The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1915-06-17
HINTS ABOUT OUR FAIRS.
H. w. HocHBAUM.

educational value. A county fai
should be country affair shoul
bring country people together an
stimulate interest in better farming
better marketing and better rural con
ditions. Biggest pumpkins" "bigges
beets," freaks" etc-when the fai
is made a museum, when bucking con
tests, roundups, roping contests an
the like prevail--will not do this
These have no effect upon the improve
ments of farming and upbuilding Of tn
country.
The average country fair attempt
too much. also in the way Of giving
prizes and premiums. When prizes
are offered for almost every kind o
crop and animal, there is likely to b,
1 lack of real competition. Premium.
should be restricted to a few wei
chosen lines, those which seem o.
greatest Importance to the counti
and which should be encouraged mos.
Some lines should be featured by spe
eial premiums. BY thus concentrati
ing on a few lines, real competitio
Will be secured and the prizes ano
premiums available will go much far
lher. They will be really worth try
ing for. Instead Of so many small
cash prizes, ribbons, or engraved
awards Of merit may be given
These may stimulate greater competi-
ton and be cherished more than casl
or special prizes.
Fairs should feature such classes as
it seems desirable to encourage in the
county, especially livestock. But IL
the livestock classes emphasis should
be placed upon type and real worth
and not merely upon breeds. We neeo
better cows. better steers. better
horses, better sheep and pigs. not more
varieties. Records of production
should be encouraged. The emphasis
should be placed upon what the COW
does and not upon her family tree.
Such lines of agricultural produc-
tion as corn. seed production. better
grades of market fruit, grain and hay.
should be featured. There is a ten
dency, also to offer too many prize
for different varieties of fruit an,
garden products, whereas better mar
keting, the growing of only those va
rieties demanded by the markei
should be encouraged.
A fair should be educational Mon
sy and effort are wasted upon exhib
ts Of crazy quilts, tides, etc, of tn
1887 crop. and fussy cakes and pies
rhe farm women should be encour
lged to make better homes. There
ore exhibits of conveniences for the
arm home, exhibits that will show
low rural health may be improved
low bread should be made, methods
# home canning Of meat, fruit anc
all should be encouraged
What are the rural schools doing |
lave you real country school, OF |
My a school in the country? What |
ire the schools doing to hold the |
oung folks in the country, to stimu
ate interest in home keeping and |
Exhibits Of rural school
york in agriculture and home eco
oyaics in boys and girls club work.
lways receive a great deal of atten-
ion. and a country fair cannot do bet
er than to encourage this sort of
rork
Many county fairs have been most
uccessful in featuring some product
'hich the county is getting known for
n one or several days Of the fair
hus, in some counties Potato Day."
Pork Day." Biscuit Day." Apple
reat interest in the fair and adver-
e the county. 1t is also the Gus
,me to serve roasted pork, baked ap-
les and potatoes, biscuits and the
ke with a free or low priced lunch
IN, on these days. Other fairs have
ade a success of farmers picnics."
here people from the same part of
le county gather and have a jollifi-
ltion.
All such efforts stimulate interest in
le farming and country life of that
'unty. make the fair real country
-ir, get-together place for rural
sople. The average county fair can
} much to increase interest in better
rming and better rural life. The
ere collecting of turnips, grains and /
lrrots, the giving Of prizes for fat
'g, plates of red apples and works
art, will not do this. We need real
'untry fairs
ISHING GROUNDS NO PLACE