Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1914-12-25
POULTRY SHOWS WHAT ARE
THEY WORTH?

Many men honestly question the
value of the poultry show. They have
never given the subject a careful
analysis and it often seems to them
to be a useless waste of time and
effort and more or less money. What
good will it do me to exhibit my
fowls? That is fair question. Let
us consider it.
To begin at the very beginning, it
helps us to interest ourselves in the
small details of breeding, rearing and
conditioning. The man who does not
work little harder because of COM
petition is rare indeed. In the second
place, no man can prepare and con-
dition his fowls for an exhibition and
not become more intimately acquaint-
ed with them. This in itself is
long step forward, for the man who
knows his flock and whose flock
knows him is surely in possession of
something that will help him to breed
and rear his stock more intelligently.
In the third place, no intelligent man
ever placed his fowls in competition
with others of the same variety with
out learning many ways in which his
own could be improved. At a show
he finds the best birds of many flocks
lined up along with his own; he sees
them passed upon by an expert; he
has an opportunity to compare notes
with other breeders; he sees his own
weaknesses; he learns how to over
come many obstacles.
Always a First Time.
Very often a beginner feels that he
has no chance to win against the vet
Grams. True, his chances are not so
good as those of an old-timer, but
there must always be a first time.
Surely no man with any ambition de-
sires to remain always in the rear Of
the procession. Then, too, most poul-
try judges are men who are obliging
and approachable and are willing to
spend unlimited time in pointing out
the weaknesses in ones methods and
advising him of better ways. They
are paid to do just this very thing
and the judge who is not obliging
and willing to be of service very sell
dom gets a return engagement. OIL
course if you are one Of those unfor-
tunate individuals who knows 1t all
and carries a crouch for weeks be-
cause the judge didn't find that his
birds were perfect, 1t is far better to
stay away.
Besides these specific benefits to
the individual, there many more ben
ef1ts of wider significance. It is
undoubtedly true that shows are
good thing for the industry in gen.
eral. This is plainly evidenced by
the wonderful progress of the poul-
try business during the past 20 years
and by the phenomenal growth of all
kinds of business through just such
cooperation and effort in many other
lines. The great fairs, corn shows,
stock shows, machinery exhibitions
and commercial displays would not
60 on with increasing success IL the
promoters did not receive full value
for their efforts.
Enter in Local Show.
The poultry raisers of this section
will have an opportunity next month
to be part of the poultry show to
be held in Olympia. Competent men
are in charge and well-known
Judge has been engaged to place the
awards. Cash prizes and many beau
tiful cups are offered and the anna
teur is especially remembered, for the
Chamber Of Commerce has offered a
fine silver cup for the best exhibit by
an amateur.
Make up your mind right now to
enter at least few birds. Get some
one who is accustomed to exhibiting
to help you select your fowls and tell
you how to prepare them.
VISITING GRAY'S HARBOR SHOW.
The writer of these columns is
spending a portion of the week at
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