Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1913-10-29
THE LESSON OF THE STATE FAIR.

The 1918 Tennessee State Fair is now
history. It was a success and taught
many valuable lessons, not only to the
visitors, but to the fair management
as well. As the masses Of our farmers
get out OF the ruts, they are waking
up TO the fact that they are facing con-
ditions entirely different from the CON
ditions their fathers worked under-that
If they succeeded they must adjust them.
selves to meet presentday conditions
and problems.
To do so, they must understand their
soil and how to make it more produc-
tivei they must appreciate the value Of
live stock on the farm and the differ
ence in profit between the scrub and the
thoroughbred.
When the farmer is aroused to APP
preciative interest in his land, crops and
live stock, he wants 20 compare notes
with his brother farmers-at first, at
the county fairs, and as his confidence
in his ability and his products increases,
he wants to enter competition with
farmers from all over the state and later
he may grow until he is willing to com
pete in national way.
With the broader development Of agri.
culture viii come a modification in the
plans for state and county fairs. In the
past the entertainment and amusement
features have been the prominent ones.
The race horse has Overshadowed the
draft horse, the dairy and beef animal
Agricultural products were minor iea.
lures.
The trotting horse will always have a
place at the fairs, but that place will
be just in proportion to his Importance
in developing the agricultural wealth of
the state. The awakened farmer will
be looking for information as well as
entertainment and amusement The diff
ferent breeds of beef cattle, of sheep,
hogs, horses and dairy cattle will de-
mand much of his attention. So will
the various exhibits of farm products.
He will want TO know more about types
of corn, wheat, rye, oats and grasses.
The educational features of the fair
will take up more of his time and atten-
ton and he will have less to devote to
entertainment and amusement.
The State Fair is first an educational
institution. 1t should and will be the
clearing house for progressive agricul.
ture, and the 1914 fair is going to be
planned on lines that will appeal to the
producers of Tennessee, upon whom we
are all dependent for prosperity.
The plans now formulating and to be
announced early in December contem.
plate getting closer to and helping the
individual live stock raiser to enter the
competition without being outclassed by
the professional exhibitors. This will
apply with equal force to the individual
competitor with his farm products.
The Tennessee State Fair is intended
primarily to develop the agricultural in
terests of Tennessee, and not merely
having big display of professional eX
nlDlbOIbs ne management SAptcJo u
have every Tennessean feel that tn,
State Fair is our fair and participate il
the advantages it makes possible.
Those who attended the fair just
closed could not fail to note the devel
opment of the practical educational fea
TIRES among them the farm boys en-
campment, exhibits of work done BY
boys and girls in the various schools
the great improvement in character ant
quality Of agricultural exhibits.
Mex year we are going to have I
great increase in exhibits of Tenne'se
live stock We want you, brother farm
er, to get in line to have e part in tn
1914 fair, 1t is going to be a real Ten
nessee fair, and if you are not part o
it., it win be your own fault, becaus
we are going to give you every oppor
tunity Do not wait until late mex
year, but make up your mind NOW tina
you are going to be one of the priz
winners at the Tennessee State Fair TO
1914. You can if you get in real earn
est about it.