Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1916-10-19
MIR. BRITT HAS A WORD.
Makes Timely Suggestions to The
Corn Carnival Management---The
Shows Were an AffrOnt to the
Farmers.
Editor Mesa ge:-

tleS Ill heAlCO are ONST lOI lulS yoai.
feel that a few comments may be
in order and little just criticism
may lead to a better show next year,
First of all, want to commend the
management for the very convenient
and roomy accommodations they pro-
vided for the display of farm prod
ucts and the courteous treatment sc-
corded exhibitors. 1t is a pity that
more of the space provided was not
occupied.
1t is with a view to securing
better response from the farmers
next year that l write these lines.
I wish to suggest a few ideas to the
management which, 1 think, If
adopted would lead to a more lively
interest on the part of the farmers.
The exhibits this fall were very
good. 1 thought, but not numerous
enough to make a really interesting
contest in most classes.
This is partly due to certain feel
ing among the farmers, over which
the managers of the Fair had no
control, that is, the dread some peo-
pie have of deing defeated. Most any
one will say, oh yes. would make
an exhibit if l knew | would win but
l don't want to be defeated"
Now that is the wrong idea. If you
have a good article don't be afraid to
show it, even if someone else does
show little better one. If you show
good article the fact that someone
shows a better one docs not make
yours worse. On the other hand, If
you show a poor article and no one
shows a good one yo will get the
premium, but it does not make your
lpreminm any better. In other words
really good article and have it out
classed by something still better thar,
| to show a poor article and have it
win because there is nothing good
shown.
/ have shown live stock and farm
products in several different shows,
both in Missouri and Illinois and I
always went away with some win
nings and some defeats and l never
left but one fair feeling the least bit
sore and that was the fall of 1915,
when we had such a good hog show
at the Mexico Fair and the Associa-
tion laid down on the whole bunch
of hog and sheep men and refused to
pay us any money at all because the
heavy rain prevented any attendance
that day. never will think that was
right That same rain damaged my
wheat and oat crop to the extent of
several hundred dollars but those to
whom l had promised money did not
cancel the obligation because of my
losses.
1 must return to my subject and
tell the managers of the Fall Festivi-
ttse how think they might help mat
ters another year.
First, they might have the ribbons
tied early in the week so that visit
ors could see which articles ranked
highest and study just why they
ranked highest. A very few of the
visitors at last weeks show got to
see which articles were adjudged
best.
Another reason for the farmers
lack of interest, i think, was the car
nival company that was there. am
not going to abuse those people, or
even say they had no right there,
but l do think their presence was a
detriment to the corn show.
l believe that when the country
people learned they were to be an
noyed by the same old bunch of tent
shows and catch-penny games of
chance that were here last year they
became disgusted and lost interest.
You called it Farmers Week, I"
and invited us to town to enjoy va
cation, and we did not like to have
those people, with whom we have
nothing in common, pushing their
wares under our noses with such an
noying persistence. believe most
of the farmers have higher con-
ception than that. of what cOnsti-
tutes high-class entertainment. They
consider it as an affront to their in
telhgence to have that class of thing
brought to town for their entertain
ment.
II yon doubt that the farmers feel
as say, just go on the streets or to
the Hitch-lot and interview them on
the subject. think you will be con-
vnced.
Some have said II was scheme
OF the merchants TO draw the people
10 town TO spend their money, but