Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1912-06-21
( FEW SUGGESTIONS
ABOUT COUNTY FAIRS,

Il may seem rather early to
speak Of the coming county fairs.
but eHert progressive farmer Is. or
should De. Interested ln the sue
cess Of his county fair. The sue
cess or failure Of the fair rests
almost entirely with the farmers.
4 fair with scani and Indifferent
ybihiis would draw small crowds
ard come as near being a complete
failure a. one could imagine.
Il requires but little time and
effort on the part Of each indiyi-
dual to produce some exhibits
which viii at leasl be worthy Of
showing. even though they do not
receive a blue ribbon. The value
n experience gained in exhibiting
produce OF any kind cannot be
overestimaied. In the first place,
the competition inspired i in IL
self worthy Of the effort. It should
always Ie a friendly one and no
hard feelings should ever exist on
The part Of the loser. True sports
manship Is exhibited only when
the decision Of the judges IS ac-
cepted a. final. and the defeated
man goes home. not to nurse a /
grievance but resolved to return
The following year with a larger f
and better exhibit.
Another. and probably a greater I
consideration Is the benefit deriv- ,
ed from an educational standpoint. /
After decisions have been render /
ed, the exhibitor has the right to /
know just why his produce was
awarded a lower ribbon than his
neighbOr The Judges should. and
viii gladly explain fully wherein /
the exhibit was deficient. This 4
man is then enabled to know what
constitutes quality in any partie-
ular farm product and he fixes a
new ideal by which to select his
exhibit the following
A word to fair directors may not
be out of place, Premium lists
should be issued as early as pos
sible. II they could be put in the
hands Of the farmer now, the
chances for a successful fair would
be greatly enhanced. Care AMI
judgment should be used in CON-
pillng the lists and classes. TOO
often tLtTe Is not enough disimc-
ion made. For instance. there are
several varieties Of wheat raised IN
a certain county, ranging from ex-
rem ly soft to The hard types. It
IS manifestly unjust to the grower
10 have them all classed together.
There should be a class for each
If them, so that soft wheat sam
Die will compete with soft wheatS
,nly. hard with hard wheats only, Y
tic. There may be good reasons
or a farmer growing soft wheat in {
preference to the hard varieties. {
The farm may yield heavier or be Z
,etter adapted to the particular
orm. but when the two types
'ome into competition at the fair, {
'nly the quality Of the sample can !
le taken into consideration by the
udge. The hard wheat sample I
nay have yielded 10 bushels as ?
gainst 20 of the soft type. Yet d
his fact Will have no bearing what G
ver from the judges standpoint.
This point Is as important in the [
-arious farm crops as In I'VE stock. +
there. we 90 not find the breeds :
mixed up. The premium list clas- 1
eS them as ShorthornS. Herfords, {
tc a
Another point to observe. and 6
ne that is fast falling into disuse, 5
: the word largest" Avoid it.
Almost without exception best" is
he word to use. Quality Is what is q
Usually sought, not size. Potatoes q
which weigh one or one and one I
lalf pounds viii invariably be of L
ietter quality than those weighing {
orm or more. This is true Of many I
'ther crops.
Complete harmony between fair
directors and farmers is necessary.
20 get together for a better and :
arger county fair.
F. L. kENNARD,
Assistant AgrOnomiSt, Idaho tx
pertinent Station.
r