River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-09-03
WHY VISIT THE COUNTY FAIR
By c. P. Norgord, Supt. Wisconsin
Farmers Institutes

To make county fair the vital,
helpful institution that it may be,
the boys and girls must be en-
couraged to take part. With old
and young working together the
fair becomes as it should, real
community effort.
Nor is it hard to get young
people to help in making their 10
cal fair a decided success for the
interest is already there. No
event Of the year, except perhaps
the circus and Fourth of July cell
ebration, holds such thrills 0 RI
the average boy or girl as oes
the annual county fair.
To prove this, look back in o
your own youth and recall with
what tense excitement and image
filled brain you went to bed the
night before the fair. Remember
how you arose earlier than usual
by an hour or more, to get in the
COWS and rush throu G h the
chores. See the family packed in
to the spring wagon as it ratified
down the frost-coated lane and
hear the merry shouts and good
natured jests as you meet neigh
bors and friends along the way.
Feel again the thrills of expecta-
ton as you near the tall b o a r d
fences of the fair grounds n
hear the alluring strains Of the
merry-go-round organs and the
metallic drone Of the hawkers. 1t
was surely big day and if you
had some choice ears of corn or a
fine eve or heifer that was to
compete for a prize, you were
doubly interested and excited.
Teachers and county superin-
tendents do much to interest the
boys and girls in the important
features of the fairs. Oftentimes
they arrange for the exhibition of
the handicraft of their pupils and
provide for spelling matches and
other form of scholastic cOmpeti-
ton. Up in Sank county this idea
has been emphasized and has re-
suited in building up a tremend-
Gus interest in the fair. There,
speaking contests have provided
valuable means OF interesting the
young people and winnig b
support of their parents. Along
these lines there is a grand oppor-
tunity to show an interested audi
ence what the schools are doing.
The older folks will be sure to at
tend if one of their boys or girls
is to take part in speaking or
spelling contest, or has an exhibit
of some kind on display.
The social side of the fair is
one that is too important to be
overlooked and one that ought to
be strengthened in every possible
way. In many communities t h
fair is the one medium by Whicl4
farmers and their families meet
friends and relatives and form ac-
quaintances among people living
in other parts of the county. Peo-
pie meet at the fair who seldom see
each other throughout the rest of
the year. This chance to renew
acquaintance and friendships and
to meet strangers of course, s
splendid thing. A wide acquaint-
ance is a broadening factor in the
life of any person and the farmer
needs such an influence as much
as any one. To further this idea,
picnic dinners on the grounds,
township and school district re-
ceptions (the people of one district
inviting those Of another to
basket lunch) and various kinds
of get-together meetings should be
encouraged.
The worth of a county fair i s
judged by the number of exhibit
ors. 1t can never be of great in
fluence unless a large percentage
of the people within the county
are interested in it's growth and
improvement. Everyone should
plan to exhibit. Then only does
the fair become a real vital, help
full institution.
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