Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1915-08-31
PLAN A VISIT TO
THE COUNTY FAIR

"To make county fair the vital,
helpful institution that it may be, the
bows and girls must be encouraged to
take part. With old and young work
ing together the fair becomes, as it
should, real community effort"
This statement was made by G. 2.
Norgord, formerly superintendent of
Farmers Institutes, now commission
er of education.
"Nor is it hard" he continued, "to
get young people to help in making
their local fair a decided success for
the interest is already there. No
event of the year, except perhaps the
circus and Fourth of July celebration
holds such thrills for the average boy
or girl as does the annual county fair.
ITO prOove this, look back into 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 through the chores.
See the family packed into the spring
wagon as it ratified down the frost
coated lane and hear the merry shouts
and good natured jests as you meet
friends and neighbOrs along the way.
Feel again the thrills of expectation
as YOU near the tall board fences of
the fair grounds and hear the alluring
strains of the merry-go-rOund organs
and the metallic drOne of the hawk
ers. 1t was surely big day, and if |
YOU had some choice ears of corn or |
tine eve or heifer that was to COM
pete for prize, you were doubly in
terested and excited.
Teachers and county superintend-
entS 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 forms of schOlas- |
tic competition. Up in Sauk county |
this idea has been emphasized and |
has resulted in building up ire
mendOus interest in the fair. There,
speaking contests have proved valu-
able means of interesting young
people and winning the support of
their parents. Along these lines
there is a grand opportunity to show
an interested audience what the
schools are doing. The older folks
will be sure to attend if one of their
boys or girls is to take part in speak
ing or spelling contest, or has an ex-
hibit of some kind on display.
"The social side of the fair is one |
that is too important to be overlooked |
and one ought to be strengthened in
every possible way. In many COM
munities the fair is one medium by |
which farmers and their families
meet friends and relatives and form |
among people living in
other parts of the county. People |
meet at the fair who seldom see each |
other throughout the rest of the |
year. This chance to renew acquaint-
ances and friendships and to meet |
strangers of course, is splendid
thing. A wide acquaintance is a
broadening factor in the life of any
person and the farmer needs such an
influence as much as anyone. To
further this idea, picnic dinners on
the grounds, township and school
district receptions (the people of one
district inviting those of another to
a basket lunch) and various kinds of
get-tO-gether meetings should be en-
cOuraged.
The worth of a county fair is
Judged by the number of exhibitors.
1t can never be of great influence
unless large percentage of the people
within the county are interested in
its growth and improvement. Every
one should plan to exhibit. Then
only does the fair become a real vital,
helpful institution"