Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1915-10-06
4 LETTER. 70 FARMERS cLuna

The Club Exhibits Were Expressions
Of Community Development
and Cooperation.
University Farm, St. Paul, Mimi,
Sept. 20, 1915.
To the Farmers Clubs.
Kandiyohi County,
Minnesota.
The Farmers Clubs which made ex-
htbits at the Kandiyohi County Fair
are deserving Of well earned and much
deserved praise. These exhibits were
to many people the outstanding feat
ure of the Fair.
AS the writer acted as one Of the
judges. possibly a statement relative
to this display with few suggestions,
would not be out of place. The great
variety Of products and their uniform
good quality throughout, made the
judging quite difficult, and it was only
by the most careful comparison of the
products in each class, that small diff
ferences were found. In fact, before
totaling the scores, the judges at
tempted to place the exhibits from
general appearance to see how near
the judgment in that manner would
come to the other, but after repeated
comparisons, it was impossible to de-
eide and agree on how the exhibits
should be placed. This makes it evil
dent that the detailed study was ne
cessary to placing, also that there was
great uniformity in the splendid ex-
hibits made.
The Farm Club Exhibit, which is
an expression Of community develop
ment and neighborhood cooperation,
involves so much that it is difficult to
make suggestions. However, it oc-
ours that the County Fair Manage
ment might make a slightly wider
range of exhibits in the score card,
so as to include a separate class of
such culinary articles, as are exhibit.
able. Photographs of the homes and
the beauty spots Of the locality would
add much Of interest to the exhibit
Possibly section of the score card
should be given to special or miscell'
aneous articles, which would give
each club an opportunity to exhibit
material distinctive of the farm pro-
ducts or the manufactured products
Of the community. If arrangements
for grouping is possible, special dis
play of the live stock or certain
breeds Of live stock from each club
would add much to the variety of ex
hibit and would make the displays
feature diversified and well balanced
farming.
Finally, the suggestion which seems
to be Of the most value is that the ex
hibitS should show standardization
rather than too great variety in
each class. For example, instead OF
an exhibit containing samples Of ten
varieties Of potatoes, it would be
much better to have ten farms ex
hibiting in the club exhibit to all show
the same variety of potato, and all sc
well improved and selected that they
might look as though they came from
the same field. This sort of produc
ton Of any crops or breeds of live
stock in one community leads tt
greater profit, and to more co-opera
interested in similar products.
This idea Of standardization Of ex
hibit should not be confused with di
| versity of exhibit, as both are neces
sary for the best display.
Hoping these few suggestions may
be Of some value to your Club and tt
the Fair Management, and again com
plimenting you on the splendid dis
play made by your Club, am,
Very truly yours,
FRANK E. BALMER,
State Leader County Agent Work
u. S. Department of Agriculture
P. S.-Mr. P. E. Miller of Morris
who assisted in the Judging joins me
in congratulating the clubs on the ex
hibits made, stating that he has never
seen a finer display of it's kind.