The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-09-07
fairs DEVELOP
MUCH Interest
IN AGRICULTURE
FARMERS SHOULD BE THE LIFE
AND BACKBONE or SUCH IN
sTITuTIoNs AND SHOULD ALL
HAVE EXHIBITS.

| The best index to the farming situ-
alton In any community or county Is
! the amount and quality OF the exhibits
found at their county and state fairs.
Agricultural fairs were primarily in
tended for the development OF agri-
cultural interest and when carried
out from this standpoint they always
prove OF benefit. Many Of our south
ern fairs do not carry out this idea
as wei as they might, which Is due to
q lack Of interest among the general
farmers, and this think should be
corrected as rapidly as possible. It Is
q striking fact that q very large per-
centage Of the farmers do not feel
called upon to make any effort 30
bring their exhibits DO the fair. Each
fair association offers as liberal pre-
rntums as they can well afford and for
as many diffe~ent products as are
grown In the community. This is done
with vie VITO giving everyone an OPP
portunify to compete for one or more
prizes. It may not be a matter OF
negligence on the part of the farmers
but the prevailing opinion that his
stuff Is not as good as his neighbor's
and therefore he has no opportunity to
win a prize. No greater mistake
exists, for with little effort any farm
err can have one or more products su-
perfor or as good as any of his neigh
bors'. It may not be a large collection
burt there is no reason why he should
refrain from exhibiting simply be-
cause someone else il making an effort
to win the prize. On the contrary it
should be stimulus which would
mean higher class products, all of
which will place our fairs on a much
better standing with the public and
call attention to Floritfa's agricultural
possibilities. 1t is the every day ar
ttcles on the farm that the fair asso-
citation would like to see in abundance.
A few novelties always prove an at
traction but there is nothing at a fair
that proves of more interest than an
excellent exhibit of corn or sweet po-
tatoes, and those who win prizes in
these things are among the class Of
farmers whom we call "progressives.'
The United States government is
making liberal appropriations to i'm
prove farming conditions in Florida
The state of Florida has appropriated
to encourage better methods of
corn growing among our boys and the
fair associations are doing all in their
power to improve the agricultural con-
dttions. Is there not therefore an OPP
pOIluHWy IOT every IdFIlSTs Anu With
opportunity comes responsibility, so
that those who fail TO make an effort
to make his county fair a good one
fall short OF their opportunity and re-
sponsibility
At this season of the year when the
fair association is planning for attrac-
lions, the management can complete
for everything excepting
farm exhibits. This they cannot plan
for absolutely, because they have no
as to what will be ex-
hibited. A little more interest on the |
part of the farmers will correct this |
condition. 1t is too late to prepare |
exhibits for the fair week before it |
takes place. Farmers who have not |
already made preparation to exhibit at /
the fairs this fall should begin now
and if so they will produce exhibits /
that will be creditable to their COM
and to the fair association.
A P. SPENCER
Gainesville, Fla.