The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-12-26
From tuesdays Daily.

Window, winner OF the Louis Hill
prize, in the state fair contest. The
subject was What l Saw and Learn
ed at the Minnesota, State Fair as
Member of the Farm Boys Camp of
1913"
Many years ago. the idea of a
fair was conceived to be a market
day; but at present it has lost most
of that significance and means the
exhibition of agricultural and
mechanical products and live stock.
Such is the meaning to visitors to
the Minnesota state fair
| learned during my weeks stay
that there were two phases of this
exposition, namely, the spectacular
and educational. Perhaps he gets
the most out of it who seeks more
of the latter, but we cannot blame
one, tired of daily routine, for look.
ing around and being out at the
grandstand.
I learned by conversation and
sight that the educational side con.
sisted of agricultural exhibits, dis.
play of live stock and their prod
ucts, and exhibition of mechanical
devices.
The, ideal aim of the state fair, as
| saw and considered it, is to have
the largest agricultural exhibits pos.
sible, to show their relation to live
stock, SO as to encourage better
| farming by employment of scientific
methods
| Keen competition was shown in
| the county exhibits of grains, fruits
and corn, our great coming crop.
| Corn is becoming more important
every year and will do much to raise
the standard of production in our
state. | decided that the fair asso-
citation is especially interested in
this division because the welfare and
wealth of our state depend on our
agricultural progress. The university
is interested and IS dcing much to.
ward helping to destroy weeds, and
| in the prevention of hog cholera
BY carrying out these plans the Min
/ nesOta farmers will save millions
annually. In the elegant, decorated
horticultural building, saw the gifts
of the vegetable kingdom in garden
products, fruit and nursery display
of plants. On one side were spray.
ing machines showing the beneficial
Z results on fruit trees when used
and not used.
/ | determined that the live stock
is an important part of the fair and
state, as to proiltably raise these an
imals, is test Of our agricultural de-
yelopment In the various depart
ments were the best specimens of
the leading breeds all over the coun-
try. The different types and their
market characteristics were interest.
ing to me, since they gave me nearly
an ideal horse by which to Judge
others. By our instructors valuable
description and demonstration of cat
tie, / learned the distinguishing
markings, purpose, and advantage of
different breeds.
In the dairy building saw the
products and labor-saving devices in
tuio uuGjHSDo, NblCu ulISCtly SuOW
the vast Importance of Minnesota in
this occupation.
In the swine buildings were speci.
mems of every important breed to-
Sether with the excellent explana.
ton of the main points to be Looked
I,for in buying hog, and distinguish.
ing features of the lard and bacon
types made this department very in.
structive.
The explanation and showing of
definite important parts of fowls of
a typical breed made our poultry
division one from which much practi-
cal knowledge could be gained.
| Aside from these departments, a
large number of various kinds of
sheep was on the ground for eXhibi
i ton. From these l learned to- dis
criminate between types of different
breeds.
The majority of the live stock in.
terest was centered at the horse
and cattle show where were enthusi
astic crowds at the judging. The
Significance Of this fact means that
a fair must be educational and in
structive If it is to exist through
the coming years.
During my private tours, | visited
many interesting exhibits, as Ma
chinery hill. Here are the refined
products and devices of the invent
Ors in the mechanical world. The
labor-saving devices and implements
which tend to make life more com
Portable and enjoyable will soon find
, their places in our homes, and find
that the fair is a good place to adj
I, vertise and sell
| noticed the warm cooperation sOi
the people in various occupations
, which will help to advance our state
: and the value of this meeting will
t be shown in next years exposition
The practical experiences and so
; cial life are direct results of oul
camp. The close contact of people
in different professions are essentia
, factors in our development as citi
zens, and | found out the existing
conditions in various sections of oul
state by conversation with the CAM
:, boys.
Now, in conclusion, | learned tha