Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1916-09-19
THE COUNTY FAIR.

The people of Polk county ha,
good and sufficient reason to be prou
of their fair, of its accomplishment
and of those citizens who have bee
instrumental in bringing it about an
aiding actively in its promotion.
may be stated without fear of SUI
cessful contradiction that this inst
tuition has attained high standar
OF excellence, its impressiveness hav
ing been noticeably augmented witt
each succeeding year since its incep
tiOn, only half decade since. The
steady growth of the Polk county
fair is sign Of enterprise and ac
tivity in the country districts, for tc
a large degree its success has beer
dependent upon those persons resi-.
dent OF the rural realm. The un-
stinted support of the public spirited
farmers of the bailiwick is an unmis.
taxable indication that the education
al features, gained through the en-
hibits, are appreciated; that the
bringing together of men and women
whose livelihood comes from the pro-
ductive soils to compare the results of
their neighbor's efforts with their
own and to gain information regard
ing the best methods employed in at
tanning these results are advantage
Gus IN the growing of crops and in
the prosecution of other details which
bring success to the tiller of the land.
1t is quite unnecessary to dwell
at length on the value of county
fair to community, and especially
so when that community's interests
are diversified, as is the case with
Polk county. We have fully demon
strated to the world that this sunset
land of opportunity is the garden
spot of the great Pacific Northwest,
and that. nowhere upon the face of
this globular wad is there more pro-
duetive soils. Our agricultural pro-
duets are in the foremost rank among
the coast country counties; we lead
all Others in the Angora goat indus
try; our purebred herds have been
awarded prizes galore at information
II expositions; our sheep are brand
ID as the best on the continent; our
)runes find worldwide market; our
Industrial school work has attracted
he attention and received the unso-
lcited endorsement of the nation s
most prominent educators, while our
Innate and the picturesqueness of
ur scenery has merited the praise l
nd commendation of visitors from 1
far. These are distinctions of which {
'e should be justly proud, some of !
'hich have been attained through S
such as is made possible o
Y the county fair. While, of course, all t
our achievements are. not directly a
to this institution. for r
lch a statement would be exaggera- t
on and unfair to the enterprise and o
aggressive spirit of the men who b
cupy the position of the party of t;
e first part, that the fair has mater
lly aided in the betterment of con-
tions throughout the county will be
MED by no thinking person who is h,
miliar with its record. 1t is impos- tb
lie to compute in dollars and cents re
. value of the fair. Its lesson w
Ist be taught through personal con- be
,tion, either as exhibitor or speeta- of
:. an
Then, too, the social side must have be
. consideration. The county fair of
a homecoming, an annual harvest tol
tival, a time and place for the re- int
val of acquaintaneeship, and for ar,
greeting of neighbors. The spn III
f soeiability reigns supreme, while ty
ntry and city rub elbows and en- ira
&c friendly relations. From IN ers
iased standpoint The Observer be- boz
es at to be encumbent upon every tim
lie spirited citizen of Polk county the
lend his presence 10 these occa-
$, not only for his own good but ma
that Of his fellow man. 1t is only tina
ugh united effort and concerted en-