gave us a respect for our
work that we never had before.
But there is no use telling all we
saw. Most of the readers of this
have been there. If not, ego thou,
and do likewise"
Ideas Put Into Practice.
We met old friends, formed some
new friendships, heard speakers and
news from all over the land. The
donkey drill, the baby incubator, leap
ing the gap, looping the loop, ETC.,
kept up an agreeable excitement. The
pay shows and amusements gave
mental and physical rest and recuper-
tion.
The half has not been told, but
must hasten to tell the good effects
of that fair in our family. Here
shall give you the picture "after TAX
ing"
My sister and I concluded we had
a good deal to learn before setting
up establishments of our own, and
taking the responsibilities of a farm
and family. She went to Denton to
school two years, studied and worked
at home and when she married, at the
age of 22, was matured enough to
manage her household with wisdom.
Her husband is graduate of the A.
q A College, with three years expe-
rlence in actual farming after
graduation. They like agriculture be-
cause the right methods make it in
teresting and profitable. They first
saw that at the fair. I intend to buy
farm next year, having found a
feminine partner who is willing to
farm with me on halves.
My youngest sister has won several
premiums at the fair in the last three
years on her flowers and fruit pro-
ducts. My two brothers and my father
have worked with such zeal to have
things "like we saw at the fair" that
our crop yield has doubled and our
stock is worth three times as much
as the animals we used to keep.
Fair Taught Self-Respect.
My father and mother were espe-
cially interested in the machinery and
modern methods of doing things. AS
result we have better farm ma
chinery and take better care of it.
We have gasoline engine that man.
ages our home waterworks, churns,
turns the washing machine, saws
wood an ddoes various other things.
1t is veritable good fairy, or giant,
whichever you choose to call it.
My mother is growing younger. She
has not learned to run the auto, but
she has fine horse and buggy which
she often uses.
The fair took away self-conceit and
gave us self-respect. Farmers are no
longer "hayseeds," but men of affairs
and culture. The fairs have inspired
in us the ambition to be as we'll read,
to live as we'll and to secure for
wives and children all the luxuries
and comforts on farm that are OBJ
tainable by family in the city. We
have learned that screened porches
and windows, cement walks, bath
rooms, sleeping porches and cream
separators are not beyond the means
of any industrious farmer.
Some people may find things that
we did not at the fair. There was
so much that was wholesome and in
spring that vice had no temptations