The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-06-08

| before he began to set it up, and he
hadn't finished setting up his show un-
II capitulations came from one of the
professionals to sell to him.
Failing in this he sought to become
a partner, joining interests and ma
| terial for the big fair circuit. The offer
was declined. and on the same day
one of the railroads entering Topeka
hired the exhibitor and his display to
advertise the lands of the railroad.
For the same reason that he would not
sell to the professional exhibitor, that
he did not propose to have his county
banner covered up with some other
county, he bargained that the county
name follow the display, which was
He Was Successful.
After showing at two other fairs, at
which he took the top premiums he
refurbished his exhibit by adding new
stuff from home and substituting fresh
sheaves for some that had become rag
ged, and took 1T east for the railroad
company. In one year he had raised
his crops on his Kansas farm. had a
vacation on pay, his travelling expenses
included, and made enough money to
add forty acres to his land holdings.
But for the fact that he married and
changed his pursuit to raising stock
exclusively, he might have become a
professional county display exhibitor.
The experiences of this young man
show was far from encouraging at
first. The first obstacle he met with
was obtaining authority TO use the
name of the county. The local agri-
he might run away with the county's
good name, declined to permit its use.
He explained that it would do the
county good, arguing that a county
display, or several of them had in
duced his emigrating to Kansas. The
cOnntV fair hoard fhnnPhf him
young, but he finally won their consent
as well as a small appropriation from
the board of county commissioners to
help it along, with their endorsement.
When he asked for samples of
grasses, grains, and seeds through an
appeal in the county paper, none
answered his card. Then he set out in
person to gather his specimens, and
found that few would donate anything
for his exhibit. He was under no OBJ
legations to his neighbors, and when
later they insisted that he take up the
work of making an annual display at
the state fair for the good of the coun-
ty. he could decline with good grace.
He did however continue to make
county collective exhibit at the
little county fair that was taken to
other fairs by committee from the
fair association. That county came to
respect the young man whose ideas
they thought were too big for his years
when he first settled among them to
farm eighty acres on his own hook.
What was done by this enterprising
young farmer may be done by any in
dividual in any county in Kansas if
he applied his talents as assiduousiy,
if he be of an artistic turn
of mind or endowed with decorative
genius. The county fair association
sending to the State Fair at Topeka a
collective exhibit stands to win a pre-
MUM that will be well worth the eff
fort Then. too. there are other fairs
inviting just such exhibits. As an adj
vertisement for the counties the re-
turns may not be direct, but sooner or
later the outlay will be more than Off.
set by the favorable showing of the
county making the display.
The offerings of the Kansas State
Fair are liberal for collective county
exhibits, and aggregate over $4,000
Besides the premiums, running from
$3.50 20 SIS, twelve in number. each
exhibit is scored by points, and all re-
ceiving a percentage over 60 of the
possible 100 receives 50 each point
above 60. The first premium display
can thus earn, if its score be perfect,
$3.50.
Secretary Cook is sending out the
conditions of the com petition, and the
score cards, with a list of the items
that he suggests should be shown.
Shawnee county is barred from the
contest for premiums, but will be paid
for the points scored over the mini
mum allowed-60 points.
Fine collective exhibits have al
ready been promised.