The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-02-07
A WIDE INFLUENCE.

1t is impossible to estimate the
scope Of the influence OF such farm
ers' gathering a. that which has been
held in Grand Forks during the pres
ent week. and which is still in prog
ress. II the meeting were Of a rather
local character only n would expect
to see attending 1t farmers and stock
raisers from the few counties in the
immediate vicinity Of the city. and
scarcely any from other sections. But
the fame Of the former meetings has
gone abroad. and We find represented
here not only the counties adjoining
and near by. hut counties in the far
western part Of the state. and others
in the southern section and along the
main line Of tha Northern Pacific.
Men do not come to Grand Forks from
those distant counties to attend a fair
in the middle Of the winter merely out
Of curiosity. They have a very prac-
teal reason for being here. and that
reason is that they are convinced that
they will benefit by the trip in the bet.
ter knowledge which they will gain
of the conditions in the business in
which they are engaged. and will learn
from the experience Of others what
methods it is better to follow, and
what it is best to avoid.
The purpose Of the management Of
this fair is and has been IS make the
gatherings real schools. not Of guess
work. but of practical experience.
Newton, n OF the wisest men Of his
age. said that the knowledge which he
had gained but served to impress him
with the vast fields Of knowledge that
he had explored. and near the close
Of his long and useful life he said that
he knew so little. and realized that
there was 80 much that he did not
know. that he felt like q child on the
sea shore picking up pebbles. 1t has
been significant Of the character OF
these meetings that they have been
attended by many Of the most sue
cessful farmers and stock -aisers In
the state, and that without exception
the men who have had the most ex-
%perience, and have learned the most,
are the most eager to learn more. Aud
the aim of the management has been
to provide the most abundant oppor.
tunity to learn. The proceedings have
been allowed to drag. There have
been no long lectures on subjects In
which the classes We're not interested.
There have been snappy discussions in
which everyone was at liberty to take
part, and practical questions and prac-
ticsl answers have been the order Of
the day. The only criticism Of the
meeting that has been heard 10 that
the sessions have been too short to
give opportunity for the full discus.
sion that was desired on each sub.
ject taken up. That indicated inter.
est. and indicates that something
worth while is being accomplished.
Suggestions for changes in the ar
:rangement of the program, and per-
haps in the duration Of the meeting
which will permit the extension Of
time desired have been made, and viii
be considered.
BY reason Of the wide area Of tho
stats from which attendance is drawn,
and by reason Of the intensely prac.
teal nature Of all the discussions
valuable information concerning the
problems Of farming. particularly
those which apply to the cattle indus.
try and Its attendant branches, the
raising Of forage crops. will be dis.
tributed all owe the state. The result
will be seen in a better class Of stock,
and in the increase Of the area Of for.
age crops, which. in turn will mean
the fitting Of the land for better yields
and better quality Of the cereals. II
is easy to see that such an influence
must be Of immense value, but how
great or widespread that value Is no
n can estimate.