Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-11-11
The Boys State Fair School1of
1915.

The Boys State Fair School which
is composed of two boys from each
county, chosen by competitive ex-
aminations under the supervision of
the County Superintendent of Public
Schools, was held at the Missouri State
Fair grounds near Sedalia. The state
made appropriation for the expense
of the school. The only expense the
boys have is their railroad fare. In
some counties this was paid by Com
mercial Clubs or by the county court;
but in most cases by the boys them
selves. At the school the boys had
the best of lectures and entertainment
the state could afford.
The object of the Boys State Fair
School is to bring together a carefully
selected body of young men from ev-
cry county of the state for the pur-
pose of giving them for study in a
school the best and most recent prod
ucts of scientific and practical achieve
ment in agriculture and industry in
the State of Missouri and at the same
time to have this information Illus
trated in a concrete form by the
great exhibits at the Fair, thus max
ing the State Fair a more important
education factor for the State as well
as a commercial and an industrial one.
This year there were 109 boys who
attended, some counties sending one,
while others YER not represented.
Our manager, Mr.. T. J. Walker of
Jefferson City, was as good as any
one could wish and all the boys liked
him. His assistant, Mr.. Sipple of
Kirksville, is interested in boys, so
every one was we'll cared for.
The boys began to arrive in Sedalia
Friday and the last ones came Sun
day. They were shown the way to
the fair grounds and then taken to
the camp which was inside the
grounds. There they had several
rows Of tents for sleeping, Near this
was a large tent for lectures. The
dining hall would seat several hundred
people and was on the farther side of
the grounds. Lectures began Mon
day morning. They were from 9 to
1880 O'Clock, and the same every
morning till Friday. Some of our
lecturers and their subjects were:
Mr.. Lewis of st. Louis county, who
lectured on tDairy Cattle;" O. 7.
Patterson, who manages the state ex-
perimental station for poultry at Mt.
Grove; Sam Jordan lectured on
"Growing of Corn, Soy beans and
weeds;n Prof. Childers on "Acidity of
Soil;"J Kelly Wright on "Silos and
Silage;" w. D. Mckee on "Alfalfa".
Besides these we had addresses by
by Col. Dalmyre, President of the
Fair, James Houchin, Howard A.
Gass and other prominent men of the
state.
Mr.. Barker held a corn judging con-
test and taught us how to select good
seed corn. Mr.. Simpson held a stock
Judging contest showing us how to
Judge beef cattle.
For entertainment and instruction
some Of the boys were taken around
through Pettis courtyard shown rich
farm lands and good stock. In the
afternoons there we're horse ace and
entertainment in front of the grand
stand. At night the Horse Shows
were held in the Stock Pavilion and
they showed the best horses and their
paoes.
Every night Thavius' famous band
would play. Friday the Million Dol
Stock Parade was held, which con-
sisted of the best of horses, mules and
cattle on the grounds.
Saturday was Auto Day and the big
races. Some of the best dirt track
champions of the world were there.
Among them was Disbrow, the cham
pion of the world.
The stock barns held the finest
stock in the state. There were barns
for the different breeds of cattle,
horses, mules, and one for swine and
sheep; also poultry, Some cattle were
brought from Canada and many horses
from Kentucky.
Other exhibits and buildings con-
tanned the finest and best of all crops
produced in Missouri. There we're
good specimens Of grains, vegetable
seeds, fruits and meats. Some build
ings contained up-to-date machinery,
experimental devices, and art col
lections.
The 206 acres of ground occupied
by the fair was alive with people from
all parts Of the state to witness the re-
suits OF a years. work on the part Of
the management.
The program was clean and whole
some and varied sufficiently: to hold
something for every one, whether
looking for knowledge or amuse-
ment. Every exhibit carried with II
q lesson OF educational value; which
showed advancement over previous
years. Here were gathered together
the advanced thinkers and producers
from over the state. The different
educational institutions OF the state
had exhibits Of their work and prod